Warlander

About

Warlander is a multiplayer tactical hack and slash game with fantasy and warfare themes. It was developed by Toylogic Inc. and was released on January 24, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Warlander is an action-packed, third-person, online-multiplayer game, with a unique style that mashes a Medieval-inspired setting, Fantastical items and abilities…and…even powerful robots! Featuring intense competitive skirmishes and epic castle siege warfare with up to 100 players, you must use the almighty powers of god-like Warriors, Clerics, and Mages, as well as siege weapons and cataclysmic…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

62%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,279 reviews

gameplay145 positive mentions

optimization51 negative mentions

The game offers a fun and chaotic experience reminiscent of Happy Wars, with engaging gameplay mechanics and a variety of classes.
The character customization and progression system allows for diverse playstyles, making each match feel unique.
It's a free-to-play game that doesn't heavily rely on pay-to-win mechanics, allowing players to earn gear and abilities through gameplay.

The matchmaking system is unbalanced, often pitting new players against seasoned veterans with maxed-out characters, leading to frustrating experiences.
The game suffers from performance issues and optimization problems, causing lag and low frame rates even on capable hardware.
There is a lack of communication tools, such as in-game chat or voice chat, making it difficult for players to coordinate strategies during matches.

gameplay
345 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
51%
7%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying its chaotic and engaging mechanics, while others criticize it for being repetitive, unbalanced, and plagued by bots. Many users appreciate the unique features and potential for fun, but express frustration over issues like poor matchmaking, lack of tutorial guidance, and pay-to-win elements that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the core gameplay loop shows promise, significant improvements are needed in balance, optimization, and player onboarding to enhance enjoyment.
- “The gameplay is so engaging and fun, you won’t be able to put it down.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the mechanics are smooth, and the overall experience is just top-notch.”
- “Gameplay loop is a lot of fun and addictive.”
- “Gameplay kind of gets repetitive after a match or two.”
- “The quality of gameplay and everything is mobile app level.”
- “Gameplay is not worth the malware anti-cheat.”
optimization
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
48%
36%
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting poor performance, low frame rates, and significant lag, even on high-end systems. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay, the majority highlight serious issues that hinder the overall experience, calling for urgent improvements from the developers. Overall, the consensus is that the game is currently poorly optimized and requires substantial work to enhance performance and stability.
- “Good optimization: doesn't feel laggy, even when there are a million things going on on my screen (but I do have a pretty strong PC).”
- “I haven't had a single performance issue and I really enjoy the progression of your characters.”
- “Runs smoothly.”
- “Shitty framerate and terrible performance, even with an RTX 2060 and an i7-7700K and 16GB of RAM.”
- “Worst optimization I have ever seen.”
- “The game is unplayable, so badly optimized, so clunky, please stop!”
graphics
134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
55%
16%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the stylized visuals and crisp graphics, while others criticize the art style as bland and generic, comparing it unfavorably to its predecessor, Happy Wars. Many users report issues with optimization, experiencing low frame rates even on high-end systems, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics are considered decent by some, the lack of optimization and the aesthetic choices leave a significant portion of the player base dissatisfied.
- “Actually a great game.. better than expected, crisp graphics, optimized and smooth controls.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the mechanics are smooth, and the overall experience is just top-notch.”
- “Great graphics, decent loot, fluid gameplay (melee stuns are annoying at first but you adapt), servers are extremely stable (for me), and an overall satisfying gameplay loop.”
- “The graphics are absolutely washed out and terrible; they look terrible and even running them at maximum it's still terrible.”
- “Very poorly optimized game runs at 20fps while other games with better graphics like Rust run at 70fps.”
- “The game runs like trash despite the mobile-style graphics.”
story
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
88%
5%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for being non-existent or repetitive, with many players expressing a desire for more engaging narratives or quests. While some appreciate the role-based missions and the potential for teamwork, others find the quest structure frustrating and poorly designed, leading to a lack of meaningful progression. Overall, the story is seen as a missed opportunity, with players longing for a more substantial campaign experience akin to previous titles.
- “Each area has different missions to fulfill, providing a fresh way to experience the fights every time.”
- “I enjoyed the story mode in the original Happy Wars that offered some pretty nice gear; maybe implement a similar feature with co-op.”
- “After playing a few games and learning the roles and coordinating with my squad, everything got really fun.”
- “Same old story, ctrl+c ctrl+v.”
- “☑ No story.”
- “The game has horrendous onboarding for new players; many systems are not explained, yet their tutorial includes quests that teach the player how to emote, but not how to or why to use siege equipment or other crucial game mechanics.”
monetization
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
54%
35%
The monetization in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it as a cash grab that heavily emphasizes microtransactions, particularly for cosmetics and progression boosts. While some players find the monetization system to be fair and not pay-to-win, others argue that it detracts from the overall experience and is oppressive, leading to concerns about the game's long-term viability. Overall, the monetization approach appears to be a significant point of contention among players, with calls for better balance and advertising to improve player engagement.
- “Limited microtransactions, constant updates, and an overall fun game to play!”
- “For a free-to-play game, it's got good gameplay and reasonably fair monetization.”
- “The monetization system is pay to pretty, not pay to win.”
- “Back to the microtransactions though, they're pretty oppressive.”
- “Obviously a big cash grab though.”
- “Yes, the game aggressively pushes in-app purchases such as the already existing season pass or the outrageously overpriced cosmetics that you need to buy before they rotate out.”
grinding
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
3%
95%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant investment to progress or unlock gear. While some appreciate the rewarding nature of grinding and the character customization it offers, others criticize the pay-to-win elements and the imbalance created by players who have spent more time or money on the game. Overall, the grinding experience can be frustrating, but it may appeal to those who enjoy a challenge and are willing to invest the necessary time.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll have to tediously go to a character and manually change their title (and possible gear and abilities) if you ever feel like switching something as basic as that.”
- “You can't play the game how you want and can't benefit from most of your grinding because they wanted to balance the OP characters.”
- “The game's core systems are very solid, but only work if players can access strong gear without excessive grinding or paywall.”
humor
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
8%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players highlighting its funny moments, creative concepts, and engaging interactions, especially when playing with friends. Many reviews mention the comedic aspects of gameplay, such as unexpected team decisions and amusing character interactions, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere despite some frustrations with game mechanics. Overall, the game is seen as a source of laughter and memorable experiences, making it enjoyable even in defeat.
- “It's stupid, it has killed off my sanity many times especially with rounds where the teams decided 'hey let's throw the game... it'll be funny!!' like your ally getting the enemy core down to 15% and then losing the next second you turn around lol.”
- “This game is fun as hell, makes for some funny and memorable times with friends.”
- “If you like crashing castles, running it down mid lane with your buddies, and laughing in the face of adversity... this game is for you!”
- “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced.”
- “I expected a lot more laughs, but the jokes just miss the mark.”
- “The attempts at humor are cringeworthy and often make the experience worse.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players noting it runs well on various systems and has potential, while others report significant bugs, graphical glitches, and issues with matchmaking. Many users express frustration over troubleshooting failures and a lack of effective support, leading to a perception of the game as a "buggy mess." Overall, while some enjoy a smooth experience, the game's stability remains a concern for many players.
- “The game runs great with no lag.”
- “Runs great on a lower-end PC and has no pay-to-win while being free to play.”
- “Runs great on max settings for me.”
- “Can't even play; I have 2.5 hours of game time now but only at the launcher screen and never played the game. What a terrible experience! Even if you do all the troubleshooting steps they give you, you can't enter the game.”
- “Desperate for answers, I contacted Warlander support, only to receive generic troubleshooting advice and an incomprehensible request for video proof of my inability to join matches.”
- “Absolute buggy mess.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
Character development in the game is praised for its unique and balanced system, allowing players to customize their characters with various utilities and skills. The mechanics are well-integrated with combat and gameplay, offering depth once players grasp the complexities of the design system. However, the potential for deeper cooperative gameplay remains to be fully explored beyond initial experiences.
- “The in-game currency is easily earned, and the system of character development is unique enough that each slot you have can be attuned to a different utility.”
- “The character development and combat, base destruction, really all of it, is done pretty well and in a balanced way.”
- “Once you understand the complexities of the character design system, you will realize it is more than enough.”
- “Cooperative gameplay and character development could bring in some depth to it, but I only played the tutorial and a few minutes in a multiplayer battle, so I can't say for sure yet.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The music in the game is highly praised for its catchy atmosphere and ability to enhance immersion, complementing the impressive graphics and smooth combat. Players find the soundtrack engaging and energetic, contributing positively to the overall experience, although new players may feel overwhelmed by more experienced competitors.
- “The combat is smooth, classes are great, and the music is on fire!”
- “Immersion through the music, vibes, style, and mood is exceptional.”
- “The atmosphere is catchy with the effects and music.”
- “The music fails to create an immersive experience, leaving the game feeling flat.”
- “The soundtrack is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players highlight the impressive replayability of the game, noting its engaging systems that keep them coming back for more. Despite being a free release, it offers a captivating experience that quickly draws players in, although some mention that regional servers could enhance playability further.
- “The systems in place result in amazing replayability.”
- “Length & replayability”
- “But, for a new release that is free, I'm actually amazed at how well it runs and how much replayability there is, and how quickly it sucks you in.”
- “Maybe with regional servers and decent ping, this might be a bit more playable.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The atmosphere is highly praised for its engaging effects and music, creating an exciting environment during gameplay. Players appreciate the sense of camaraderie during battles, with both large-scale skirmishes and intimate 1v1s contributing to a thrilling experience. Overall, the dynamic visuals and intense action enhance the game's immersive quality.
- “The atmosphere is captivating, enhanced by the effects and music.”
- “The gameplay is delightful, and the atmosphere of everyone fighting together is wonderful; even the 1v1s or small skirmishes feel exciting at times.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible, with massive attacks and spells erupting all around as you engage in skirmishes at an objective.”
- “The atmosphere is catchy with the effects and music.”
- “The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it feel disjointed.”
- “Despite the visuals, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game, highlighting frustration with the prevalence of bots that detract from the multiplayer experience, leading some to uninstall. Additionally, the delay of the console release has added a layer of disappointment, particularly as it coincides with the anticipation of an official announcement at the end of season 0.
- “The heartbreaking news was revealed that the console release has been delayed, and an official announcement will come at the end of Season 0.”