Highguard

About

Highguard is a multiplayer shooter game. It was developed by Wildlight Entertainment, Inc. and was released on January 26, 2026. It received neutral reviews from players.

Highguard is a PvP raid shooter where teams of three Wardens—arcane gunslingers—battle for control of a mythical continent by securing bases, gathering resources, and upgrading their arsenal. Players raid enemy territories, carrying the legendary Shieldbreaker to disable shields and destroy opposing bases. Strategy blends gunplay with magical abilities in intense siege combat and territorial warfare.

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47%

Audience ScoreBased on 28,565 reviews

gameplay1.8k positive mentions

optimization1.5k negative mentions

The gameplay offers a unique blend of mechanics from various genres, providing an engaging core loop that keeps players invested.
The character designs and abilities are visually appealing and distinct, allowing players to connect with the characters and their gameplay styles.
The development team is responsive to community feedback, implementing improvements and new content quickly after release.

The game suffers from severe performance issues, including low frame rates and stuttering, making it frustrating to play, especially in competitive settings.
Many players find the gameplay loop to be repetitive and lacking depth, particularly during the looting and preparation phases.
The character designs are often criticized for being bland and generic, failing to leave a lasting impression on players.

gameplay
6,034 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
60%
11%
The gameplay of Highguard has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its unique blend of mechanics from various genres, such as hero shooters, tactical shooters, and battle royales. While the core gameplay loop—comprising resource gathering, base defense, and raid mechanics—can be engaging and fun, it is often criticized for being repetitive and lacking depth, particularly in the looting and preparation phases. Additionally, performance issues and the game's reliance on a small team size for large maps have led to frustrations, suggesting that while the foundation is solid, significant improvements are needed for a more satisfying experience.
- “The game is constantly moving for you now with clear objectives and gameplay 'beats.' You'll be planning ahead and doing what your team needs to win using everything in the game.”
- “If you ignore all the negative noise around this game and purely look at the gameplay, you'll find an incredibly refreshing mix of game modes all rolled into one cohesive multiplayer shooter.”
- “The gameplay loop is engaging and doesn't go stale quickly.”
- “The gameplay is just too mid for me to justify playing this over any other game, let alone live service games in my library.”
- “The gameplay loop is repetitive and dull: reinforce, loot, grab siegebreaker, fail to raid, repeat.”
- “The gameplay itself is a hodgepodge of worse versions of other games' mechanics, the wall reinforcement of siege (but more useless), the bomb plant/disarm of csgo (but even slower), and the gunplay of apex (but without the impact), and all of it in a map that would be too large & empty with triple the player count.”
optimization
4,843 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
57%
32%
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from players, with many citing severe performance issues, including low frame rates and stuttering, even on high-end hardware. While some users report smooth gameplay, the majority agree that the game is poorly optimized, leading to a frustrating experience, particularly in competitive settings. Despite these challenges, there is a sense of hope that future updates will address these issues and improve overall performance.
- “The dev team has been so responsive to the community's wants and needs. In the first week of the game's release, we got everything that we asked for, from video settings/performance upgrades to a new game mode entirely to appease the more casual player base.”
- “In the month since release, the performance has increased noticeably.”
- “The optimization is better than at release, but it still has a lot to work on.”
- “The optimization is atrocious, so whoever did the quality assurance in that department needs to reconsider their position, whether it was a crunch situation to release or not.”
- “Performance is terrible; I can't even hold a solid 60 fps with an RX 6700 XT.”
- “The performance is so bad that it makes the game unplayable.”
graphics
2,018 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
65%
16%
The graphics of *Highguard* have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the art style shows potential, it often feels generic and uninspired. Critics highlight issues with blurriness and poor optimization, leading to inconsistent performance even on high-end systems. Overall, while some appreciate the aesthetic and visual design, many feel that the graphics do not meet modern standards, detracting from the gameplay experience.
- “The graphics are good, and the gameplay seems a bit interesting, though immediately some notes:”
- “The graphics looked so blurry that it felt like I was on a dream.”
- “The graphics are good but the gameplay is confusing and the map is too big for a 3v3 scenario.”
- “I am 'review bombing' this game because its art style is safe, soulless slop.”
- “The graphics are so awful, I play at max everything and you can smell the pixels.”
- “The graphics look like a mobile game.”
grinding
465 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
98%
The grinding aspect of the game has received significant criticism for being tedious and unengaging, with many players finding the resource farming and looting phases to be a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the gameplay loop. The mechanics often feel forced and disrupt the pacing of matches, leading to long stretches of downtime where players are simply mining crystals or searching for loot instead of engaging in combat. While some players appreciate the strategic elements of farming for upgrades, the overall sentiment is that the current system lacks meaningful rewards and can detract from the overall experience.
- “You can earn items just by playing; it's not very grindy and feels like it would appeal to people who are more competitive.”
- “It's a fun time when you have two friends to play with. It does take a couple of matches to get the hang of how the game flows, and it's definitely a game that forces you to stick with your team since you can die fairly quickly on your own. Getting the resources for trading isn't too grindy since most of the loot spots have a couple of mining deposits, and most of the time you get enough items from the chests you find around the map.”
- “So far, I can see myself playing this casually but not grinding it for hours.”
- “The farming system ruins the pace of the game.”
- “You spend 20 minutes running around a massive, empty map farming resources just for a few seconds of underwhelming combat.”
- “The farming phase is unnecessary; could just tie a set bonus money for kills, assists, objective points in the previous round.”
character development
417 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
56%
23%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the character designs to be bland, generic, and uninspired, often comparing them unfavorably to those in other popular titles like Apex Legends and Overwatch. While some characters stand out positively, the overall consensus is that the designs lack distinctiveness and creativity, leading to a forgettable cast that fails to leave a lasting impression. Despite this, a few players appreciate the gameplay mechanics and abilities associated with the characters, suggesting that there is potential for improvement in future updates.
- “The character designs and abilities are actually really great.”
- “The character design is well articulated; you get a sense of how the character may play, and you absorb the desire to play them. I'm proud to say the game doesn't fall into the trap of uninspired design.”
- “The character designs are visually appealing and distinct, allowing players to guess what a character's abilities or theme are going to be based on their visuals alone.”
- “Bland character designs, uninspired weapons, environments that look lifted from the Unreal Engine marketplace, and a setting that feels almost as if it was AI-generated. I only pressed through and put time into this to grind all of the achievements before the game inevitably shuts down, a meaningless flex and waste of my time in hindsight.”
- “The character designs are mostly lame. They feel generic and have little personality.”
- “The character designs themselves are bad. They feel like they don't commit to any real identity.”
monetization
395 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
44%
50%
The monetization model of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that while it features standard free-to-play microtransactions primarily focused on cosmetics, it does not aggressively push these purchases onto players. Some appreciate the absence of predatory practices like loot boxes and the provision of a free battle pass, while others criticize the high prices of certain items and the overall lack of compelling content. Overall, the monetization is seen as fair by some, but many express concerns about its potential to detract from the game's experience.
- “It's a free game with no aggressive microtransactions and a gameplay loop that is more fun than it gets credit for.”
- “Firstly, the game is free and they even made the first battle pass free, which was nice, and so far the game isn't pay-to-win or filled with microtransactions, so there's really not much to lose.”
- “The monetization is honestly quite minimal; they took themes from Helldivers in that regard.”
- “The monetization model, while free-to-play, struggles to offer compelling value in a market with more attractive cosmetic ecosystems elsewhere.”
- “Monetization is garbage, $30 CAD for 2200 gold and legendaries cost 1800.”
- “The game feels like a bland cash grab to try and pull in MOBA or hero shooter players but it doesn't know what it wants to be at all.”
story
241 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
82%
9%
The game's story is widely criticized for its lack of depth and coherence, with many players noting the absence of meaningful lore, character backstories, and a compelling narrative. Reviewers express disappointment that the game feels disjointed and lacks a clear context for its gameplay, making it difficult for players to connect with the characters or the world. Overall, the consensus is that the game needs significant improvements in storytelling to enhance player engagement and investment.
- “Though not without its faults, the game feels fluid, has a clear visual and audio storytelling structure, and hits some great notes throughout your game sessions.”
- “The overarching story is also remarkable.”
- “The game does a decent job of world-building and giving each character a backstory.”
- “There’s no story, no lore, no context to get attached to anyone or anything.”
- “The result is a game that feels self-important without being insightful—a story that gestures toward significance without ever earning it.”
- “The world building is generic, purely because there's no story behind any of it.”
stability
208 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
1%
79%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and performance issues such as frame drops and crashes. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay without significant problems, a substantial number have encountered frustrating issues that hinder their experience, particularly during the tutorial and matchmaking processes. Overall, the game appears to be in need of optimization and polish to address these stability concerns.
- “My game runs great at 1440p at maxed out settings, which is hard to say with most newer games.”
- “From my personal experience, this game runs great and I have not noticed any frame issues nor the blurry world that some people have been stating.”
- “Certainly room for improvement as others have said, but I've had no performance issues, immediate matchmaking, and everything looks really pretty and runs great!”
- “The game lags constantly, connections are unstable, and there are environmental glitches that get you stuck in weird positions.”
- “It's a shame that the state of the game at launch is unplayable, it lags constantly and is filled with glitches.”
- “This game released an absolute buggy unplayable mess, and even how a month later the game doesn't work half the time and takes a NASA computer to actually run.”
humor
173 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The humor in this game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it unintentionally funny due to its glitches, awkward dialogue, and overall chaotic gameplay. While some appreciate the comedic elements and absurdities, such as the game's mechanics and character designs, others feel that the humor falls flat or is overshadowed by the game's shortcomings. Overall, the humor seems to stem from a combination of genuine enjoyment and the game's many flaws, leading to a range of reactions from laughter to frustration.
- “It's funny that Concord devs joined to the development process of this spiritual successor.”
- “The game is so funny to me that it's good.”
- “I can't call it a masterpiece, but it is quite funny when you have a good team.”
- “This game is so bad, dude. It's not funny; it wants to be way too many things at once. I feel like they took the worst things about FPS games and made this. The combat feels like garbage, it has too many mechanics for what it wants to be. Just not good. It's free, and I want my money back.”
- “Concord did something similar, but the characters and the world just seemed very lame. They are not cool at all, with ugly and unfunny characters, super washed-out colors, and more.”
- “It’s not cute, not funny, not quirky; just a stupid-looking nuisance that makes you hate opening the shop.”
music
127 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
64%
9%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it either bland and uninspired or occasionally epic during key moments. While some appreciate the immersive sound design and specific tracks that enhance gameplay, others criticize the lack of consistent background music, particularly during crucial phases, leading to a feeling of emptiness. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a missed opportunity, with calls for more engaging and varied music to elevate the gaming experience.
- “The sound design and music are immersive as hell.”
- “The environments are rich with detail, the combat has real weight and rhythm, and the soundtrack sets the tone perfectly.”
- “When you steal the enemy shield breaker and are riding to the enemy base as a team on horseback and intense music starts playing, it gets the heart pumping.”
- “Half of the songs you've heard dozens of times, some of them are songs that make you want to jump out a window, and the rest are incredibly bland.”
- “There is no sounds coming from the world to make you feel like you're in this magical place, there's no fancy music that indicates something special happened, it's just so unbelievably dead it's genuinely sad.”
- “The music is so boring, all sounds like it came straight from a royalty free library.”
emotional
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional responses to the game are overwhelmingly negative, with many players expressing feelings of frustration, disappointment, and even anger due to poor gameplay mechanics and lack of emotional engagement. While a few users found moments of nostalgia or competitive spirit, the general sentiment highlights a lack of emotional depth and connection, leading to a sense of detachment and dissatisfaction. Overall, the game appears to fail in creating a compelling emotional experience, leaving many players feeling heartbroken or repulsed.
- “It's like an emotional rollercoaster of going from epic high-paced combat to Barbie horse riding simulator.”
- “This game makes me feel what Apex first made me feel.”
- “3v3 feels methodical and meaningful in a map of this scale -- dying has a major negative impact on the team, so every kill matters and every death is heartbreaking.”
replayability
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
58%
16%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting a lack of diverse gameplay modes, character options, and map variety, which can lead to a repetitive experience. While some find potential in the core gameplay loop and enjoy the dynamic encounters, others feel that the current state of the game lacks depth and longevity, making it difficult to stay engaged over time. Suggestions for improvement include adding more game modes, characters, and customization options to enhance replay value.
- “I don't like battle royales, but Higuard's take on an open-world shooter does have great replay value and offers a lot of dynamic encounters for the player.”
- “Overall, this game has a ton of replayability, and I will be supporting it and hoping others will avoid a lot of the negativity and give it a try themselves.”
- “The champs are fun, and the core gameplay loop is replayable.”
- “It doesn’t have much replay value either, mainly due to the lack of additional gameplay modes like PvE or a horde mode.”
- “I felt like the game was replayable, and it has potential, but with only two game modes, a small character roster, and limited weapons, it wouldn’t be a replayable game in the long run and could quickly become boring.”
- “The replay value is just not there; however, once you've played about seven games, you've seen all this game has to offer.”
atmosphere
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
60%
10%
The atmosphere of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its immersive visuals and cohesive design that enhances gameplay, while others criticize it for being dull, empty, and lacking impactful audio elements. Many feel that the art style and environment are well-crafted, but the overall atmosphere can feel lifeless or disconnected, detracting from the intended experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is seen as a double-edged sword, with moments of brilliance overshadowed by inconsistencies and a lack of engaging sound design.
- “Nothing feels out of place, and the overall atmosphere is just really well done.”
- “The visuals are clean and atmospheric, and the overall design supports immersion rather than distracting from gameplay.”
- “It’s bold, atmospheric, and packed with personality — the kind of experience that sticks with you long after you log out.”
- “Some things feel clunky and the atmosphere feels dead at times.”
- “Extremely muted and dull colors and atmosphere.”
- “Audio design is forgettable, offering little feedback or atmosphere, which further drains tension from moments that should feel impactful.”