Platform fighters just got more interesting. A major roster leak suggests Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 3 is coming with an absolutely stacked lineup of 42 playable characters. If accurate, this would make it the biggest entry in the series yet, bringing together nostalgic favorites from across Nickelodeon’s decades of animated shows.
The leak, which surfaced through various gaming forums and fan communities, reveals a mix of returning veterans and fresh faces that should satisfy both longtime fans and newcomers to the franchise. With 30 veterans making the cut and 11 brand new fighters joining the brawl, GameMill Entertainment and developer Ludosity appear to be going all-in on fan service.
The Newcomers Everyone’s Talking About
The leaked newcomer roster reads like a fan wishlist from Reddit threads. Arnold Shortman from Hey Arnold finally makes his debut, bringing football-headed charm to the fight. Joining him is his best friend Gerald Johansson, though whether Gerald counts as one of the newcomers or was already in previous games remains unclear from the leak.
Jimmy Neutron’s rival Cindy Vortex steps into the arena, potentially offering a different playstyle from the boy genius himself. The Loud House expands its representation with Clyde McBride joining Lincoln Loud. For Invader Zim fans, Dib Membrane finally gets his chance to stop Zim in combat form.
The Rugrats crew sees significant expansion with Tommy Pickles and Kimi Finister, both in their All Grown Up designs rather than their toddler forms. This choice suggests the developers want to differentiate them from Reptar and other Rugrats representation in previous games.
Avatar: The Last Airbender adds Suki to its already strong roster of Aang, Toph, Korra, Zuko, and Azula. Rocko’s Modern Life brings Heffer Wolfe and Filburt Shellbach as what appears to be a duo character, similar to how Ren and Stimpy function. ChalkZone finally gets representation with Rudy Tabootie, and Catscratch brings Mr. Blik and Tuesday X to the party.
Who’s Coming Back
The leak confirms 30 veterans will return, though not every character from Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 makes the cut. SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy anchor the SpongeBob SquarePants representation. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bring Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, and April O’Neil back to the fight, with Rocksteady also reportedly returning.
Avatar fans can expect the return of major players like Aang, Toph, Korra, Zuko, and Azula. Danny Phantom representation includes Danny himself and Ember McLain. Other confirmed returning fighters include CatDog, Nigel Thornberry, Zim, Jenny Wakeman, Reptar, Garfield, Angry Beavers, and Lincoln Loud.
Interestingly, some characters from previous games didn’t make the leaked roster. Donatello, Rocksteady, Iroh, Grandma Gertie, and Lucy Loud from NASB 2 appear to be cut, though Donatello’s absence seems like it might be an error given the other three turtles are present. These omissions could change before launch, or the leak might be incomplete.
DLC Plans Already in the Works
Beyond the base roster, the leak mentions a four-character DLC season pass planned for release throughout 2026. No specific characters have been named for this post-launch content, but if the game follows the pattern of previous entries, expect deep cuts from Nickelodeon’s library and potentially characters from newer shows.
Previous DLC packs have included characters like Garfield, Shredder, and various other fighters that weren’t ready for the base game launch. The fact that a season pass is already planned suggests GameMill is committed to long-term support, assuming the game finds an audience.
What This Means for Competitive Play
A 42-character roster presents both opportunities and challenges for competitive players. On one hand, more fighters mean more variety and matchup knowledge to master. The Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl competitive scene, while smaller than Super Smash Bros, has developed a dedicated following thanks to streamers and content creators like Cherry, Dille, and ThundeRzReiGN.
The inclusion of duo characters like Heffer and Filburt alongside solo fighters creates interesting balance considerations. Will duo characters play like ice climbers from Smash, or will they have their own unique mechanics? These details matter enormously for competitive viability and meta development.
Stage selection also plays a crucial role in platform fighters. The leak doesn’t reveal stage information, but with 42 characters representing numerous shows, expect a diverse collection of battlegrounds. Previous games have included locations like the Krusty Krab, the Technodrome, and various Avatar locations.
Franchise Representation Breakdown
Based on the leaked roster, certain Nickelodeon properties receive heavy representation while others remain underrepresented or absent entirely. SpongeBob SquarePants leads with at least three characters. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brings a massive contingent with five or six fighters. Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra combined offer six playable characters.
Shows like The Fairly OddParents, which have been heavily requested by fans for characters like Timmy Turner, don’t appear in the base roster according to this leak. Licensing issues may explain some omissions, particularly with shows like The Fairly OddParents where rights can get complicated between Nickelodeon and production companies like Nelvana.
Newer Nickelodeon shows have limited representation, with The Loud House bringing two characters. This suggests the developers are focusing primarily on nostalgic properties from the 90s and 2000s rather than current programming. That strategy makes sense given the target demographic for platform fighters typically skews toward adults who grew up with these characters.
How Reliable Is This Leak
Roster leaks in fighting games have a mixed track record. Sometimes they’re spot-on, pulled from internal documents or early builds. Other times they’re elaborate hoaxes created by skilled artists and distributed as viral marketing or fan projects.
The fact that Tommy Pickles in his All Grown Up design was reportedly leaked back in October 2024 lends some credibility to these revelations. Multiple sources across different platforms have referenced similar rosters, suggesting either a coordinated hoax or genuine leaked information circulating in the community.
GameMill Entertainment and Ludosity haven’t officially announced Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 3, let alone confirmed any characters. Until we get official word, treat this information as speculation rather than confirmed fact. That said, where there’s smoke, there’s often fire, especially in the gaming industry where leaks have become increasingly common.
When Could We See Official News
If Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 3 is targeting a 2025 release as suggested by earlier speculation, an official announcement should come soon. Major gaming events like The Game Awards in December could serve as the perfect stage for a reveal trailer showcasing some of these fighters in action.
Previous entries in the series were announced several months before launch, giving fans time to build hype and allowing the marketing team to showcase different characters through individual reveal trailers. A similar rollout strategy would make sense for NASB 3, especially with such a large roster to promote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 3 officially confirmed?
No, GameMill Entertainment and Ludosity have not officially announced Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 3. The roster information comes from leaks circulating in fan communities and gaming forums. While these leaks include specific details, they should be treated as rumors until official confirmation arrives.
How many characters will NASB 3 have at launch?
According to the leak, the base roster will include 42 playable characters – 30 returning veterans from previous games and 11 newcomers. Additionally, a four-character DLC season pass is reportedly planned for 2026, which would bring the total to 46 fighters with post-launch content.
What new characters are joining the roster?
The leaked newcomers include Arnold Shortman, Cindy Vortex, Clyde McBride, Dib Membrane, Tommy Pickles and Kimi Finister from All Grown Up, Suki from Avatar, Heffer Wolfe and Filburt Shellbach as a duo, Rudy Tabootie from ChalkZone, and Mr. Blik and Tuesday X from Catscratch.
Will Timmy Turner be in NASB 3?
Timmy Turner does not appear in the leaked base roster. Previous speculation suggested licensing issues with his character due to complications between Nickelodeon and production company Nelvana. However, he could potentially appear as DLC if those issues are resolved.
Are all characters from NASB 2 returning?
No, according to the leak, some characters from Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 will not return. Notably absent are Iroh, Grandma Gertie, and Lucy Loud. Some sources also mention Donatello not returning, though this seems unusual given the other three turtles are included and might be an error in the leak.
When will Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 3 release?
No official release date has been announced. Earlier speculation and leak sources have suggested a 2025 release window, but without official confirmation from GameMill Entertainment, this remains purely speculative. If the game is real and targeting 2025, an announcement should come within the next few months.
What platforms will NASB 3 be on?
Platform information has not been leaked or announced. Previous entries launched on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It’s reasonable to assume NASB 3 would follow a similar multi-platform strategy if it exists.
Will there be a story mode or adventure mode?
The leak focuses solely on roster information and doesn’t mention game modes. Fans have expressed hope that NASB 3 will include an expanded adventure mode, but this remains speculation. Previous entries offered arcade modes and online multiplayer but lacked the robust single-player content found in games like Super Smash Bros Ultimate’s World of Light.
The Waiting Game
Whether this leak proves accurate or not, it demonstrates the hunger for more Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl content. The franchise has carved out a niche as a legitimate alternative to Super Smash Bros, offering faster-paced gameplay with nostalgic characters that resonate with millennials and Gen Z gamers.
A 42-character roster would represent a massive commitment from GameMill and Ludosity, requiring significant resources for animation, balancing, and voice acting. If they can pull it off while maintaining the quality and competitive integrity that made NASB 2 an improvement over the original, the platform fighter genre could have another major contender on its hands.
For now, keep your eyes on official Nickelodeon and GameMill channels for any announcements. The Game Awards in December would be the perfect venue for a reveal, especially if the game is targeting a 2025 release window. Until then, enjoy theorycrafting potential movesets for Arnold’s football head attacks and Cindy’s scientific gadgets.