“Dorothy Gale roundhouse kicking Sweeney Todd off a cliff in the Hundred Acre Wood” isn’t something I expected to put in writing today, but that’s just a regular day in Royalty Free-For-All, a hand-drawn, public-domain party brawler that’s equal parts chaotic and charming. It is developed and published by AAAA Games with a release date still TBD.

Royalty Free-For-All takes beloved literary and folklore characters—Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, Lancelot, Sweeney Todd, and others—and throws them into madcap cartoon brawls in classic settings like Old MacDonald’s Farm, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and many more. Don’t mistake its approachable art style for a lack of depth—this game cleverly balances its expressive animation with each character while giving them their unique styles.

From the very first match, it’s clear the team behind this title loves cartoons just as much as chaos. And yes, everything is public domain, so it’s a copyright-safe slugfest with just the right amount of satire.

Royalty Free-For-All is designed with everyone in mind—and I mean everyone. Light, Strong, and Special attacks form the backbone of the control scheme, but there’s just enough finesse to keep more competitive players engaged. Dodges, aerials, wall bounces—it’s all here but introduced in a way that doesn’t overwhelm.

If you’ve played Smash Bros., Rivals of Aether, or Brawlhalla, you’ll recognize the DNA here. But where RFFA stands out is in its tone and flow. This game doesn’t ask you to memorize long combo strings or hitbox frames. Instead, it invites you to discover hilarious interactions like Sweeney Todd’s barber shop-based attacks.

Royalty Free-For-All is a brawler for all skill levels. Whether you’re a party gamer who just wants to laugh or a competitor looking to become the next battle champion, RFFA welcomes you. The matches are pure mayhem—ideal for casual parties—but the inclusion of rollbacks makes this preview build feel shockingly smooth. Whether you’re in a 1v1 duel or a four-player free-for-all, the frame stability is impressive.

Now, without exaggeration, this might be one of the prettiest brawlers I’ve ever played. Each character is animated frame-by-frame in a hand-drawn style that’s reminiscent of vintage cartoons, watercolor paintings, and classic animation cels. The stages are layered with storybook-level detail, and they never feel like lazy backdrops. They feel alive—reacting to the chaos, echoing the characters, and changing tone based on what’s happening on screen. 

Replay value will ultimately hinge on the breadth of content—character variety, stage selection, and post-launch support. However, with community involvement promised via the official site (where you can even vote on future content), it seems like the developers are listening.

That said, a few things still felt in-progress in this early build at PAX East. To me, the game needed a few more character moves or special combos (we’re talking about you, Lancelot), but for a game still in development, the core foundation is solid.

Overall, Royalty Free-For-All is shaping up to be a love letter to weirdness and cartoon chaos. With expressive animation, smooth game play, and the right mix of depth and approachability, it could easily become a go-to party game—or even carve out its own space in the platform fighter scene. There are still rough edges to smooth out, but if development keeps up this momentum, I’ll be wish-listing this for launch day.

Whether you’re a casual brawler or just want to see Dorothy Gale dunk on Sweeney Todd at the Center of the Earth, Royalty Free-For-All might just be the beautifully bizarre fighter you didn’t know you needed.

The Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast About Video Games

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Featured Image Source: Royalty-Free-For-All