Fantasy Strike

Fantasy Strike

Released Jul 2019

A fighting game designed from the ground up to be so easy to control that even non-fighting game players can play it, yet deep enough to play in tournaments. Vibrant graphics and excellent online play.

61% positive · 2,105 reviews
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
Medium confidence
Active Development
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
Medium confidence
Active Development

Where to get it

Free on Steam

Evaluation

Fantasy Strike launched out of Early Access on July 25, 2019, and transitioned to a free-to-play model on July 21, 2020, when two new characters (Quince and Onimaru) were also added. Since then, Sirlin Games has continued to issue substantive updates on a recurring basis: feature patches improving graphics, adding new cosmetics, expanding platform support with full crossplay, and adding or adjusting gameplay systems. The most recent developer post is dated July 25, 2025, marking the game's sixth anniversary, and expanded free-to-play access by removing the Core Pack requirement for Friend Matches — a meaningful quality-of-life improvement demonstrating the developer is still actively engaging with the game. The game maintains a cosmetic store with rotating costumes and an optional Fantasy+ subscription. All three DLC items listed on the store are released. No specific future content has been announced and no public roadmap is visible, but the developer has not communicated that development is complete. The pattern of updates spanning from 2018 through July 2025 — including multiple feature patches per year — indicates this game continues to receive active developer attention. Today's date is October 8, 2026, meaning approximately 15 months have passed since the last developer communication on July 25, 2025. The historical update cadence shows feature patches roughly every few months to a year, so 15 months of silence is starting to push toward the outer edge of that window. However, given no explicit closure statement from the developer, the sustained multi-year update history, and the active cosmetic/subscription monetization structure still in place, the game is assessed as still receiving active development rather than complete.
Evidence
On the game's sixth anniversary, the developer shipped a patch removing the Core Pack requirement for Friend Matches, expanding free-to-play access. This is the most recent developer communication on record.
news post · Jul 25, 2025 source development ongoing
high
Game transitioned to free-to-play with all characters unlocked, and two new characters (Quince and Onimaru) were added post-launch, establishing a pattern of post-launch content additions.
news post · Jul 21, 2020 source content shipped
high

Content

3 of 3 released · no outstanding content

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
Sirlin Games
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows, macOS, Linux
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · PvP · Local/Split Screen

About this game

Free-to-play, the good kind like DOTA2: Play all our characters online for free without any grinding or unlocks!

Free Modes: Online Casual Play, Online Ranked Play, Online Friend Match, Practice Mode, Single Match vs. AI

Be an archer with fiery arrows, a colorful painter, a martial arts master who can transform into a dragon, and more! Fantasy meets martial arts in this vibrant world.

If You’re New To Fighting Games

Designed to work great on keyboard, no need for a special controller. We’ve streamlined the genre to get you to the fun decision-making part as soon as possible. All moves are just a single button press, combos are easy, move lists are concise. We’ve cut the chaff to focus on the heart of the genre so we can show you why fighting games are awesome.

If You’re a Veteran

This game is designed by an ex-Street Fighter dev and hardcore player for play in tournaments. Mixups, rushdown, zoning, and the grapplers seeming too powerful on day 1. It’s got all that. And you can play it with pretty much anyone in the fighting game community, no matter what other fighting game they play, because you can all reach basic competency in Fantasy Strike in minutes and start playing for real. Plus you can play with a joystick, gamepad, Guitar Hero controller, or whatever else you want.

Stuff You Get For Free

• Excellent online play + cross-platform play. We are not aware of better networking tech in any other fighting game, and we're sorry about how that sounds. Custom implementation of GGPO networking technology. Cross-platform with both Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 version.

• Online quick match. Just pick a character, click ready, and you're playing online.

• Online ranked play. Pick a team of 3 characters in this team battle mode. You'll play a series best 3 out of 5 games where you get to play each of your characters in separate games, for maximum variety. This mode uses built-on-the-fly tournaments.

• Friend Challenge. Directly challenge friends online to either standard 1v1 or 3v3 team battles. To play a friend, go to your in-game friends list and click on the crossed swords by any name to challenge them. (Or click on the eyeball to watch them play.) That’s it!

• One-click spectating. Click on any friend in your in-game friends list to watch them play and automatically follow them as they play more online games. That’s it!

• Daily Challenge. An endless survival mode that you can only play ONCE per day. See how you do compared everyone else that day.

• Practice mode. Includes dynamic frame data and frame-step features.

• Tutorial. A quick, 5-minute tutorial teaches you the basics of how the game works.

• Single Match vs AI. Pick your character and the AI's, then play a game. As much as you want!

• Spotlight Videos. Every character has their own spotlight video, a narrated tour by game director David Sirlin. Each video goes though that character's moves and what their general gameplan and strategy is about.

• Unique throw escape. To escape (normal) throws, simply let go of all your controls! You'll automatically "yomi" counter any throw attempt.

• Simple controls. All moves are done with a single button press so you can play with any controller.

Core Pack

If you're looking for even more, get the Core Pack for these additional modes:

• Boss Rush mode. Build a deck of powerups in this very crazy roguelike mode. Can you defeat all 8 of the increasingly powerful bosses?

• Arcade mode. With illustrated, voiced story intros and endings.

• Survival modes. How long can you last in these four sub-modes? Each is a rapid-fire series of opponents with no loading times between them. Opponents get stronger as you go and include Shadow Bosses.

• Local versus. Play standard 1v1 and also 3v3 team battle (each player picks 3 characters and plays a special best 3 out of 5 series).

Last evaluated Oct 8, 2026
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