What We Liked..
Fluid Combat
Engaging Story
Fantastic PvP
Great Graphics
Solid Free to Play Model
.. and what we didn't
PvE leaves a little to be desired
Large download
Requires a pretty good Computer
Watch the trailer:
Prepare to team up with friends and take on the world of Tyria in Guild Wars 2, a fantastically unique MMORPG.
With its first major expansion, Heart of Thorns, release in late 2015, ArenaNet’s highly acclaimed Guild Wars 2 has finally implemented a free to play option.
Making it easier than ever to experience the game’s gripping player driven story and visceral action based combat.
So strap in and prepare to experience one of the great MMOs of the last ten years, Guild Wars 2.
What We Liked..
Addictive gameplay
Colossal battles
Excellent graphics
.. and what we didn't
Not much of a story
Rather exorbitant hardware requirements
In the shoes of a member of one of three factions on the planet Auraxis, your mission is simply to conquer as much territory as possible and bring your team one step closer to total domination. The game places a strong emphasis on teamwork, with tactics designed to encourage furious suicide charges in the middle of battle.
The game is essentially devoid of a strong narrative component and prefers to rely entirely on the gameplay, which is fine because the latter is incredibly enjoyable, challenging and well designed.
Graphically, the game is beautiful, staging its battles in the most diverse, well-realised environments. Constant updates bring more content and welcome variations to an already excellent game.
Overall, PlanetSide 2 is the game fans of the first episode have been waiting for, and more.
What We Liked..
Intense FPS action
Small download size
.. and what we didn't
Mediocre graphics
Unbalanced cash shop
Similar to other titles
Piercing Blow is a free-to-play MMOFPS from Korea, where it’s been out for a while. It’s low on character customisation, but high on map variety, offering several modes across over 40 maps for you to explore and kill people on. The majority of the environments and scenarios are completely without novelty for any experienced player - all the old favourites are here.
While the game may not feel the need to add anything new to an already successful formula, it does offer fairly decent shooter gameplay. Maps are well designed, even if the Counterstrike-era graphics are mostly ugly, and with a small, undemanding file size, Piercing Blow runs smoothly.
A wealth of guns and weapon upgrades are available to those willing to pay real money for them, a factor that significantly unbalances the playing field. The only other way to unlock decent gear is by playing and winning daily tournaments. Basically, if you’re not already a skilled shooter or ready to pay for a better gun, you’re not going to make it here.
What We Liked..
Varied and interesting PvP play
Lots of classes to choose from
Reborn feature boosts replay value
.. and what we didn't
Uninspiring graphics
Very similar to other TQ Online titles
Overpowered cash shop
Conquer Online sets itself apart early from its MMORPG brethren (including its own incredibly similar titles) by offering a large range of character classes to play, though other than choosing the gender there isn't much other customisation available. Still, whether you pick the graceful Water Taoist or the burly Warrior, TQ Online will set you up with a unique set of specialties and characteristics. And, thanks to the Reborn feature, which allows you to pick a new class with better attributes once you hit level 120, you'll get plenty of opportunity to explore all of them.
PvP is where the game really excels, offering a load of modes, challenges and activities for you to battle together or against your fellow players. Most notable is the violent PK Mode, where you can gain experience and gold by slaughtering any player in sight, while also earning yourself a reputation that might see you hunted down by bounty hunters.
Conquer Online's graphics are a let down, blocky, outdated, and made worse by an often cluttered user interface. Another sore point is the cash shop, which allows paying players to get a huge advantage with otherwise unattainable rare items and bonuses. However, a large community of non-paying players helps even this out, and makes the game an overall positive experience for lovers of PvP combat.
What We Liked..
Retains best aspects of MOBAs
New gameplay elements are excellent
Great graphics
Little use for real money
.. and what we didn't
Difficulty curve is a little steep for newbies
Dawngate is a MOBA released by Waystone Games, a company under the umbrella of Visceral Games, which is under EA. With those names involved, you’ll expect a high quality product and Dawngate does not disappoint. Even in open beta, the graphics are great in this title – vivid and lush, though undeniably similar in palette to the game Dawngate is competing with, League of Legends.
But Dawngate isn’t just another clone in the crowded MOBA genre. It does add some real originality to its gameplay – narrowing down to just two lanes, adding roles for your heroes (called Shapers here) to focus on and granting bonuses to your minions when you destroy enemy Bindings or towers.
There is certainly enough new content being brought to the table here to intrigue any MOBA fan.
What We Liked..
The Marvel Universe
Free to play and balanced cash shop
Constantly updated
.. and what we didn't
Characters and costumes are expensive
Marvel Heroes has a strong foundation with Brian Michael Bendis (author of Marvel comics) and David Brevik (designer of Diablo) on the development team. Although the game didn’t get off to a great start in open beta , Gazillion has since listened to players and done a much needed overhaul. And the effort was worth it - this is a very entertaining game and if Gazillion continues to be as responsive as they’ve been so far, it’s only going to get better.
The gameplay is fun and the story will appeal to many people, drawing as it does from the rich and complex Marvel universe. Add to this a well-balanced cash shop and this title is a must for Action RPG fans and Marvel fans!
What We Liked..
It's Lord of the Rings!
Lots of content
House customisation is fun
.. and what we didn't
Quest and expansion packs must be bought
Weak endgame content
LOTRO is a fun MMORPG for the casual RPG player or the Tolkien fan. The world has plenty of content with many skirmishes to be had, dungeons to explore and raids to wage or defend against. Unfortunately, a lot of this content requires either spending real money or an absurd amount of time to unlock.
The quests of the game and the environments they take place in are visually engaging - picturesque and sweeping or dark and creepy, but always atmospheric.
Hardcore gamers or those looking for a game with challenging end game content, however, should look elsewhere.
What We Liked..
Engaging elemental combat
Expansive and beautiful Open World
Lovely anime-style graphics
Intriguing lore and storytelling
.. and what we didn't
Tempting gacha system
Time consuming grind
Limited stamina system
Gameplay can be repetitive
Dive into the enchanting realm of Teyvat in Genshin Impact, a free-to-play action RPG crafted by miHoYo.
You'll embark in an interactive journey that weaves exploration, combat, and character evolution into an irresistible tapestry. Teyvat is a realm of wonder, divided into regions, each a marvel in itself. Glide across landscapes, dive into lakes, and climb mountains, all while uncovering hidden treasures and engaging with locals. From Mondstadt's ethereal cliffs to Liyue's lush expanse, each region paints a breathtaking backdrop that begs exploration.
Meet over 50 unique characters, each a blend of personality and prowess. Whether the enigmatic Diluc or the spirited Klee, they're more than just avatars – they're your comrades, infusing battles with depth and tales with charm.
Combat is a blend of strategy and spectacle.
Unleash elemental abilities, freeze foes with ice, or ignite them with fire. Assemble teams that complement each other's skills, turning battles into a strategic dance that rewards tactics and awe-inspiring visuals.
In Genshin Impact you can shape the gameplay according to your tastes: you can focus on exploration, character development, or artistic endeavors.... all the possibilities are open depending on how you want to play the game.
No matter which path you'll choose, you'll always get that colorful, anime-like graphical style that is either a love-it or hate-it. If you fancy the genre, Genshin Impact will be up to your expectations.
What We Liked..
Fast-paced gameplay
Convincing atmosphere
.. and what we didn't
Lacks some content
Embark on the immersive world of Naraka: Bladepoint, a distinctive battle royale game released in August 2021 and converted to Free-to-Play in late 2023 by 24 Entertainment and NetEase Games Montreal. Set on Morus Island, the game accommodates up to 60 players, allowing them to choose from a diverse roster of heroes, each equipped with unique skills.
Naraka: Bladepoint stands out with its focus on martial arts-inspired melee combat and a rock-paper-scissors combat system, creating a dynamic and challenging gameplay experience.
Whether venturing solo or teaming up in trios, players navigate the island, adapting to a shrinking safe zone and strategic encounters with other squads.
With a global player base surpassing 6 million copies sold, the game transitioned to a free-to-play model, extending its reach across PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PlayStation 5 platforms.
Naraka: Bladepoint offers an engaging and accessible entry into the world of battle royale, where players can enjoy the thrill of combat and strategic gameplay in a visually captivating environment.
What We Liked..
Challenging missions
Incredible graphics
Traps are fun to use.
.. and what we didn't
Buying your way through the game can make it too easy.
Orcs Must Die! Unchained is one of the latest Tower Defense Games in which your aim is to repel a hoard of orcs trying to breach your defenses and reach the innermost area of your base.
A number of paths are accessible to your orc enemies which they can use to point their offense in an effective way.
On the contrary, you have mines and other repelling items to stop them and, in turn, try to breach their base.
Orcs Must Die! Unchained allows you to team up with your friends or go solo with a number of tactics available for either option.
Just like other similar games, a number of classes are available for character selection with each class having a unique set of abilities.
In-game purchases can also be made to upgrade your characters and pose an even more serious threat to your opponents.