The wait is over! The highly anticipated Mayhem Brawler 2: Best of Both Worlds demo is finally here! Now’s your chance to dive headfirst into the electrifying streets of Mayhem City, where you'll experience not only the classic beat 'em up gameplay of the ‘90s but also an entirely new, modern twist on the genre.

• First Level of the Game: Including opening cinematic, and Level Boss fights!
  
• Four unique Heroes (two for each timeline): Choose to play in the past timeline as the legendary officer Stellar or the relentless Apex Hunter, or fight in the present timeline as the fierce She Wolf or the untamed Beastmaster.
  
• Two-Player Co-Op Mode: Team up with a friend to tackle the dangers of Mayhem City together.

While this demo is just a teaser, it's packed with enough action to get your adrenaline pumping. We’re still hard at work developing the full game, so your feedback is crucial. Keep in mind that you might run into a few bugs here and there, but that’s all part of the process! Your input will help us fine-tune the game into something truly special.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNY_umihjrE
With hand-drawn, comic book-inspired visuals and an energetic soundtrack, you'll be fully immersed in the world of Mayhem City as you journey through two distinct timelines. Expect time travel, epic battles, and surprises around every corner. Every playthrough brings something new to discover.

This is just the beginning, and we're thrilled to have you join us on this journey. Make sure to join our Discord channel to chat with us, share your thoughts, stay updated, and be a part of the game’s development process with your feedback!

You can add Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds to your wishlist on Steam and PlayStation.

Alongside working on our next title Mayhem Brawler 2: Best of Both Worlds, we have contacted developers and publishers of other beat 'em up games to collaborate on some bundles for our first game, Mayhem Brawler. With these bundles, you can get Mayhem Brawler with an additional 10% discount on top of regular sales!

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/bundle/42410/Mayhem_Brawler__BROK_the_InvestiGator/

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/bundle/42399/Mayhem_Brawler__Jitsu_Squad/

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/bundle/43110/Mayhem_Brawler__Dawn_of_the_Monsters/

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/bundle/42480/Mayhem_Brawler__Final_Vendetta/

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/bundle/42480/Mayhem_Brawler__Final_Vendetta/

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/bundle/43455/Mayhem_Brawler__Double_Dragon_Gaiden/

We are still working on more bundle collaborations and will do so as great beat 'em-up games continue to be released.

Mayhem Brawler 2: Best of Both Worlds is a time transition-themed beat 'em up that incorporates modern roguelite mechanics and RPG elements into its gameplay.

Witness how the genre evolves as you defeat enemies and encounter bosses in this beat 'em up yourself or with your friends in a co-op setting!

After its predecessor, Mayhem Brawler 2: Best of Both Worlds also features excellent comic book-style art and even more kick-ass soundtracks!

From the moment we shared our first development diary[www.heroconcept.com] for the game in 2022, we've been on an exciting journey. Today, we're happy to announce the game's upcoming release, a milestone we couldn't have reached without your long-lasting love and support!

The Steam, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One|Series, and Nintendo Switch versions of the game will be available to gamers everywhere in 2025. In the meantime, you can add it to your wishlist to be notified of its release!

Witness the unfolding of parallel events in two time periods 20 years apart! On one side is the legendary Stronghold agent Stellar, while on the other is She Wolf, as fiery as ever, who is running a mayoral campaign. The two teams embark on an adventure to uncover one of Mayhem City's darkest secrets.

Jump back and forth between characters from both timelines that you paired to challenge the opponents of the past and present simultaneously. Thanks to rogue-lite and RPG elements perfectly fused with classic beat 'em up mechanics, enjoy rich endgame content and a different gameplay experience with each new playthrough.

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/1826380?utm_source=announcement&utm_campaign=website

How is it going, Brawlers? Today, we'll dive into the backgrounds of Mayhem Brawler: Best of Both Worlds.[www.heroconcept.com]


I've been part of the Hero Concept team, breathing life into the Mayhem universe for about four years. Initially, I was a painter who wanted to create 3D environments, but my journey in the industry began with coloring character animations for Mayhem Brawler[www.heroconcept.com]. Back then, I had created backgrounds for the upcoming game, and now I'm one of the few individuals working on the backgrounds for Mayhem Brawler: Best of Both Worlds[www.heroconcept.com].


This was both exciting and frightening for me. Even though I had created small 3D models before, this time, I had to bring to life cities, shops, concert halls, and various concepts. After numerous brainstorming sessions, small experiments, and lengthy discussions about what we wanted to achieve, we started the practical aspect by preparing a template.

Unlike backgrounds in the previous game[www.heroconcept.com], we aimed to enhance the sense of depth with 3D environments while keeping characters in 2D. So, we can describe it as 2.5D. Achieving harmony between 3D backgrounds and 2D characters was about style and the camera angle. Therefore, we tilted the camera and characters by 10 degrees in the vertical plane to obtain a diagonal view.

Before

After


We had an apparent reference for the style: the previous game. Therefore, it was evident from the beginning that we would present a story in a comic book style. After finding accurate references for each level and transforming them into 3D models, we adapted them to the style we defined in the texture part. Objects were generally in actual dimensions, but we also stylized some to capture a better essence. I can say that one of the most enjoyable parts of the job for me was texture painting.

To capture the comic book style during the texture stage, we progressed by layer upon layer. In the initial release of unfinished game visuals, we received feedback from players who were familiar with us. Parallel to the feedback we received, we also had our questions. In response, we returned to the sections we created and started the process of color correction again.

As we approached our desired look with more lines and scans, using an outline shader helped us establish a city in a comic book style. When the new visuals were released, they satisfied players who were following us and addressed the concerns we had received earlier.


Locations also change their new forms by experiencing a leap of 20 years in two different time periods. At this point, there were some crucial aspects we needed to pay attention to. From a purely technical perspective, there was a necessity for objects to share the same space in terms of mass, and consequently, the walking areas for characters had to be the same in both time periods. Aesthetically, despite a complete transformation after 20 years, we tried to leave behind some visible, familiar structures. This way, even though the player navigates in a completely different time when experiencing time jumps, they can still see familiar traces. Observing these time transitions can be pretty exciting.


Lighting the levels is like the polishing stage for us. It's one of the moments that makes me most impatient for each level. At this point, I'd like to note that my favorite scenes are the night ones. I must say I enjoy seeing the lights we've lit up there. If it's an outdoor environment, our job is more straightforward; we add lights and modes that suit the predetermined time frame for that level.

But indoors, due to the game being 2.5D, we've encountered unexpected issues. Since the characters were cardboard, meaning they had no thickness, they lost their shadows when it came to lighting. When the light was in front of them, it changed the direction of the cloud, causing an unnatural movement due to their 2D nature. Despite not wanting to compromise on the design, prioritizing lights that cast shadows was the ideal solution. We decided the remaining lights would only illuminate the environment without casting shadows. This way, we achieved a smoother point for the shadows cast by 2D characters on the ground.

In this Dev Diary[www.heroconcept.com], I've tried explaining how we created and scaled Mayhem City and prepared the scenes. We are thrilled with where we've come from and the feedback we've received. We eagerly look forward to finishing the rest of the game and sharing it with you all!

Also, join our Discord Server[discord.com] to hear first about the updates & share your suggestions with us!

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/1826380/Mayhem_Brawler_II_Best_of_Both_Worlds/

— Rabia, 3D Artist

When designing a game's cover art, it's important to take a deep breath. The cover serves as the game's first introduction to the outside world and will remain so for months to come.

To be successful, it is not enough to have an impressive cover art and logo. The design should also be able to adjust to different frames quickly. When launching a game, the cover art is required in various sizes, including horizontal (16:9), vertical (9:16), or square (1:1). To ensure the best presentation of your cover, it is crucial to optimize it for each platform where it will be displayed.
Based on lessons from the Mayhem Brawler[www.heroconcept.com]'s cover art projects, I had a clear vision from the beginning of the Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds[www.heroconcept.com] cover.

To begin with, I created a briefing:

• The cover art should feature characters from two different timelines in the exact location.
  
• All eight playable characters should be grouped and paired according to their respective timelines and pose together.
  
• Past and present characters should be distinguishable in their poses. If one person faces one direction, the other should face the opposite.
  
• Each character should be positioned symmetrically with their counterpart and be able to be paired together when needed, making them usable as promo art individually.
  
• All of this should be centered on the background of Mayhem City, which is split in half by a time difference.
  
• The environment should also be divided down the middle, showing two different timelines.
  
• The design requires a cross-section of a suburban neighborhood from two different time periods to be in the foreground. In addition, in the background silhouette, there should be a district quarantined under a dome during a zombie outbreak that occurred 20 years ago, as stated in the story.

---

After taking all of these criteria into consideration, I have created a draft that I believe meets the requirements.

At first, I intended to complete the cover on my own. However, later on, I wanted this to be a memorable experience for the art team, something they could remember even years later. After all, multiple people were putting effort into completing each and every art asset for the project. The cover was no different. So, I divided the work within the team before moving forward.

---

Dilailah, our character concept artist, took on the pencil stage. Since she prepared the model sheets for most of the heroes (except Stellar, She Wolf, and Apex Hunter), she was already familiar with the characters.

Using the draft as a reference, Dilailah organized the poses and enhanced the sense of depth. She remarkably succeeded in adjusting Voivoda's pose, located at the far right back, to better align with the briefing.

---

For the ink stage, we decided to entrust it to Utku, one of our character animators, due to his passion for comic books.

Also, Utku corrected minor anatomy errors while adjusting the black balance.

---

Background work was also progressing simultaneously with the characters. Kirman, our background concept artist, completed the task's pencil and ink stages.

In addition to the briefing, we included objects related to the game's story and gameplay, such as a patrol car, trash can, and shopping cart used by homeless people.

---

After the ink phase, our character animators Yasin and Musa took over the coloring as Yasin colored the present and Musa colored the past. Since Yasin's first character was She Wolf and Musa's was Stellar.

The progress of this stage was relatively quick as the character model sheets were already prepared.

---

While the background coloring work was continuing, at some point, I had to step in again because they needed clarification, especially about the color palette of the background.

For this purpose, I first made a detailed source scan. Then, I determined the mood by blending my collected references and painting over the drawings.

---

Emirhan, one of our character animators, completed the background painting as follows within the palette I determined in the previous stage:

Initially, we were uncertain about the level of detail in the rendering. However, we were relieved in the later stages when it became clear we were on the right track.

---

When it came time to merge the background with the characters, our 3D artist Rabia took charge.

While rendering the lighting and shadow relationships between the characters and the environment, Rabia ensured their placements were accurate.

---

As we were nearing completion, we all came to an agreement that some final touches were necessary. I took on the task and added a rift between the two time periods and a CRT effect to the background. In conclusion, I made some color corrections and finished the job.

We are happy with the result. We hope you like it too. The only thing that remains is to finish the remainder of the game.

— Your friendly neighborhood developer, Serkan Özay

Hero Concept proudly presents a perfect fuse of '90s arcade vibes and modern rogue-lite mechanics: time transition-themed Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds[www.heroconcept.com], a sequel to our urban fantasy-themed beat 'em up Mayhem Brawler[www.heroconcept.com].

Since the day we shared our very first Mayhem Brawler II Developer Diary 1: What Can We Share?[www.heroconcept.com] over a year ago, we had incredible support from all our officers worldwide. Thanks to your love and support, we are excited to announce that Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds[www.heroconcept.com] will be released this year on Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox stores. You can add it to your wishlists NOW!

https://steamproxy.net/steamstore/app/1826380/Mayhem_Brawler_II_Best_of_Both_Worlds/

A perfect fuse of '90s arcade vibe and modern rogue-lite / RPG mechanics in a time transition-themed beat 'em up. Play solo or online with friends and shape the story through your choices. Be amazed by the hand-drawn comics-inspired art, frame-by-frame animated characters, and kick-ass soundtracks.


Witness the unfolding of parallel events in two time periods 20 years apart! On one side is the legendary Stronghold agent Stellar, while on the other is She Wolf, as fiery as ever, who is running a mayoral campaign. The two teams embark on an adventure to uncover one of Mayhem City's darkest secrets.


Jump back and forth between characters from both timelines that you paired to challenge the opponents of the past and present simultaneously.
Thanks to rogue-lite and RPG elements perfectly fused with classic beat 'em up mechanics, enjoy rich endgame content and a different gameplay experience with each new playthrough.

• A perfect fuse of ‘90s arcade vibe and modern mechanics
  
• Jumping back or forth 20 years in time, simultaneously challenge opponents of the past and present
  
• Rogue-lite and RPG game mechanics vary the gameplay with each new playthrough.
  
• 8 playable heroes with unique abilities against more than 40 different opponents
  
• Experience co-op gaming with up to 4 friends online or offline
  
• A narrative based on player choices with voiceover and 11 subtitle options
  
• Hand-drawn comics-inspired art, frame-by-frame animated characters, and rocking soundtracks
  
• Rich endgame content for replayability

Oh, are there even more? Yes, there are! You keep seeing us often because we always bring good news—specifically, Character Concepts[www.heroconcept.com] for Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds[www.heroconcept.com]. As you can guess, two more heroes have just arrived as the final pair of the eight playable characters. Hold on! This is no goodbye to our exciting, impressive, and awesomely spectacular Character Concept Arts[www.heroconcept.com]. They are just the final pair as of yet. You may view new playable characters once we launch the game, and you break it with your superhuman reflexes. Who knows? 🙈🙉🙊

Okay, let's talk about our final pair. Who are these Weapon Masters!? Let's find out. 👇
Hack 'n' slash games are all about fast-paced, action-packed combat. They often have characters who use weapons; some may have unique abilities tied to certain weapons. Using weapons adds an engaging element to the gameplay, allowing players to feel the impact of their attacks (the satisfaction of landing powerful blows to the enemy's head!) and experience the thrill of battles. Plus, the fluidity of combat movements, weapon animations, and the flashy FX contribute to the overall visual appeal of a game.

Well, Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds[www.heroconcept.com] is a hack n' slash as much as it's a beat 'em up. By adding weapon master heroes to the game, we aimed to introduce the classic hack n' slash gameplay experience to a beat 'em up. So the two new characters you're about to meet possess trusty weapons on their persons, but that doesn't mean they won't be able to use weapons dropped by the enemies!
Mindbender was the most requested boss in the first game to become a playable character. But as we wanted to save her for the sequel's story, we brought you the little mischief "Alley Witch[www.heroconcept.com]" in the Witchcraft Update[www.heroconcept.com] instead.
Story-wise, Mindbender, and Stellar were both highly qualified, legendary Stronghold officers in their youth. They were patrol partners and close friends, so close that Mindbender gladly took care of Stellar's daughter as her child after she was deceased. The rest of the story? You'll have to wait for that.

In the concept, she wears Stronghold's old model official uniform with a cape that carries a medal of honor granted by the queen. Even though she is a recycled character wearing a predesigned uniform, her concept design phase took as long as she went through several revisions.
Mindbender wields a tonfa in one hand, leaving her other hand free for unarmed fighting and, of course, for picking up weapons! She will perform artistic dual-wielding moves with her tonfa and dull old small melee weapons!

Voivoda is a cunning businessman who strategically aligns himself with the politically powerful She Wolf, whom he previously attempted to overthrow. In his new design, we changed our approach from the classical "edgy vampire lord" to "vintage chic businessman." We added a long, veeery long ponytail for a distinctive silhouette and more dynamic animations! To match the game's vibrant appearance, we transformed the pastel earth tones of vintage style into a more captivating and contrasting palette. The outcome, unintendedly resembling Halloween colors, was pleasing to all of us!
Voivoda uses a sword while fighting, as you remember from the previous game. However, we changed his longsword into a fancy rapier in the sequel. Because I, as his concept artist, find rapiers very cool. And a rapier suits his personality better. Because a sword is direct and brutal, but a rapier is quick and deadly, which suits his abilities more. 🤺

Just like Mindbender, he has the ability of dual-wielding —but with large melee weapons! That said, due to the range of his sword, he will be quite a challenge to balance. It's not a challenge that we can't overcome, though. 💪

None of us are pureblood vampires, and we don't have years to wait. Don't worry. We are as excited as you are and almost done with our first demo! As we mentioned, we are joining two gaming events next month to showcase the first playable version of our game. One is Mobidictum[events.mobidictum.com], Sep 5-6; the other is GIST[www.gamingistanbul.com], Sep 22-23-24. Please keep your eyes open for our Steam page, which will be released soon. Since you have met all our heroes, you'll also see our precious cover art soon. ✨
Check out our developer diaries #1[www.heroconcept.com], #5[www.heroconcept.com], and #6[www.heroconcept.com] to learn more about our other playable characters and more!
— Dilailah, Blog Writer Concept Artist

First, It feels like yesterday when our officers began offering a thrilling gaming experience that combines classic arcade games with contemporary features.
As we celebrate, we reflect on the incredible journey we've been on. From the moment our officers hit the streets, we knew we were creating something unique. The perfect fuse of classic arcade gaming with modern twists was a successful recipe. We are grateful for our community's support in helping us reach this milestone.
In May 2023, the Mayhem Brawler game received the Witchcraft update[www.heroconcept.com]. This update introduced Nora Komar, known as Alley Witch, to The Stronghold team. Nora's magical abilities added an exciting twist to battles as players progressed through the game. Players witnessed her transformation from informant to ally. In addition, the Witchcraft update left a lasting impact on the game's legacy with the Boss Mayhem mode, where players can face challenging adversaries in intricately designed scenarios.

In conclusion, The Witchcraft update was pivotal in the game's history, introducing the Alley Witch and her magical abilities to our players. The Boss Mayhem mode added new layers of challenge and excitement, cementing the game's legacy as an adrenaline-pumping experience.
We are constantly learning and staying motivated on our journey. Therefore, we will preserve the arcade essence that characterizes Mayhem Brawler in all our future endeavors.
As we look to the future, we'll continue working on Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds. This sequel aims to redefine immersive gaming, blending classic arcade gameplay with cutting-edge technology. So, we're committed to delivering an unforgettable adventure that continues the urban fantasy narrative of its predecessor.
Best of Both Worlds merges classic arcade gameplay with cutting-edge technology. Mayhem Brawler II continues the urban fantasy narrative of its predecessor. Our team aims to deliver an unforgettable adventure that merges the charm of classic arcades with the allure of contemporary marvels.

Please take a look at our previous dev diaries to learn more about Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds.


We sincerely thank our players and community for making Mayhem Brawler a success. Your enthusiasm, feedback, and belief in our vision are invaluable. We are committed to providing exceptional experiences and expanding our reach with your support.
Do not forget to join our Discord community server[discord.com] to hear first about the updates & share your invaluable feedback with us!

Howdy? 🤠 It’s Dilailah once again! You might remember me from the Character Concepts[www.heroconcept.com] developer diary, where we discussed creating captivating characters. Well, I’m back to introduce you to the spellcaster heroes of Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds[www.heroconcept.com]. Get ready to be amazed by their magical powers and engaging personalities. 🧙‍♂️ WOOSH! 💫


I’ve always been a safe kind of player in every game. No matter the genre, I choose to play with a mage character if I can because I like to support my teammates without diving into the action myself. However, that approach doesn’t quite cut it in beat ’em ups. Have to get your hands dirty! You know, you have to beat ’em up.

But fear not! Our spellcasters in Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds[www.heroconcept.com] possess an enchanting blend of magical prowess and physical combat skills. Our spellcasters can defend themselves in every physical matter—with the sparkly flavor of magic! With some special tricks and feats that I’m allowed to spoil only a few, they introduce an element of strategic depth to the gameplay, which means many fun combos and unique playstyles! Not to mention that they will make the game more radiant and colorful. ✨

We are pleased to welcome “Wishmaster” from the past and “Enchantress” from the present. For more information on the different timelines in the sequel, please see our previous Dev Diaries.



It’s hard to believe that almost a year has passed since I began my journey with Hero Concept. This super cool guy was my first character design for the Mayhem universe. Design-wise, he is, so far, the most detailed character we have and probably will be the hardest one to animate. It took days to even decide on his color palette. But! Even after dozens of other characters designed for the sequel, Wishmaster is still among my top 5 favorites. I can’t wait to hear your reactions.

In the first game, you neither heard of his name nor his connection to the story. YET. Our fearless leader says that Wishmaster is the founder of Codex Entertainment, therefore, the person who brought esoteric magic to the popular culture of the Mayhem universe. Just bear with us; his lore is deeper than you think. 👀
One of the aspects that truly resonates with me about Wishmaster is how incredibly well he aligns with my preferred playstyle. I’m a big fan of utilizing weapons in beat ’em ups, and I mean lots of weapons! I always bring all the weapons I find to the next stage. I’m sure many of you can relate to this as well. So, I bet you’ll like it when you find out that Wishmaster will be maxing out the benefits you could get from a weaponist playstyle... Because, as a spellcaster, he can carry multiple weapons at once with his magical ability!


If I had to confess, I would say that Enchantress has a more important place in me than any other Mayhem character. I find her design the most original among other heroes, and simple & vibrant color palettes like hers are an aesthetic I like to use on my personal drawings. Not only that, but she also carries a tiny bit of “me” in her design. It’s the little weirdo eye makeup I like to use; I had it on my first day at Hero Concept. 👁️

I know you guys hated playing against Enchantress in Mayhem Brawler when she was a boss. I took the Voivoda route most of the time I played because mejins are a complete pain in the butt. Teleport is quite a jerk move if you ask me. What about Enchantress’ giant spectral hand? No thanks. Or is it..? Well, that’s the enemy’s problem now, as we keep all those unnerving skills on our adorable mejin queen, now playable! And yes, by unnerving, I mean the infamous ranged grapple and teleportation!

Every question you may have about the story of Mayhem Brawler will be answered in the sequel. Don’t let your interest slip, my friends, because Wishmaster and Enchantress will show you something massive! 🙊


We’ve been working hard on the demo, and we all hope to meet you at this year’s Mobidictum[events.mobidictum.com] (September 4-5) and Gaming Istanbul[www.gamingistanbul.com] (September 22-24). Come to show your support & be the first to test our game. 😊

Also, join our Discord community server[discord.com] to hear first about the updates & share your suggestions with us!

— Dilailah, fellow Concept Artist