MultiVersus – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

MultiVersus

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2024

52%

WISE Score

70%

IGDB

Warner Bros. brawler that brought Batman vs. Bugs Bunny to life, then shut down permanently after less than a year.

MultiVersus

game

2024

52%

WISE Score

70%

IGDB

Warner Bros. brawler that brought Batman vs. Bugs Bunny to life, then shut down permanently after less than a year.

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Where to Play

Xbox

PlayStation

PC/Steam

Screenwise Verdict

MultiVersus had real promise: a Smash Bros.-style brawler with Batman, Bugs Bunny, and Arya Stark duking it out in cartoony chaos. The gameplay was solid, the crossover concept was a blast, and it scratched the itch for kids who wanted a free alternative to Nintendo's juggernaut.

But here's the problem: Warner Bros. pulled the plug on May 30, 2025, taking the game offline permanently. You can still play offline modes, but a multiplayer brawler without multiplayer is like a trampoline with no springs. The whole point was the online competition, unlocking characters, and showing off cosmetics. Now it's a digital paperweight.

Add to that the bizarre age-verification issues in 2024 that locked out younger players, and you've got a game that never quite figured out who it was for. If your kid already owns it and wants to mess around locally, fine—it's harmless fun. But as a recommendation in 2025? Hard pass. There are better fighters that aren't ghosts.

Age Fit

Best for ages 10–16 who love Warner Bros. characters and platform fighters. The Teen rating is appropriate for fantasy violence and mild language. That said, the game is essentially dead now—offline modes only—so it's a tough sell unless you already own it and want local couch multiplayer.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Cartoon violence with recognizable Warner Bros. characters (Batman, Superman, Bugs Bunny, etc.) keeps the tone light and familiar. ESRB notes 'Language' in its rating, suggesting some mild profanity or taunts. The competitive fighting format can get heated, especially online, but the fantasy violence is bloodless and slapstick in nature. Models cooperation in team-based modes but also rewards aggressive play.

Imaginative

The crossover concept—pitting Shaggy against Superman or Wonder Woman against Arya Stark—is inherently creative and fun. Platform fighters reward improvisation and combo experimentation. However, it's fundamentally derivative (Smash Bros. formula) with licensed characters rather than original IP. The 'nearly endless possibilities of play' promise is marketing speak; in practice it's a solid but not groundbreaking fighter.

Safe

Rated T for Teen (Fantasy Violence, Language). ESRB confirms in-game purchases. Reddit posts from June 2024 highlight that the game was 'unplayable for kids under 18' due to requiring adult account verification and age-gating issues—a serious accessibility problem for the target demographic. The game was permanently delisted and taken offline May 30, 2025, remaining only in offline modes, which eliminates online toxicity but also kills the core multiplayer experience. The brief lifespan and sudden shutdown create a poor value proposition.

Enriching

Platform fighters teach timing, spacing, pattern recognition, and quick decision-making. Team modes encourage coordination. But MultiVersus is primarily a free-to-play competitive brawler designed around cosmetic monetization and live-service engagement. The game's abrupt shutdown after less than a year means any skill investment or community building was wasted. No meaningful narrative, minimal strategic depth compared to traditional fighters. It's entertainment first, growth second.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Crossover dream matchups: Superman vs. Shaggy, Wonder Woman vs. Iron Giant—the roster is genuinely fun
Platform fighter mechanics reward skill, timing, and creativity in combos
Bloodless cartoon violence keeps it accessible for tweens and teens
Team-based modes encourage cooperation and communication

⚠

What to Watch For

The game was permanently shut down May 30, 2025—only offline modes work now, which defeats the point of a multiplayer brawler
In 2024, age-verification issues reportedly made it 'unplayable' for kids under 18, a bizarre barrier for a Teen-rated game
Free-to-play with in-game purchases for cosmetics and characters
Mild language and competitive online dynamics (when it was online) could get salty

Conversation Starters

"Which crossover matchup would be the most unfair? Could Shaggy actually beat Batman?"
"How does it feel when a game you're playing suddenly shuts down? What happens to all the time you invested?"
"If you could add any character to a fighting game, who would it be and what would their special moves be?"

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