Best free "brawler" games

GAME GENRE – Brawler games are action titles built around one beautifully uncomplicated idea: get close to your enemies and hit them until they reconsider their career choices. Combat usually focuses on hand-to-hand fighting and melee attacks, with players facing groups of opponents in side-scrolling or 3D environments. Many brawlers throw increasingly ridiculous waves of enemies at you, encouraging you to punch, kick, dodge, grab, and occasionally perform some spectacular move that probably violates several laws of physics. Some games concentrate on one-on-one fights, while others are all about clearing entire streets, rooms, or arenas packed with hostile characters. Fast reflexes and good timing are important, but knowing when to attack—and when to run away—is often even more useful. When diplomacy fails, a brawler has a much simpler solution.