The Expendabros: Complete Guide

Everything you need to blast through The Expendabros, Free Lives' free Broforce spin-off made for The Expendables 3: the seven bros, how Broforce-style destruction works, surviving the ten missions, and co-op tips.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the final PC/Mac build (Mac port October 17, 2014; no later updates). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

What It Is

• A free, standalone Broforce spin-off. Released August 5, 2014 by Free Lives and Devolver Digital to promote The Expendables 3. It was originally promoted as free through the end of 2014; as of September 2026 the Steam page still offers it free with a Play Game button.
• Size: Ten missions set in Eastern European forests and lumber mills, against the forces of arms dealer Conrad Stonebanks.
• Players: 1–4 players in local co-op on the same PC. The store page says a gamepad is "highly recommended."
• Platforms: The Steam release lists Windows and macOS only; there is no Linux build.
• Reception: Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam (about 96% of roughly 7,100 reviews).
• Relation to Broforce: Same engine and core mechanics as Broforce (full release October 15, 2015), but with its own cast and campaign. If you love it, Broforce is the full-size game with dozens of bros.

Quick Start

1. Everything explodes. Terrain is destructible; you can dig through the ground, drop enemies into pits, and collapse structures.
2. One hit usually kills you. Bros are fragile. Move carefully around enemies, fire and explosions.
3. Rescue prisoners. Freeing a caged prisoner gives you an extra life and swaps you to another bro. It is the main way to survive.
4. Raise flags for checkpoints. Checkpoint flags along the level save your progress for the mission.
5. Specials are limited. Each bro's special attack has limited uses, so save it for dangerous clusters or bosses.
6. Check the controls menu once. Confirm your fire, special and jump bindings (and a melee key, if your build lists one) before the first mission.
7. Watch for chain reactions. Explosive barrels, propane tanks and the environment can kill a whole room, including you.
8. Circular saws are both hazard and weapon. Lumber mill saws kill bros instantly; some can be knocked loose and rolled into enemies (watch which way they spin).
9. Reach the extraction. Missions end when you finish the objective and get out; do not die on the last screen showing off.

The Cast

The seven playable bros are all parodies of The Expendables 3 characters and their actors.

Each bro has a unique primary weapon and a unique special attack. The game swaps you between them when you rescue prisoners or die with lives remaining, so you do not pick freely. Learn each bro's reach: some are best at range, some excel up close, and some specials are area-clearing explosives. Spend the first couple of missions noticing which ones you like and how far their shots travel.

Controls

Controls can be rebound in the options, and a gamepad is the most comfortable way to play, especially in co-op. On keyboard, one player uses the arrow keys and another can share the keyboard with a second key set; community guides list different default layouts, so check the controls menu in your copy.

Wall climbing: Bros can climb up walls and cling to edges. If you fall into a pit, try climbing out along the wall before you give up.

Core Mechanics

Lives and rescues

Your extra lives come from rescued prisoners. Every rescue also swaps your bro, which can be a blessing (a stronger bro for the upcoming section) or a curse. If all players run out of lives, you restart from the checkpoint.

Destruction

• Dig paths. Shoot the ground or walls to make shortcuts or reach hidden prisoners.
• Undercut enemies. Destroy the ground under a group and let them fall.
• Beware collapsing structures. Watchtowers and platforms can come down on you.

Enemies and hazards

• Mooks (basic soldiers) die fast but shoot back; they often notice you after a short delay, which gives you a window to act first.
• Explosive-carrying and heavy enemies need range. Do not let them close to you.
• Artillery and turrets control big areas; move between shots.
• Saws, spikes, fire and falls kill instantly. Lumber mill levels are full of them.

Bosses

Some bosses are tough, especially solo. Learn the pattern from a safe spot, use specials when the boss is exposed, and keep at least one prisoner rescue in reserve before the arena. Environment tricks work too: community players have beaten the first boss by digging a deep hole and letting it fall in.

Mission Tips (All Ten Missions)

• Early forest missions: Learn to dig, rescue and use checkpoints. Take it slow; the game gets much harder.
• Lumber mill missions: Saws, moving parts and long drops. Move in short bursts and look before you jump.
• Later missions: Heavier artillery and more elite enemies. Use specials to clear chokepoints and do not rush past prisoners.
• Boss missions: Save specials and lives for the arena.

A Safe Way to Clear Any Screen

Use this loop whenever you enter a new section, especially solo:

1. Stop at the edge of the screen. Let the next area scroll in and look for barrels, saws, turrets and prisoner cages before moving.
2. Shoot the explosives first, from as far away as your weapon reaches. Many enemies die in the chain reaction.
3. Pick off the stragglers before they notice you, starting with anything heavy or explosive-carrying.
4. Dig to the prisoner if it is behind terrain, rather than walking around through enemies.
5. Raise the checkpoint flag before you push further.
6. Only then move on. The next screen will have more of everything.

It feels slow, but it is much faster than replaying a checkpoint five times.

Co-op Tips

• Up to four players locally. Plug in controllers; each player joins from the start screen.
• Friendly explosions are a real risk. Specials and chain reactions can wipe teammates. Call out big explosions.
• Spread out vertically. One player on the ground, one on the upper platforms covers more angles.
• Share rescues. Let the player with no lives take the next prisoner.
• Do not race ahead. The screen follows the group, and splitting up gets bros killed off-screen.

Solo vs Co-op: Which Way to Play

Short on controllers? Players can share the keyboard, but rebind keys first so nobody's controls overlap; a gamepad per player is far more comfortable.

If You Want More: Broforce

The Expendabros is a slice of Broforce built during that game's Early Access (Broforce began as a game jam entry in April 2012). Broforce itself fully released on October 15, 2015 for Windows and OS X, with Linux two days later. It keeps everything you learned here, including rescues, destructible terrain and chain reactions, but with dozens of bros, a much longer campaign and more modes. Treat Expendabros as a free standalone taster.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Rushing. The game's pace invites it; enemies, traps and explosions punish it.
• Standing next to barrels. One stray shot and you are gone.
• Wasting specials on single enemies. Save them for groups and bosses.
• Skipping prisoners. Extra lives are the whole survival system.
• Ignoring checkpoints. Raise every flag you pass.
• Digging under yourself. It is easy to shoot out the platform you are standing on.

Advanced Tips

• Pre-clear with explosives. Trigger barrels from range before entering a room.
• Use the terrain as cover. Dig a small trench and shoot from it.
• Bait enemies into hazards. Saws and falls do the work for you.
• Explore for hidden prisoners. They are often behind destructible walls off the main path.

FAQ

Is The Expendabros free? Yes. It remains free on Steam as of September 2026.

Does it have online co-op? No. It supports up to four players in local co-op.

How long is it? Ten missions; a short game you can finish in a few sittings, longer if you die a lot.

Is it the same as Broforce? Same core gameplay and engine, but a separate, smaller campaign with only the seven Expendables-themed bros.

Is it on Mac? Yes, a Mac build was released on October 17, 2014.

Can I choose which bro to play? Not freely; you start with a bro and swap when you rescue prisoners or lose a life.

Sources

• The Expendabros on Steam
• The Expendabros Steam news (Mac release)
• Broforce — Wikipedia (Expendabros section)
• Steam community guide: game overview
• Steam community guide: gameplay basics and controls
• Steam community guide: first boss trick