WAKFU
- September 18, 2014
- Ankama Studio
- 16h median play time
Get on Steam"Wakfu is a massively multiplayer, turn-based strategy game set in the World of Twelve. Engage in action-packed, tactical battles with 18 unique classes, and choose your path as a warrior, politician, merchant, or craftsman. With a humor-filled universe and a player-driven economy, Wakfu offers a limitless and dynamic adventure."
Mac OS
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Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Wakfu offers a unique tactical turn-based combat system that is engaging and fun.
- The game has a charming art style and a vibrant world filled with humor and pop culture references.
- The community is generally friendly and helpful, making it easier for new players to find support.
- The account creation process is convoluted and requires excessive personal information, including a photo ID for support.
- The game suffers from a low player base, making it difficult to find groups for dungeons and quests.
- Many players report bugs and issues with the launcher, leading to frustration and inability to play.
- story442 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story in Wakfu is described as rich and engaging, with a vibrant universe and unique quests that draw players into its lore, particularly for fans of the associated anime. However, many players find the quest system frustrating due to vague instructions, bugs, and a lack of clear direction, leading to a grind-heavy experience that can detract from the overall enjoyment of the narrative. While the early game offers delightful quests and charming characters, the story tends to lose momentum at higher levels, leaving players feeling disconnected from the overarching plot.
“The quests and lore are intricately woven into the game, making every adventure feel like a journey into a living, breathing universe.”
“Wakfu's ingenious methods of talking to NPCs to find hidden secrets or bits of information lead me to a new quest where I got to fight alongside one of the characters from the anime.”
“The story is interesting, but the leveling is just a bit too much for me.”
“The quests are tedious and the instructions and tips are vague.”
“The story consists of doing MMORPG quality quests typical of most other middle-rate MMORPG games.”
“The story is incomplete at the moment but it's a very beautiful and interesting gaming concept.”
- gameplay436 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Wakfu is characterized by its unique turn-based combat system, reminiscent of tactical RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics, offering a variety of classes and mechanics that encourage strategic planning and experimentation. While many players appreciate the depth and complexity of the gameplay, particularly in dungeons and PvE content, others find it grind-heavy and occasionally frustrating due to unclear mechanics and a steep learning curve. Overall, the game is praised for its artistic design and engaging combat, but it suffers from bugs and a reliance on group play, which can detract from the experience for solo players.
“The game is filled with style and neat mechanics everywhere you turn.”
“If you like learning new aspects to games and trying to master the simple parts, this game will keep you challenged for quite some time. So much to do, and you might never really understand the nuances of some of your class's abilities; it's like Dark Souls for game mechanics.”
“Wakfu's gameplay is superb, its mechanics tight, its fights complex, and its goal of being a very hard battle puzzle MMO realized to its fullest extent.”
“PvP is the worst I have ever seen in any game due to the same broken mechanics; most battle results are known as soon as you see your opponent's investment into their gear, nullifying the strategy aspect of this game completely as gear differences are humongous between most two players.”
“The gameplay feels confusing or boring; the skills take too long to level (and way too many), the progression feels off, and the first bite of the community was terrible.”
“The gameplay is so confusing it is just impossible for mere mortals to even try to understand it.”
- graphics321 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of Wakfu are widely praised for their charming, anime-inspired art style and vibrant, colorful visuals that evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic 2D games. While some players appreciate the unique and immersive aesthetic, others note that the graphics can appear somewhat dated compared to modern titles, and issues like graphical bugs and performance inconsistencies can detract from the experience. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a strong point, contributing to its whimsical atmosphere and engaging gameplay.
“Every single thing is unique about this MMO, the art style is so beautiful and immersive with weather systems and a huge world, there is a deep universe with a unique story which is based on the anime of the same studio.”
“The artwork and the graphics are brilliant!”
“The graphics are simply amazing, you can see how talented the artists at Ankama really are.”
“Don't be drawn in by its charming graphics/music; just go watch the cartoon they made based on the game instead, as that will actually respect your time and dignity.”
“The graphics are childish and anime-styled, but the humor is not.”
“This game has a lot of bugs, mostly just graphic bugs where models won't load or just characters sliding on the screen, but some of them affect the market.”
- grinding284 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a significant focus, with many players noting that it can be excessively tedious and time-consuming, especially at higher levels and for crafting professions. While some find the grinding enjoyable and rewarding, particularly when playing with friends, others criticize it as repetitive and a barrier to casual play. Overall, the game appeals primarily to those who appreciate extensive grinding and are willing to invest substantial time to progress.
“When you're not grinding, Wakfu can be a fun game with unique classes and a nice combat system.”
“The game itself is pretty grindy and boring if you don't want to pay monthly.”
“Long story short; this game is so grindy you cannot play it casually (in my experience) solo.”
“Unfortunately, many players, myself included, jumped ship within the first year because of how terribly grindy the game felt and how weird the skill system was.”
- music87 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players describing it as immersive, nostalgic, and fitting for the game's atmosphere. While some users noted that the soundtrack is memorable and adds to the enjoyment, a few mentioned that it can be forgettable or lacking in certain areas. Overall, the combination of charming graphics and a well-crafted soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“The music for this game is incredible; to this day I still go back and look up my favorite songs and listen to them on YouTube.”
“Beautiful visuals, amazing worlds and level design, and the music for this game gets a 10/10!”
“With its unique art style and music quality, Wakfu creates a joyful atmosphere that will hold you for hours and hours.”
“Don't be drawn in by its charming graphics and music; just go watch the cartoon they made based on the game instead, as that will actually respect your time and dignity.”
“Unfortunately, the music and sound are lacking here.”
“The music, on the other hand, is just altogether forgettable.”
- stability77 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and a plethora of bugs that hinder gameplay, particularly during the tutorial and account creation processes. Many players express frustration over a poorly designed launcher and authentication system, which adds to the overall buggy experience. While some find enjoyment in the game despite these issues, the consensus is that the stability problems significantly detract from the overall experience.
“The game will not let me get through the tutorial; it is so buggy. Every few seconds something happens, I get sent to the server screen, or the game freezes in this cinematic mode.”
“Never even got to play because it froze my computer when I finally was able to log in after an hour of troubleshooting.”
“Incredibly buggy registration and authentication system.”
- humor71 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cartoonish charm, clever puns, and light-hearted storytelling, appealing to both nostalgic players and newcomers alike. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to blend funny character interactions, quirky quests, and a playful art style, making it an enjoyable experience, especially when played with friends. However, some players note that the humor can be hit-or-miss, with occasional immature jokes and dated references that may not resonate with everyone.
“It has fantastic social options, a funny story that doesn't take itself too seriously, and a lot of production value, especially in the soundtrack.”
“The story and characters are hilarious with a ton of puns.”
“A great sense of humor and writing filled with puns, jokes, and references.”
“And no, that's not funny at all.”
“Not funny at all.”
- monetization28 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 54 % negative mentions
The game's monetization model is primarily free-to-play with optional subscriptions and microtransactions that focus on convenience and cosmetic items rather than pay-to-win advantages. While some players appreciate the lack of intrusive monetization, others express frustration over frequent ads and the pressure to purchase booster packs to progress, leading to a mixed reception regarding the overall monetization strategy. Despite these concerns, many players feel that the game remains enjoyable without heavy reliance on in-game purchases.
“The game is free-to-play with optional subscriptions and microtransactions, which are more about convenience rather than pay-to-win.”
“Beyond that, there is no pay-to-win gimmick; though there are microtransactions, they're all quality of life items or cosmetics.”
“As a free-to-play game, there is a wide array of microtransactions available ranging from cosmetics and accessories to booster packs and 'sidekicks'.”
“Gotta love how every free-to-play game on the market messes up its monetization to no end.”
“Last but not least, the company had just started to opt for popup and frequent booster (premium) ads, to bombard the free-to-play players and existing players, trying to milk what's left in its glory.”
“Not to mention I can't help but shake the feeling they're just buffing the classes that are already strong enough, just so the players who spent their life savings can keep giving them money through microtransactions.”
- optimization19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including random stuttering, lag, and bugs, regardless of their hardware capabilities. While some enjoy the cartoony graphics without heavy performance demands, others find the overall experience hindered by poor optimization and balance, leading to frustration in gameplay. Despite these challenges, there are hopes for future updates to improve the situation.
“Cartoony graphics are well made and enjoyable, without much impact on PC performance.”
“With around a dozen fully unique classes, each with no generic MMO class equivalent, this game can be overwhelming in the early stages if you begin researching class synergies and optimization.”
“Overall, I'd rate it 7/10; it could use some optimization and updates, but that'll come with time, I hope.”
“The game suffers from performance issues due to being written in Java, but other than that, it is a pretty solid game!”
“Game is not done; bugs prevent playing. 'It just happens sometimes' is the support I got. Don't play an unoptimized game still in beta.”
“Aside from the asinine balance, there is an unbelievable amount of bugs and performance issues.”
- character development15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its unique and creative designs, particularly for female characters, though some reviews note a tendency towards sexism in their portrayal. Players appreciate the sense of accomplishment that comes with acquiring impressive gear, but some express that the complexity of moves and spells can be daunting initially. Additionally, character progression can slow significantly around mid-levels, suggesting a need for experience boosts to maintain engagement.
“Character development also feels really good, although the complexity of the moves and spells are quite intimidating for the first few hours.”
“The character designs are relatively unique and you feel a serious sense of accomplishment when you finally get the awesome-looking gear you want.”
“Amazing character designs and artwork.”
“I do recommend the use of booster packs and other XP bonuses towards mid-levels as character development seems to slow down drastically around level 60-70.”
“Most female character designs are very sexist, featuring balloon-shaped breasts and ridiculously skin-tight clothes.”
“I hate, hate, hate the character design.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique art style, vibrant design, and enchanting music, creating a joyful and immersive experience. Players appreciate the combination of a light-hearted ambiance with complex gameplay mechanics, fostering cooperation and interaction within a colorful world. Despite some minor bugs and class imbalances, the overall atmosphere is described as breathtaking and engaging, making it a delightful experience for players.
“The game looks gorgeous with its own art style; many big areas look unique and interesting, and even the music adds to the comfy atmosphere overall.”
“With its unique art style and music quality, Wakfu creates a joyful atmosphere that will hold you for hours and hours.”
“Go and play it with friends, don't let the childish atmosphere drive you away from its content.”
“Wakfu has a very light-hearted atmosphere.”
“A complex system of strategic combat, where victory is often linked to cooperation with other players, mixed in a colorful design where everything is surprising and unexpected, an impressive variety of classes all unique, plus an interactive environment, crafting, and a really enchanting atmosphere.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about their childhood experiences and feeling heartbreak over its current state. While some users suggest ignoring the game's issues, they acknowledge that others may have intense emotional reactions to these challenges.
“It made me feel like a kid again...”
“Heartbreaking to see how this game ended up as someone who played Final Fantasy Tactics (on the Nintendo).”
“My suggestion is generally to ignore them because of this, but some people have strong emotional reactions to this, so they should be aware.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's high replayability due to its diverse and unique classes, each offering a distinct gameplay experience. The variety of islands and engaging combat further enhance replay value, although some technical issues related to its Java coding were noted.
“Infinitely replayable.”
“Not to mention tons of cool classes that are all different and unique to each other, playing entirely differently, giving tons of replay value.”
“Loads of different islands, gorgeous artwork, engaging combat system, and so much replayability with 13 different classes.”
“This game would be 50 times more playable if it wasn't coded in Java.”
