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MMO-ish RPG Wayfinder is full of promise, but I just can’t get excited about itIn a past life, maybe
In a past life, maybe
Image credit:Digital Extremes
Image credit:Digital Extremes
Wayfinder - Official Reveal Trailer | The Game Awards 2022Watch on YouTube
Wayfinder - Official Reveal Trailer | The Game Awards 2022
To be totally honest, I entered Wayfinder’s closed beta with trepidation. Aside from covering live service games onInventory Space, I don’t play them all that often anymore. Maybe it’s because I’m now old and jaded, but I rarely have the time to fulfil their demanding schedules. Often, it’sbecausethey don’t cater to players like me that I struggle to stuck in.
There’s a story here about the evil Gloom that’s consumed the world and you being a fallen hero who’s come to fight it. I wasn’t drawn in, as is often the case with most loose, live service storylines that can’t afford to be anything but malleable.
The game’s world is split into zones, a bit likeDestinyorFinal Fantasy XIV, where transitions involve a clean break via loading screen. Aside from the safety of the hubs, the zones you’ll explore feature roaming enemies, chests, and the odd dungeon. They feel like just the right size, at least early on, giving you just enough places to wander without it feeling overblown and empty as a result.
While each of your characters is stuck with their primary weapon type early on, eventually you can outfit you can swap your berserker’s axe with the rogue’s dual daggers or vice versa.
The hook of the game lies in doing dungeons, getting ingredients, then either boshing them into your character’s power level, or crafting a key to a new, tougher dungeon. The cycle then repeats, from what I gather. While the idea of this exhausts me now, I think the act of doing so isn’t all that bad. The dungeons are smartly laid out, with interesting enemies, and combat that sings. The little details are strong, too. Animations are fluid and the menu systems have a pleasant springiness to them. It may be a closed beta with FPS chugs and placeholder art, but it’s also mightily polished for such an early effort.
Back in the day, I reckon Wayfinders would’ve been totally my jam. Beneath its generic surface is a live service game that’s plenty rewarding and, crucially, makes the levelling loop fun with weighty combat. The world is genuinely stunning at times. And I do find myself getting pulled into the currency chase. But I’m unsure whether it’s a fresh enough take to survive in such a competitive space, what with your Destinys and WoWs and Genshins. If you like any of the games I’ve just mentioned, I reckon Wayfinder is worth checking out. If you’ve done your time in the live service mines, then I doubt it will appeal. I suppose only time will tell - and it’s definitely worth watching out for in future.
Wayfinders hasn’t announced an open beta yet, but it’s worth keeping an eye on itsSteam pagefor updates.
