Key Takeaways
1. Reimagined Classic: Guild Wars: Reforged includes all major campaigns (Prophecies, Factions, Nightfall) with no subscription fees and supports solo play or team-based gameplay with AI heroes or groups of up to eight.
2. Technical Enhancements: The update features Steam Deck verification, native controller support, improved graphics, and better UI elements, focusing on internal improvements rather than new content.
3. Successful Steam Launch: Launched on December 3, 2025, the game quickly became “New & Trending” and “Top Selling,” driven by a surge of returning players and stable performance on lower-end hardware.
4. Affordable Access: Current players can access the Reforged client for free, while new players can buy it for $19.99 with no ongoing payments required.
5. Controller-Friendly Design: The game has a controller setup inspired by Final Fantasy XIV, making it suitable for various handheld devices, while maintaining a classic MMO feel reminiscent of mid-2000s titles.
Guild Wars: Reforged brings the beloved MMO from 2005 back into focus with a fresh update, a launch on Steam, and support for controllers, aiming to attract both returning fans and newcomers curious about MMOs on PC and handheld devices.
A New Look at a Classic
This reimagined version of the original Guild Wars includes all three major campaigns: Prophecies, Factions, and Nightfall, along with eight character slots, all in a single package with no subscription fees. The game maintains its hub-based structure, allowing players to meet in towns and social spaces before diving into story missions and exploration. Players can choose to go solo with AI heroes or team up with others in groups of up to eight. The combat system sticks to the classic tab-targeting style, featuring a limited skill bar of eight, ten different professions, and a vast array of skills, emphasizing build-crafting over gear grinding.
Under-the-Hood Improvements
Reforged focuses more on internal enhancements rather than introducing new content. Some of the notable features include verification for Steam Deck, native support for XInput controllers, high-definition UI elements, larger text options, improved quest direction tools, and upgraded graphics like ambient occlusion, HD bloom, antialiasing, and modern audio. Current owners of Guild Wars can access the Reforged client at no cost, while new players need to make a one-time purchase and can play without any ongoing payments.
Quick Success on Steam
This title launched on Steam on December 3, 2025, quickly rising to the “New & Trending” and “Top Selling” lists as many returning players boosted the current player count into the thousands. The game is available for $19.99 on Steam. Reviews and first impressions indicate that performance remains stable even on lower-end hardware. However, a common critique is that, despite the visual enhancements, the game still has the feel of a mid-2000s MMO.
As previously mentioned, Reforged is verified for the Steam Deck (currently priced at $820 on Amazon for the 1TB/OLED version) and has received accolades for its controller setup, which takes inspiration from the hotbar layout seen in Final Fantasy XIV. This scheme should be effective on various PC handhelds. When compared to modern games, it leans more towards older tactical MMOs like classic Guild Wars 2, early Warframe’s hub-and-instance designs, and online RPGs that resemble CRPGs, rather than the sprawling, open-world formats popularized by World of Warcraft.
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