Skullgirls

Skullgirls
Developer(s)Reverge Labs[a]
Publisher(s)Autumn Games[b]
Designer(s)
  • Mike Zaimont (2012–2019)
  • Peter Bartholow
Programmer(s)
  • Mike Zaimont (2012–2019)
Artist(s)
  • Alex Ahad
  • Mariel Kinuko Cartwright
  • Jonathan Kim
  • Brian Jun
Composer(s)
Platform(s)
Release
April 10, 2012
  • Skullgirls
  • PlayStation 3
    • NA: April 10, 2012
    • EU/AU: May 2, 2012
    Xbox 360
    • WW: April 11, 2012
    Microsoft Windows
    • WW: August 22, 2013

  • Skullgirls Encore
  • PlayStation 3
    • NA: February 11, 2014
    • EU/AU: March 19, 2014
    • JP: July 15, 2014
    Windows, Xbox 360
    • WW: April 22, 2014

  • Skullgirls 2nd Encore
  • PlayStation 4
    • NA: July 7, 2015
    • EU/AU: July 23, 2015
    • JP: April 14, 2016
    Arcade
    • JP: October 29, 2015
    PlayStation Vita
    • WW: April 5, 2016
    • EU/JP: April 14, 2016
    Linux, Windows, OS X
    • WW: April 13, 2016
    Nintendo Switch
    • WW: October 22, 2019
    Xbox One, Series X/S
    • WW: July 19, 2023

  • Skullgirls Mobile
  • Android, iOS
    • WW: May 25, 2017
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemTaito Type X²

Skullgirls is a 2012 fighting video game developed by Reverge Labs and published by Autumn Games, originally released digitally for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and ported to various other home and portable systems afterwards. A 2D fighter, Skullgirls consist of team-based fights and revolves around the "Skull Heart", an artifact which grants wishes for women. If a wisher with an impure soul uses the Skull Heart, she is transformed into a monster known as the "Skullgirl".

The game was initially released through the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade platforms, and received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the animation and gameplay mechanics, while criticizing its initial roster size and online multiplayer features. The game was then ported to Windows, released through the Steam platform, before a dispute between Autumn Games and distributor Konami led to its removal from the console storefronts; it was re-released on both platforms in 2014 as Skullgirls Encore, before a PlayStation 4 port and a version for Japanese arcades under the retitled name Skullgirls 2nd Encore in 2015. It has since been ported to other platforms including PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. A spin-off mobile title was released in 2017 for Android and iOS, developed by Hidden Variable Studios.

Development of Skullgirls 2nd Encore continues in the form of downloadable content. After Skullgirls's initial release, the core team of Reverge Labs reformed as Lab Zero Games and developed the game until its dissolution in 2020, with several of its members forming another indie studio, Future Club, who have been the Skullgirls developers since.
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