PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is a crossover fighting game featuring characters from various PlayStation titles and third-party franchises. Players select up to four characters and engage in small arenas with 3D gameplay shown from a side-view. The objective is not solely to defeat an opponent until they lose all health, but rather to accumulate orbs by dealing damage, which fill a power meter near the bottom of the screen. Game modes include single-player arcade mode against random characters, as well as specific rival character battles and objectives in challenge mode. Multiplayer options range from time-limited matches to stock-based matches where the last player standing wins. Cross-platform play between PS3 and PlayStation Vita versions is supported with a free code provided for download on the PS3 version. Each character has unique moves, throws, and special actions, while stages are often built with multiple levels of platforms and dynamic camera zooming in or out. Environments are based on popular franchises and include environmental elements that can affect gameplay and harm characters. Players can also pick up offensive items to deal more damage.
The base game includes 20 playable characters from various PlayStation titles, including inFAMOUS series , Tekken , D devil May Cry , BioShock , and LittleBigPlanet franchises.
Other franchises referenced through stage design or items include Buzz!, LocoRoco, and WipEout series. The game brings together characters from various PlayStation franchises in a unique fighting experience, with a focus on fun and accessibility rather than complex gameplay mechanics.