Key Takeaways
1. Game Overview: Wuthering Waves is a free-to-play open-world RPG by Kuro Games, released in May 2024, featuring a post-apocalyptic setting where players explore as an amnesiac character called the “Rover.”
2. Gameplay Features: The game emphasizes open-world exploration and fast-paced combat, with unique vertical movement mechanics allowing players to traverse environments freely.
3. Combat System: Players control a trio of characters, enabling instant switching for combo attacks and utilizing a special “Echoes” system for strategic abilities during battles.
4. Comparative Analysis: Wuthering Waves is similar to Genshin Impact in its open-world design and character switching but offers a more complex combat system requiring skill and timing.
5. Critique and Reception: While praised for its combat and exploration, the game faces criticism for its weak narrative and confusing introduction. It received a 7/10 from IGN and holds a strong positive reception on Steam.
Wuthering Waves is a free-to-play open-world RPG developed by Kuro Games, a Chinese studio known for the action game Punishing: Gray Raven. It was released in May 2024 on the Epic Games Store, Google Play, and the App Store, and it saw a successful launch on Steam on April 28, 2025.
The Setting and Gameplay
Set after a devastating event called the “Lament” that nearly destroyed civilization, players assume the role of the “Rover,” an amnesiac character seeking to uncover the secrets of a changed world. Wuthering Waves combines open-world exploration with energetic, action-focused combat. A key highlight is its unrestricted vertical movement, enabling players to climb mountains, towers, and buildings with impressive freedom. The game features a semi-realistic anime art style that enhances its immersive atmosphere.
Combat Mechanics
In Wuthering Waves, battles center around a trio of characters, allowing players to switch between them instantly to create combos and execute powerful ultimate moves. The action is quick and responsive, emphasizing dodging and parrying in every fight. A distinctive aspect of the game is the “Echoes” system, which includes special abilities dropped by defeated foes that players can gather and use strategically during combat.
Comparison to Other Games
Wuthering Waves shares strong similarities with the popular mobile RPG Genshin Impact, especially with its open world and fluid character switching. However, it differs by offering a much more intricate combat system that demands timing and precision instead of merely rewarding simple button mashing.
IGN evaluated Wuthering Waves on various platforms, including a high-end gaming laptop, a Lenovo Legion Go, and an iPhone 12 Pro. The RPG was particularly praised for its quick and fluid combat, which felt engaging and satisfying due to a range of combos and seamless transitions. The strategic depth is enhanced by character swapping and careful party setup. Exploration is also impressive, with parkour-like movement adding a dynamic aspect to navigating the open world. Technically, the game runs quite stable, although some minor bugs and lag spikes were observed.
Areas for Improvement
Despite its strengths, Wuthering Waves has noticeable weaknesses. The narrative lacks impact, often using vague language and disappointing dialogue, with flat voice acting that does not convey emotional moments well. Towards the endgame, combat may become repetitive, as players frequently need to farm the same enemies. Reviewers also pointed out that the introduction can be confusing, with many terms and mechanics presented without sufficient explanation, making the early gameplay feel overwhelming or disorienting.
IGN rated Wuthering Waves a solid 7 out of 10, recognizing its positive aspects while also noting its shortcomings. Metacritic reviews reflect a similar sentiment, showing a Metascore of 69 and a User Score of 7.0. However, the response on Steam has been even more enthusiastic, as around 87% of approximately 1,400 user reviews are positive. The game currently holds the top spot in the “Trending Free” category on Steam, indicating a robust launch and considerable player interest.
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