Poly Fighter Preview: Championship Material | PAX East 2026

Roger Reichardt
2 hours ago
2 min read

Three people smiling, holding a Best of PAX trophy at PAX East. Booth for Poly Fighter with sign in the background. Casual attire.

I loved Virtua Fighter growing up. It was the first fighting game I played where the characters felt like they had truly distinct movesets, like Shun Di, the drunken kung fu master (yes, I watched Drunk Master a lot). I’m also a big fan of roguelikes, so when I heard about Poly Fighter, a new roguelike fighting game that takes inspiration from games like Virtua Fighter, I knew I had to check it out.

Fighting game scene with two characters, Hiro and Zeke, battling in an arena. "Combos x3" and "Chilled 3/5" text displayed. Urban backdrop.

And I’m glad I did. I loved what I got to play, so much so that it earned one of our Best of PAX 2026 awards.

The demo at PAX let me choose from a handful of different characters. After talking with the developers, it sounds like the full game will feature quite a few playable fighters, along with others that appear as enemies throughout the progression ladder.

The gameplay feels a lot like Street Fighter. Some characters have moves that fire ice projectiles, similar to Ryu or Ken, while others use attacks like a tornado kick. A lot of the moves feel familiar, and that’s intentional. The developers told me they wanted to lean into the fond memories of the fighting games many of us grew up playing.

Game board with character cards, glowing fists, and paths. Text "PERK" and "SUPER" appears. Night cityscape in background.

What sets Poly Fighter apart from other fighting games I’ve played is its roguelike structure. I’m progressing through a ladder, choosing which path to take, with each node representing a different fighter or special event leading up to the boss.

As I defeat opponents along the way, I learn their moves, essentially leveling up my character. Each run feels different, even when playing as the same fighter, because my build is shaped by the path I choose.

Two characters battle in a vibrant game scene with a sunset backdrop. Text: "CHILLED 4/5 TRANSFORMED." Energetic and intense mood.

I asked the developers if they knew of any other fighting games using a roguelike structure, and they believe they may be the first to do it.

I also asked about a versus mode. While they aren’t ruling it out, the game is currently focused on a single-player experience. If a versus mode does happen, they want it to feel unique. But for now, it’s not part of the initial release.

Fighting game scene with two characters in combat. Vibrant purple energy, "Combos X3" text, health bars, and a spooky background.

Poly Fighter feels like something special, especially for fans of roguelikes and fighting games. I’m definitely excited to spend more time with it.

Be sure to wishlist the game and check out the demo, too!