Is CRACKED Worth Playing? A New Roguelike Brawler

Let’s Get Cracked

There is a specific, primal joy found in physics-based combat games. From the rubbery slapping of Gang Beasts to the card-stacking strategy of Rounds, the genre thrives on chaos, unpredictability, and the inevitable screaming match between friends on Discord. Enter CRACKED, the latest contender in the arena brawler ring, released on January 7, 2026.

Developed by PurrNet and Pebbles Games, CRACKED strips the concept down to its most fragile elements: glass-headed wizards, absurd magical upgrades, and a physics engine that seems to hate you personally. As a free-to-play title, it faces the uphill battle of maintaining a player base and avoiding pay-to-win pitfalls. But after spending a weekend “cracking” my friends, shattering my own head against walls, and constructing builds that shouldn’t be legal in any civilized society, I’m happy to report that this game is, indeed, cracked.

Glass Cannons (Literally)

The premise is deceptively simple. You play as a mage with a head made of glass. Your goal? Break the other guy’s head before he breaks yours. The characters are wobbly, physics-driven ragdolls that move with a frantic, flailing energy. Movement feels loose but responsive enough to allow for skill expression—or at least, lucky dodges.

The core loop is built around rounds (pun intended). You fight in arenas ranging from 1v1 duels to chaotic 4v4 team brawls. At the end of each round, players draft upgrades. This is where the roguelike DNA kicks in. The loser of the previous round usually gets first pick or a better selection, a rubber-banding mechanic that keeps matches competitive and prevents one player from steamrolling the lobby immediately.

It’s a formula popularized by Rounds, but CRACKED brings it into 3D with a distinct visual flair. The sound design deserves a special mention here—the shattering of glass when you land a killing blow is viscerally satisfying. It’s a crisp, crunchy sound that signals victory (or defeat) with unmistakable clarity.

Build Crafting: From Sparkler to Nuke

The magic of CRACKED lies in its upgrade system. You start with a basic projectile spell. It’s functional but boring. By round five, however, you might be firing homing, explosive, poison-tipped projectiles that split into three on impact, all while flying around with a jetpack.

The upgrades are designed to stack in ridiculous ways.

• “Homing” makes your shots curve toward enemies.
• “Cluster” makes your shots split upon hitting a surface.
• “Heavy” increases knockback but slows the projectile.

Combine these, and you aren’t just shooting a fireball; you are unleashing a geometric nightmare that fills the screen. I had one match where my opponent built a “shotgun sniper” build—high damage, high spread, but massive recoil. Every time he fired, he went flying backward off the map. It was hilarious, and it highlighted the risk-reward nature of the drafting phase.

The game currently boasts over 40 upgrades, ranging in rarity. While that sounds like a lot, in a roguelike ecosystem, you burn through the variety relatively quickly. After about 10 hours, you start to see the “meta” builds emerge. However, the chaotic physics engine ensures that even the most broken build can be defeated by a well-placed shove or an unlucky bounce.

The Multiplayer Experience: Organized Chaos

CRACKED shines brightest in its multiplayer. The game supports online PvP, which is essential for a title like this. The netcode, while mostly functional, does have its hiccups. I experienced a few instances of “ghost hits” where a projectile seemed to pass through an enemy without shattering them, and occasional name-swapping bugs that made tracking teammates confusing.

However, when it works—which is 90% of the time—it is pure dopamine. The 1v1 mode is a test of skill and counter-building. If your opponent goes for a shield build, you need to draft piercing or area-of-effect damage. It becomes a tactical arms race.

The 4v4 mode, on the other hand, is a bar brawl. Strategy goes out the window in favor of sheer volume of fire. It’s messy, loud, and incredibly fun. The maps, while currently limited in number, are designed with verticality and cover in mind, forcing players to use their movement abilities rather than just camping in a corner.

One standout feature mentioned in the updates is the spectator mode. In a party game, downtime is death. Being able to watch the chaos unfold while you wait for your turn (or after you’ve been shattered) keeps the energy up.

The “Free to Play” Factor

Whenever a game launches as Free-to-Play, the immediate concern is monetization. Is it pay-to-win? Are the best upgrades locked behind a paywall?

So far, CRACKED seems to be taking a fair approach. The core gameplay loop is accessible to everyone. The developers have stated that AI was used for marketing assets, which is a point of contention for some, but the in-game art style feels consistent and readable. The “glass head” aesthetic is unique enough to give the game an identity, though the environments could use a bit more polish and variety.

Currently, the game feels like a labor of love from a small team. There are no intrusive ads or predatory microtransactions blocking the fun. It relies on the strength of its gameplay to keep people playing, which is a refreshing change of pace in the current market.

The Shortcomings: Cracks in the Glass

Despite its fun factor, CRACKED is not without its flaws.

1. Optimization: A game with relatively simple graphics can be surprisingly demanding on hardware. Frame drops occur during intense moments with lots of particle effects, which can be fatal in a twitch-reaction game.
2. Map Variety: The current map pool is small. After a few hours, you will have seen every corner of every arena. The game desperately needs more environments—perhaps indoor maps with tighter corridors or maps with environmental hazards like lava or spikes.
3. Content Depth: While the upgrades are fun, the game needs more. More spells, more character customization, and perhaps different game modes (like a “King of the Hill” or “Capture the Flag”) would go a long way in extending its longevity.
4. No Workshop Support (Yet): Games like Rounds and Stick Fight thrived because of their communities. CRACKED would benefit immensely from a level editor or Steam Workshop support, allowing players to create their own broken upgrades and maps.

---

Breakdown: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

The Good	The Bad	The Ugly
Physics Combat: The movement and shooting feel “heavy” and satisfying. Shattering an opponent is visceral fun.	Optimization: Frame rate dips and crashes can occur when the screen gets too busy with particle effects.	Map Repetition: You will see the same few arenas over and over again. It needs a map editor ASAP.
Upgrade System: The roguelike drafting allows for insane, screen-wiping builds that make every match feel different.	Map Repetition: You will see the same few arenas repeatedly. It needs a map editor ASAP.	Lack of Modes: Currently limited to team deathmatch variations. Needs objective-based modes to stay fresh.
Free to Play: No barrier to entry makes it easy to get a full squad of friends to try it out.	Soundtrack: Serviceable but forgettable. You’ll likely play your own music over it.
Comeback Mechanics: Giving the loser better draft picks ensures matches stay close and exciting.