Rocket Arena

There's a well-worn phrase that says "Familiarity breeds contempt," which basically means that if you get too familiar with something, you sort of lose interest or respect for it. At first glance, Rocket Arena looks like it might be the poster child for the phrase, as it seems to borrow a lot of elements from other games and toss them all together hoping to see what sticks. There's an immediate sense of déjà vu as it's hard to avoid the feeling that this is something that's been played a million times before. But Rocket Arena somehow manages to piece together these familiar elements in a way that feels like a new twist on popular formulas, while also keeping some surprisingly unique tricks up its sleeve.

It'd be easy to dismiss the rocket launchers in Rocket Arena as little more than a gimmick, but after playing a few rounds, you see just how much potential they have. The tutorial even teaches moves like rocket jumps and rocket climbs as essential basics. And in practice, combining these moves with double and triple jumps is likely to save a player's skin on multiple occasions. Maps that seem claustrophobic at first wind up feeling just the right size to contain the frantic 3v3 action, offering up a surprising number of nooks and crannies to take advantage of. The different game types offer up some variety to the gameplay and strategy, and none are overly time-consuming. Live service has become a staple of the multiplayer marketplace these days, with things like season passes and extra content constantly added to keep players' interests ... and to keep their wallets open. Rocket Arena is no different, with a season pass and lots of cosmetic goodies to unlock or to buy in the shop. But whether you choose to stick with the game as-is or expand the customization via the shop, Rocket Arena is a literal blast to play and plenty of party-style bang for your buck.