Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is set to release on July 23, and initial reviews suggest it may finally be the "must-play" Avatar: The Last Airbender video game that fans have been waiting for. Critics are praising the game's combat mechanics and presentation, though its story mode and accessibility for newcomers have drawn mixed reactions. The game currently holds an 81 on Metacritic and an 82 on Opencritic.

Reviewers have lauded the game's core fighting systems. IGN's Mitchell Saltzman described the character movement, varied playstyles, animations, and combo execution as "special," awarding the game an 8/10. TheGamer's George Foster noted in his 4.5/5 review that it is "incredibly fast-paced and technical," offering a high skill ceiling that is "well worth it because of how fine-tuned the core mechanics are," even with welcoming features like auto-combos.

The game's story mode, however, has proven to be a point of contention. Polygon's Elijah Gonzalez found the enemy AI "lackluster" and the battles unengaging for single-player enjoyment, while Foster's TheGamer review highlighted the "multidimensional narrative" as a "standout story mode that feels right out of the show."

Accessibility for players new to the fighting genre is another area drawing criticism. Kotaku's Kenneth Shepard pointed out a "massive flaw" in the game's single-player modes and tutorials, deeming them "not adequate enough for anyone who hasn’t already played the game to actually learn how." Despite this, the inclusion of an auto-combo mechanic is intended to help newcomers engage with the game's systems.

Fans of the Avatar franchise will likely appreciate the faithful adaptation of characters and their abilities. Gonzalez of Polygon commented that the roster was "given a lot of love, thoughtfully adapting these characters’ personalities while referencing both iconic moments and deep-cut novel details alike." The review also expressed hope for overlap between Avatar fans and those willing to dive into competitive play, suggesting the game might struggle to find its intended audience if not.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is scheduled to launch on July 23 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.