Rivals of Aether

Gameplay and Mechanics

Rivals of Aether is a spiritual successor to the fan project Super Smash Land, drawing its core mechanics from the Super Smash Bros. series. Players battle in two-dimensional arenas with the goal of knocking opponents off the stage. The game distinguishes itself with a strong emphasis on elemental interactions and stage control. Every character possesses at least one move that creates a lasting effect on the arena, such as trapping bubbles, speed-enhancing ice, or teleportation points. This creates a layer of strategy beyond direct combat, as players must manage the changing battlefield.

Compared to its inspiration, Rivals of Aether is designed to be faster and more offensive. Defensive options are more demanding. There is no traditional shield. Instead, players must execute a perfectly timed parry to block attacks. Furthermore, characters cannot grab ledges for a safe recovery, which increases the risk of being knocked out. To balance this, ground dodges are more frequent and accessible. This design philosophy, focused on aggressive, combo-oriented play, was a central focus during the game's development.

Characters and Elements

The roster is built around a classical element system, with each fighter's abilities tied to fire, water, air, or earth. The original fire characters are Zetterburn and Forsburn, with Clairen and Mollo added later. Water is represented by Orcane, Etalus, Ranno, and Hodan. The air element fighters are Wrastor, Absa, Elliana, and Pomme. Earth characters include Kragg, Maypul, Sylvanos, and Olympia. This structure means all characters have at least one move with a persistent effect, unlike in Smash Bros. where many characters rely on short-lived projectiles or close-combat attacks.

These elemental abilities allow fighters to create platforms, set traps, or alter their mobility, forcing a meta-game of area control. The game also features guest characters from other indie titles, Ori and Sein from Ori and the Blind Forest and the hero from Shovel Knight. Community creation played a significant role in expanding the roster. The Steam Workshop was officially supported, allowing players to create custom characters and stages. In 2022, four popular fan-made characters from the Workshop, Mollo, Hodan, Pomme, and Olympia, were officially added to the game in a free update alongside the implementation of rollback netcode.

The Story of Aether

The game is set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals divided into four warring civilizations aligned with the elements. The narrative follows six primary characters, Zetterburn, Forsburn, Orcane, Maypul, Kragg, and Wrastor. Their individual stories involve political intrigue and conflict. In the Fire Capital, Emperor Forsburn is framed for his father's murder and flees from his brother Zetterburn. The thief Orcane works for the Water Trade Company, which is under attack from the Air Armada. The forest guardian Maypul investigates a mysterious sickness, and the Wallbuilder Kragg defends the Rock Wall from intruders.

These separate journeys are complicated by the appearance of shadowy imposters that mimic the heroes, sowing distrust and conflict. For instance, a shadow resembling Orcane steals a ceremonial flame, and a fake Maypul attacks Kragg. The six warriors eventually realize a common enemy is behind these deceptions. They converge at a crater in the center of the land, where a stone structure emerges, unleashing more shadow creatures. Putting their rivalries aside, the group battles together to vanquish the threat, make amends, and prepare for a potential future return of the shadows.

Development and Updates

Developer Dan Fornace focused on creating a game that was faster and more combo-oriented than traditional Smash Bros. titles. After its initial PC release, the game expanded to Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Post-launch support included several waves of downloadable content. Ori and Sein were added in August 2017. Two original characters, Ranno and Clairen, were released in October 2017, followed by Sylvanos and Elliana in April 2018. The final playable character added was the guest fighter Shovel Knight in September 2018.

The definitive version of the game, Rivals of Aether: Definitive Edition, launched on September 24, 2020. It bundled all previously released DLC and added new modes, unlockables, and cosmetic skins that transformed fighters into different characters. A major update in February 2022 officially integrated four fan-made Workshop characters and implemented rollback netcode, a crucial feature for improving online play responsiveness in fighting games.

Critical Reception

Rivals of Aether was positively received by critics, who praised its deep gameplay and character design. Reviewers noted it successfully built upon the Smash Bros. formula with its elemental mechanics. It was described as a fully fleshed-out fighter that adds depth, and as the indie answer to Super Smash Bros. Some critics noted that while it may lack originality, it is a technically proficient game that appeals to hardcore players. The character designs were also complimented for being reminiscent of Pokémon.

Series Legacy and Spin-offs

The success of the original game led to the creation of an entire series set in the Aether universe, encompassing multiple spin-off titles in different genres. The first was Lovers of Aether, a free dating sim released on April Fools' Day 2019. It reimagines the characters as high school students, with all characters being romanceable options. Another spin-off, the deck-building game Creatures of Aether, was released for mobile devices in September 2020 and for PC in August 2021.

The lore expanded with Tales of Aether, a four-issue comic series released in 2021 that detailed the backstory of the character Clairen. A turn-based roguelike titled Dungeons of Aether was released in February 2023. The franchise's future was secured with the formation of Aether Studios and the development of a 3D sequel. Initially teased in 2021 and later titled Rivals of Aether II, this sequel was released on October 23, 2024. Another spin-off, the WarioWare-style microgame collection Dreams of Aether, was released for PC on April 1, 2025.