First-Person Shooters of the 2020s, Part 1 Codexery

Friends vs Friends

Deck-building meets first-person shooting in animal combat.

Friends vs Friends

Friends vs Friends is a first-person shooter with deck-building elements, created by the Spanish indie studio Brainwash Gang and published by Raw Fury. It launched for Windows on May 30, 2023, and later arrived on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on September 1, 2025. The game combines card-based strategy with competitive shooting in a multiplayer setting.

In the game, players take on the role of one of several anthropomorphic animals who have acquired cursed trading cards, forcing them into 1v1 or 2v2 deathmatches. Each character has unique abilities. Players must build a deck of at least 25 cards, with a maximum cost limit. At the start of each battle, both sides are randomly dealt several cards that grant bonuses—like powerful weapons—or impose penalties on the opponent. Matches last up to five rounds, and the first to win three rounds wins the match.

Brainwash Gang first announced the game at Gamescom in August 2022 for Windows and unspecified consoles, without a specific release date or platforms. In May 2023, Raw Fury confirmed a Windows release by the end of that month.

Hardcore Gamer described the game as "quick to learn, quick to play" and enjoyable. El Español praised its originality and art style but noted that some cards are unbalanced. While the reviewer appreciated the absence of microtransactions, they felt progression was somewhat slow as a result.

Developer
Brainwash Gang
Publisher
Raw Fury
Release date windows
May 30, 2023
Release date playstation 5 xbox series x
September 1, 2025
Platforms
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Game mode
1v1 or 2v2 deathmatches
Rounds per battle
up to five rounds, first to win three

Lore & Background

Friends vs Friends is developed by Brainwash Gang, an independent game development studio from Spain. The game was first announced in August 2022 at Gamescom for Windows and consoles, albeit no specific consoles or release date was given. In May 2023, Raw Fury announced that the game would be released on Windows by the end of the month.

Players control one of several anthropomorphic animals who bought cursed trading cards, which cause the animals to fight in 1v1 or 2v2 deathmatches. Each animal has unique skills. Players must have a deck of at least 25 cards and are further limited by a maximum cost. At the start of each battle, the combatants are randomly dealt several cards, which give bonuses, such as powerful weapons or causing the opponent to suffer a penalty. Battles go for up to five rounds, and the winner is the first one to win three rounds.

Hardcore Gamer said it is 'quick to learn, quick to play' and fun. El Español praised the originality and art, but they said some cards are unbalanced. Although they enjoyed the lack of microtransactions, they said progress was a bit slow as a result.

Reader's Guide

Friends vs Friends occupies a niche as a deck-building first-person shooter, a hybrid genre that was relatively uncommon at its 2023 release. The game's significance lies in its combination of strategic card play with real-time shooting, requiring players to manage a deck of at least 25 cards with a maximum cost while leveraging each anthropomorphic animal's unique skills. Its reception highlighted the game as quick to learn and fun, with originality and art praised, though some cards were noted as unbalanced. The lack of microtransactions was appreciated, but progress was described as a bit slow as a result. The game's release on Windows in May 2023 and later on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in September 2025 expanded its reach, though no sales figures or player counts are provided in the source. Its legacy is defined by its indie development by Brainwash Gang from Spain and its attempt to merge deck-building strategy with competitive first-person shooting.

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