The Warner Bros.-based crossover fighting game MultiVersus, featuring characters from properties such as Game of Thrones and Looney Tunes, has entered its open beta stage. As a new take on the Super Smash Bros. formula, it allows players to fight through iconic landscapes and soundtracks of the shows its characters are pulled from. Although the roster is currently rather small, especially given that the game's first actual season has been delayed indefinitely despite its beta remaining open, it will more than likely continue to grow in the future. For the time being, there's still quite a bit of variety and plenty of opportunities for players to learn how to master specific fighters and stages if they so choose.
The character list for MultiVersus was leaked in late 2021, just a couple of weeks ahead of the game's first official trailer. Players were then treated to a more comprehensive list of fighters, including the likes of Bugs Bunny and Batman. The game quickly garnered quite a bit of attention online thanks to its unique cast and the developers' support for competitive and professional play. MultiVersus is arguably shaping up to be a solid Super Smash Bros. competitor, more so than the similar title Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, which also released fairly recently.
There are over a dozen fighters available as of the MultiVersus open beta, many of which are free but some of which can be unlocked through the use of in-game currency. It also looks as though MultiVersus will add a Founders Pack to introduce even more playable characters. Of the selection that are included now, only a small handful have stages themed around them. In fact, a couple of the current MultiVersus stages are entirely original, instead. Here's every stage that's playable in the open beta for MultiVersus and which Warner Bros. media players might recognize them from.
Sky Arena Is MultiVersus' Only Steven Universe Stage
The Sky Arena stage comes from Steven Universe, the popular cartoon series that ran on Cartoon Network starting in 2013. There are a couple of Steven Universe characters - Garnet and Steven himself - in the game already, so it's not much of a surprise that MultiVersus would have a stage built around it as well. In fact, given its popularity, it's possible that more gems from Steven Universe could join MultiVersus in the future. The coliseum-inspired map features quite a few motifs and elements from the show, from the diamond symbol to the gem-shaped statues. The background music in this stage pulls directly from Steven Universe's theme song.
MultiVersus' Tree Fort Stage Features Iconic Adventure Time Areas
As seen in the name, the Tree Fort stage in MultiVersus is built around Finn and Jake's easily-recognizable tree house from the cartoon series Adventure Time. Much like the Steven Universe map, it includes music from the show itself. Finn and Jake are both playable fighters, too, meaning that Tree Fort is the perfect stage for Adventure Time fans to test them out on. It's quite probable that MultiVersus will add more Adventure Time-based maps in the future, especially given the unique world design featured in the show. MultiVersus isn't the first game that's inspired by Adventure Time and its stylistic direction, after all.
MultiVersus' Training Arena & Trophy's E.D.G.E. Are Original Maps
The first stage MultiVersus players are likely to encounter is the training area, though it isn't really an actual stage at all. As the name implies, it's just an area where those who have just started the game or unlocked new characters can test out their abilities and learn to play them. As such, the map isn't usable in actual combat. It's also almost entirely lacking in visuals, allowing players to focus solely on the gameplay mechanics. It's just a plain room with a grid design on the wall and floor.
The game's true original map comes in the form of Trophy's E.D.G.E., which, rather than being themed around just one of the many characters and franchises in MultiVersus, features elements from nearly all of them. A statue of Wonder Woman can be seen as its centerpiece, and ACME brand crates are scattered around the landscape. Players with sharp eyes can also spot landmarks from Game of Thrones and the Superman universe. It's a fitting tribute to MultiVersus' place as an ambitious crossover and should satisfy fans of almost any Warner Bros. property.
Cromulons Stage Is MultiVersus' Nod To Rick And Morty
Rick and Morty, the two titular characters of the Adult Swim cartoon, are both set to be added to MultiVersus, with Rick having appeared early in August and Morty set to come out with the launch of season one. Unfortunately, both MultiVersus season one and Morty were delayed to an uncertain date not long after the open beta launched. Fortunately, fans of the show can still experience it further in some form by playing on the Cromulons stage. The floating Rick heads in the background make it easy to recognize as being taken from Rick and Morty, even by those who aren't invested in the series. The stage itself is framed by giant speakers, giving it a party vibe that should be fun for just about every MultiVersus player.
Scooby's Haunted Mansion Stage Adds Mystery To MultiVersus
MultiVersus isn't a horror game, but it can almost feel that way when players select the Scooby's Haunted Mansion stage to battle on. Inspired by the Scooby-Doo franchise, it includes creepy glowing eyes, moving statues, and ghosts to help provide a spooky atmosphere while fighting. MultiVersus has canonized the powerful Shaggy meme and also includes Velma as a fighter, making this map one of many nods to the series' place in Warner Bros. history. The Scooby's Haunted Mansion stage also has some unique gameplay features to it. Players can knock their opponents through walls, helping to sell the idea of a dilapidated haunted house.
The Batcave Is MultiVersus' First DC-Inspired Stage
The DC universe is one of the most represented franchises in MultiVersus, with four fighters confirmed thus far. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Harley Quinn are all playable and, according to leaks, more characters such as The Joker and Poison Ivy could be joining them in the future. Thus far, however, the crossover fighting game only includes one DC-inspired stage to fight on, and it's the perfect one to use after unlocking Batman in MultiVersus. The Batcave, as the name implies, is themed after Batman's hidden base. Everything from its design down to its soundtrack displays this clearly, and the map effectively allows players to step right into the world of the game. Already, standards have been set pretty high for MultiVersus moving forward, especially in regards to its stage design.