EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS

The family-friendly blasting of Earth Defence Force: World Brothers should tide over the franchise fans until the arrival of EDF 6 later in the year.

80%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

81% User Score Based on 401 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $5.78

Buy NowGet on Steam $9.99

About

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS is a single player and multiplayer shooter game. It was developed by YUKE'S and was released on May 27, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

In "Earth Defense Force: World Brothers," players enter a parallel world where the Earth is made of digital blocks and has been shattered into pieces. They must restore peace by rescuing scattered EDF soldiers, each with unique traits, and forming a team to combat enemies. The game features block versions of characters from past EDF games, up to "Earth Defense Force 5."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS screenshot

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 401 reviews

story12 positive mentions

grinding24 negative mentions

Engaging and addictive EDF gameplay with a new character-switching feature that adds depth and strategy.
A wide variety of characters and weapons to explore, allowing for unique team configurations and playstyles.
Charming graphics and a fun, lighthearted tone that embraces the silliness of the EDF franchise.

Lacks local co-op, which is a significant drawback for players wanting to enjoy the game with friends or family.
The game can feel too easy, especially on lower difficulties, and requires significant time investment to unlock higher challenges.
Repetitive dialogue and character stereotypes can detract from the overall experience, making it feel less serious than previous EDF titles.

story
237 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
91%
4%
The story in "EDF: World Brothers" is characterized by its lighthearted and often absurd humor, featuring quirky characters and missions that include collecting ingredients for miso soup. While the narrative is filled with references to previous EDF games, it lacks depth and cohesion, often leaning into silliness rather than serious storytelling. Players can expect a mix of enjoyable dialogue and over-the-top scenarios, but the overall plot is considered less engaging compared to earlier titles in the series, with many missions feeling repetitive despite the game's expansive roster of characters.
- “The story doesn't take itself too seriously, or at least the characters you meet are wacky, like a ninja trying to get his hands on miso soup, or streamers making videos about blowing up giant alien dinosaurs.”
- “The story is fantastic, all the characters were pretty silly and I enjoyed most of the dialogue.”
- “The story and dialogue are over-the-top goofy and are full of references to previous games.”
- “The story is supremely stupid; normally EDF is just kind of silly, but in this one the EDF crew mounts like 5 full-blown military operations looking for soup ingredients.”
- “The contents of the story are absolutely ridiculous, and yet the writing can't decide whether it's joking or if it's serious.”
- “While the mission plotlines vary from hilarious to fourth wall breaking to clutch and intense, the story is silly and the characters lean heavily into their stereotypes like an old Saturday morning cartoon.”
gameplay
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
71%
3%
The gameplay of "Earth Defense Force: World Brothers" retains the addictive, chaotic essence of the EDF series while introducing new mechanics like character-switching and team-building, allowing for diverse playstyles. While some players appreciate the fresh voxel aesthetic and simplified mechanics, others feel it lacks the depth and complexity of previous entries, making it feel repetitive and grindy. Overall, it offers a fun, albeit different, experience for both veterans and newcomers to the franchise.
- “Same addictive EDF gameplay, but even more fast-paced, thanks to the new character-switching feature.”
- “The gameplay is quite different from mainline entries thanks to the character system where you get to pick 4 brothers/sisters, each with their own abilities and weapons, and you switch between them on the fly.”
- “The ability to build a team of unique brothers and sisters and switch roles on the fly, along with the addition of ultimate abilities, adds a new layer of depth and management to single-player gameplay.”
- “Movement in gameplay feels clunky.”
- “Gameplay feels like an early to middle PS2 or Dreamcast Capcom game, in how simple overall it is.”
- “Gameplay is extremely repetitive and boring.”
graphics
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
71%
7%
The graphics of the game feature a charming voxel art style that some players find appealing, while others view it as simplistic or childish. Despite initial reservations, many reviewers appreciate the unique aesthetic and how it complements the gameplay, although opinions vary on whether it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are described as colorful and inviting, with a lighthearted tone that aligns well with the game's fun mechanics.
- “The voxel graphics are charming in their own way and add a unique flavor you don't see too often.”
- “It's a fun art style that is inviting to most people.”
- “The voxel-based art style blends perfectly with the gameplay and humor.”
- “I initially held off on trying this as the voxel graphics aren't really my thing.”
- “Many EDF fans took one look at Earth Defense Force: World Brothers' voxel-style graphics and dismissed this game as a Minecraft-esque, sub-par, shameless cash grab.”
- “The graphics are indicative of a game that doesn't take itself seriously, which unlike other EDFs, is a drawback.”
humor
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying its lighthearted, quirky tone and meta-commentary, while others find the reliance on self-referential gags and cultural stereotypes off-putting. Many appreciate the silly character designs and humorous dialogue, which can evoke laughter, but some criticize it for lacking the classic EDF charm and for being overly simplistic or cringe-worthy. Overall, the humor appeals to a specific audience, particularly those familiar with the EDF series, but may not resonate with everyone.
- “Surprisingly, it also ended up being legitimately funny a lot of the time with its silly meta commentary and goofy characters.”
- “The cute character designs, lighthearted tone, and classic EDF-style humor make this an absolute joy to play.”
- “The game's humor style, rather than the traditional self-aware but serious-toned B-movie cliché romp that is normal EDF humor, is an occasionally fourth-wall breaking totally silly style that pokes fun at some anime tropes and clichés.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
63%
9%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy and upbeat nature, as well as the nostalgic inclusion of tracks from previous titles in the series. However, some players find the music repetitive and overwhelming, suggesting it can become annoying over time. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the fun and goofy atmosphere, it may not appeal to everyone in the long run.
- “Also, I want to point out great voice acting -- one of the best parts of the game, music here is excellent as well, really liked the theme at the final boss fight.”
- “The soundtrack as usual is A+++ with tons of songs from past EDF games included along with another fun feature many may not notice!”
- “Tons of fun with the character swapping and catchy soundtrack.”
- “Since they made use of so many figures from around the world, not making use of distinct instruments and musical styles from abroad seems like a wasted opportunity.”
- “The music gets repetitive fast and I genuinely recommend disabling it.”
- “While the EDF songs are back, they are just a copy from 4.1.”
grinding
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate that "grinding" in EDF: World Brothers is a mixed experience; while the game attempts to streamline the process by allowing players to farm for characters and weapons more efficiently, many still find it tedious and time-consuming. Players note that the grind for new characters and weapons can feel excessive, especially with the need to replay missions multiple times for completion. Overall, while some appreciate the changes that reduce the randomness of loot drops, the grind remains a significant aspect of gameplay that can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “When it comes to avoiding one of EDF's bigger flaws, World Brothers suffers from the same problem of being incredibly grindy.”
- “The last character (there are 3 'unique' subtypes of everyone: alpha, beta, gamma) took longer to find than doing all 60 missions on all 5 difficulties. Koala gamma just wouldn't show up even after the other 2 were maxed out, so I had to grind for several hours after the rest of the game was 'done'.”
- “It's short and grindy, and manages to cut out the decision-making that makes EDF special.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
Overall, "World Brothers" demonstrates strong optimization, running smoothly without frame drops even during online play, and offering more graphic options than previous titles. Players report flawless performance on high-end systems, though some mouse issues and pacing concerns may affect solo gameplay experience. The game introduces a new mechanic for character acquisition and armor progression based on match performance, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- “World Brothers uses UE4, and while the graphic options aren't as granular as one would like, there are more options here than in the Sandlot titles, and the general performance itself is good.”
- “Most well-optimized EDF there is, zero lag even on online play, and the new mechanic of getting characters is awesome.”
- “Computer performance on an RTX 2060 has been flawless with everything at maximum at 2560 x 1080.”
- “It runs smooth as butter, not a single dropped frame unlike Sandlot's badly optimized engine.”
- “Gaining armor for your characters seems to be automatic as you're no longer collecting armor crates from the field and it's based on performance.”
- “Armor is earned based on performance instead of collecting it, which changes the dynamic of gameplay.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report a smooth experience with no bugs, others encounter significant issues such as UI glitches, softlocks during cutscenes, and connection problems during loading screens. Overall, the game shows potential but suffers from notable bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
- “The game runs great, looks great, and plays great, as you'd expect from EDF.”
- “Other than that, the game runs great, and I have not encountered any bugs in my first 6 hours.”
- “The game is extremely buggy, with multiple instances where missions start with no UI until a player performs a special move. Cutscenes can outright softlock the lobby, and there are several cases of players losing connection during loading screens.”
- “When you alt-tab, it can cause glitches with the UI, making your mouse pointer out of place.”
- “Online play is a little buggy, which can detract from the overall experience.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted by charming designs and a lighthearted tone, complemented by classic EDF-style humor, which collectively enhance the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The character designs are adorable, and the lighthearted tone combined with classic EDF-style humor makes this an absolute joy to play.”
- “The depth of character development really allows players to connect with the story and the characters on a personal level.”
- “Each character evolves throughout the game, providing a rich narrative experience that keeps you engaged and invested in their journeys.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is skillfully crafted, balancing humor and seriousness to enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate its engaging writing and unique charm, particularly those who enjoy cheesy and "so bad it's good" elements.
- “The game handles the atmosphere very well; it can be both funny and serious depending on the situation.”
- “As a lover of EDF, cheesy things, and 'so bad it's good' content, I can only give this game's writing and atmosphere the highest of thumbs up.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight that while the game offers engaging EDF gameplay, its emotional depth may resonate more with long-time fans of the series. The balance of goofy and serious moments contributes to genuinely emotional experiences throughout the game.
- “It took itself seriously, and was equal parts goofy and serious, with a lot of moments in 4.1 being genuinely emotional.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of Earth Defense Force: World Brothers has been criticized by fans, who view it as a low-quality, cash grab reminiscent of Minecraft, with many feeling it is only worth a fraction of its price at £10.
- “Many EDF fans took one look at Earth Defense Force: World Brothers' voxel-style graphics and dismissed this game as a Minecraft-esque, sub-par, shameless cash grab.”
- “Sadly but honestly, only worth £10; it's a cheap EDF cash grab.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that the game offers significant replayability, as it allows for character development and adjustments that can enhance the experience, even for characters initially perceived as unlikable.
- “This also adds replay value and may make a character you initially don't like work a little better.”
- “There's a lot of replayability too.”

Skip Critic Reviews

80%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews

Skip Game Offers

Buy EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS

6h Median play time

8h Average play time

4-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS

66%1.2kreviews

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN

2019

Shooter

84%5.2kreviews

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5

2019

Shooter

82%1.3kreviews

Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon

2011

Shooter

76%1.9kreviews

SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE

2022

Role Playing Shooter

75%668reviews

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion

2025

Action Adventure

More games like EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS is a shooter game.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 8 hours playing EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS was released on May 27, 2021.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS was developed by YUKE'S.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5, Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon, SD GUNDAM BATTLE ALLIANCE, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion and others.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: WORLD BROTHERS

Platforms

Earth Defence Force: World Brothers review