I have a confession: I did not need another free Epic Brawler in Brawl Stars, and yet the Retropolis Challenge still got me to play like my phone was on fire. The event ran from March 13 to March 19, 2025, and it handed out 2 Mr. Bat Profile Icons, 7 Starr Drops, and Bibi as the final prize. If you already owned Bibi, you got 500 Credits instead. In 2026, this challenge is not live, so please do not refresh your event tab until your thumb files a formal complaint. Think of this as a retro guide for a possible rerun and a loving memorial to my free time. 🏏

The short version, for people who read menus like action movies

The Retropolis Challenge had three stages, and each stage required three wins. That is nine total wins, not twelve. The original chatter said twelve, but 3 times 3 is nine; I am a gamer, not a mathematician, and even I can see that. The best part? Unlimited lives. Unlimited lives meant I could lose with dignity, then lose again with optimism, then finally win because the enemy team got distracted by a wall. This was noticeably easier than some previous challenges, and I say that as someone whose aim has been described as decorative.

Stage	Mode	Map	Picks that worked	My very scientific note
1	Gem Grab	Open Space	Tick, Mr. P, Juju; Mortis, Ollie, Kenji	Throwers harass, mobility grabs gems
2	Hot Zone	Open Zone	Stu, Frank, Melodie; Bea, Mr. P, Shade	Hold the zone, not your breath
3	Knockout	New Horizon	Piper, Brock, Mandy, Spike; Shade, Mortis, Lily	No respawns, no excuses

Stage 1: Gem Grab and the art of being annoying

Gem Grab is the classic 3v3 mode where gems pop out of the mine in the middle, and the team with the most gems wins. The map was Open Space, which is a fancy way of saying there is room to make questionable decisions. For easier wins, I leaned on Tick, Mr. P, and Juju to harass enemies with throwables and disrupt their positioning. If you prefer contesting the middle for gems, Mortis, Ollie, or Kenji are great choices because mobility is basically a personality trait in this mode.

My personal strategy was simple: throw something, run away, pretend the gem count was someone else's job. It worked often enough to prove that chaos is a legitimate team composition. 😅

Stage 2: Hot Zone and my brief career as a zone bodyguard

Hot Zone is a 3v3 mode where you capture and hold zones, and the first team to fully capture the zone wins. The map was Open Zone, which sounds peaceful until three enemies sprint at you from different angles. For a strong frontline presence, Stu, Frank, or Melodie can push forward and force enemies out of the zone. For control and flanking, Bea, Mr. P, or Shade are solid choices. Stu in particular felt like a great pick here, mostly because he can zoom around and make the enemy team question their life choices.

I picked Stu, spun in a circle, and somehow won a match. Science has yet to explain this. Hot Zone was my favorite stage because it rewarded standing in one place aggressively, which is a skill I have been developing for years. 🧍

Stage 3: Knockout and the return of my survival instincts

Knockout is a 3v3 mode where you eliminate opponents in a best-of-three contest. There are no respawns, and once you are defeated, you are out for the rest of the round. The map was New Horizon. For good control, Piper, Brock, Mandy, or Spike can dominate the center with long-ranged attacks. If you prefer aggressive play, Shade, Mortis, or Lily are good choices on this map.

Knockout was where my confidence met reality. I played Piper, missed two shots, and then remembered that positioning is also a thing. Still, unlimited lives meant I could keep trying until the game took pity on me. That is the Retropolis Challenge experience in one sentence: lose, learn, and annoy the enemy team until the rewards arrive. 🎯

The rewards, the flex, and the 2026 verdict

Completing all three stages unlocked Bibi if you did not already have her, or 500 Credits if you did. You also earned 2 Mr. Bat Profile Icons and plenty of Starr Drops. I got lucky and scored a Mythic Starr Drop, which unlocked the Vamprimo Brawl-O-Ween skin. I have never felt more powerful while also being completely carried by luck.

So, what is the 2026 verdict? The Retropolis Challenge was a limited-time event that ended on March 19, 2025. It is not currently active, but if Supercell ever reruns it, I would absolutely dive back in. The unlimited lives made it forgiving, the rewards were generous, and the stages were short enough to finish before my snacks got cold. Would I do it again? Yes. Would I pretend my aim is intentional? Also yes. And if you are reading this in 2026, congratulations: you are not late. You are just early for the rerun I invented in my head. 🚀

Details are provided by GamesRadar+, whose broad games coverage helps frame why a limited-time event like Brawl Stars’ Retropolis Challenge felt so approachable: short three-win stages, forgiving unlimited retries, and a final reward that gave casual players a clear reason to queue up even if they were only there for Bibi or the extra Credits.