WildStar

About

WildStar is a free-to-play, critically acclaimed massively multiplayer online game, set in a fantastical sci-fi world on the planet Nexus. It offers both solo and cooperative play, allowing players to embark on their own adventures or join friends in epic battles. Unfortunately, the servers for WildStar officially ceased operation on November 28th, 2018, bringing an end to this vibrant and exciting universe.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,521 reviews

story257 positive mentions

grinding91 negative mentions

WildStar features a unique and engaging combat system that requires players to actively dodge and aim their attacks, making battles feel dynamic and rewarding.
The game has a vibrant art style and humorous writing, creating an enjoyable atmosphere that sets it apart from other MMOs.
The player housing system is one of the best in any MMO, allowing for extensive customization and creativity in building personal spaces.

The game suffers from a low player population, making it difficult to find groups for dungeons and other content, which can lead to a feeling of isolation.
Many players experienced technical issues during account creation and login, leading to frustration and a negative first impression.
The questing system can feel repetitive, with many quests being standard 'kill x' or 'collect y' types, which may not engage all players.

story
833 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The story of Wildstar is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its humor, engaging lore, and vibrant world-building. The narrative revolves around the planet Nexus and its ancient secrets, offering a mix of lighthearted and darker themes that resonate with players. However, some critiques highlight the overwhelming number of quests and the sometimes convoluted quest tracking system, which can detract from the overall storytelling experience. Despite these issues, the game's unique character paths and extensive lore contribute to a rich narrative that many players find compelling and memorable.
- “I was actually fascinated by the story, which is saying something considering many MMOs are copy and paste of each other with no real discernible spice that sets them apart.”
- “The story was amazing!”
- “Wildstar has a very cartoony art style and people see it as a game for kids when it isn't; it has a deep story and you can feel quite immersed at times in the game.”
- “I wish I could hear more of the story and not only the beginning because a few days later it was shut down.”
- “The storyline is absolutely dull and uninteresting.”
- “The first few minutes of Wildstar are okay, making your character, etc., but very quickly you are being forced to do fetch quests with an unlikable story that is boring.”
graphics
480 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The graphics of Wildstar are widely praised for their vibrant, cartoonish art style, which many players find charming and reminiscent of titles like Ratchet & Clank. While some critics note that the visuals may appear dated or overly simplistic compared to more realistic games, the unique aesthetic and colorful environments contribute to an engaging and immersive experience. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a strong point, enhancing its humor and dynamic gameplay.
- “Fantastic art style, colors were perfect for a fantasy space MMO.”
- “The graphics are outstanding.”
- “The art style is beautiful, the community is endearing, and the progression doesn't ruin interest in a game.”
- “The graphics are charming and have a likeable style, but they are starting to look dated.”
- “The graphics, writing, and voiceover are unremarkable.”
- “The game is clunky and the character was hard to control; the graphics are meh and I really wouldn't play this game.”
gameplay
443 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
The gameplay of Wildstar is widely praised for its engaging and dynamic mechanics, particularly the telegraph system and action-oriented combat that require players to actively dodge and interrupt attacks. While many players appreciate the depth and challenge of the combat, some criticize the game's initial complexity and the lack of content at higher levels. Overall, the game is noted for its unique blend of humor, vibrant art style, and a strong community, making it a memorable experience despite its ups and downs.
- “The telegraph system, interrupt, and dodge mechanics added a much-needed change that spiced up my enjoyment of MMOs that I wish other games would one day incorporate.”
- “The gameplay is amazing, the combat is outstanding, and the game in its entirety is fun and enjoyable.”
- “Wildstar's gameplay is incredibly dynamic, complex, and straight-up fun.”
- “Everything else has extremely boring gameplay :(”
- “And overly simplistic gameplay while following the traditional MMORPG quest and grind system without doing anything to innovate.”
- “The game has a great atmosphere but nothing else really, the gameplay and the controls are sloppy and unwieldy.”
humor
204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
1%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and wit, often compared to the playful styles of titles like "Ratchet and Clank" and "Borderlands." Players appreciate the quirky characters, funny dialogue, and engaging quests that provide a refreshing contrast to the darker themes found in many modern games. Overall, the humor adds a unique personality to the game, making it a standout experience in the MMO genre.
- “It was a perfect storm of engaging gameplay, genuine humor, incredible writing and worldbuilding, and a community most other games would die for.”
- “The quirky graphics, humorous characters... it felt like a 'more funny' version of the vanilla World of Warcraft experience.”
- “The humor is top notch. The combat is active and hectic, and the world and the lore are funny and entertaining.”
- “They tried to put jokes taken from other games or 'create' some, and it's all really not funny and embarrassing; it's just so bad.”
- “The humor feels forced and falls flat, making the experience more cringeworthy than enjoyable.”
- “I expected clever wit, but instead, I got tired clichés that made me roll my eyes rather than laugh.”
music
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The music in Wildstar is widely praised for its exceptional quality and diversity, with many reviewers considering it one of the best soundtracks in gaming history. Composed by Jeff Kurtenacker, the soundtrack enhances the game's atmosphere and keeps players engaged, making it a standout feature that players often listen to even outside of the game. While some reviews mention occasional inconsistencies, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and immersive experience.
- “The masterful soundtrack made by Jeff Kurtenacker made every step on Nexus so much more enjoyable, and I simply cannot resist listening to it, even after Wildstar shut down.”
- “While subjective, I would argue the soundtrack is the best ever committed to a video game, and the story is easily one of the best.”
- “The music is absolutely my favorite thing, from grinding techno to sweeping orchestral music; I think a good deal of budget was plowed into the music because it's always epic and never feels out of place as you adventure around the planet.”
- “Music and dialogue sounds are terrible.”
- “I wish I could say amazing things about this game but without the music and sound I just couldn't play it, and until it's fixed in an update I won't be playing again and I recommend not getting the game at all, and this is from someone who was ridiculously excited about finally getting a chance to play.”
- “I only have some cons: MMO graphics, alright music and a near open world.”
grinding
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
3%
92%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially at higher levels where progression slows significantly. While some appreciate the variety in quests and the ability to engage in different activities, others criticize the reliance on grind-heavy mechanics that can lead to boredom. Overall, the game is seen as less grindy than some other MMOs, but still requires a considerable time investment to progress, particularly in endgame content.
- “The grind isn't as grindy as most MMOs tend to be.”
- “Actually difficult, not tediously time-consuming - it's not about showing up every day to amass the best gear.”
- “Leveling up is not too grindy; there are things to break up the constant questing like shiphands (expeditions) and group content.”
- “Leveling is dull, end game is extremely grindy, story either doesn't exist or is a complete joke, zones feel empty and with a few exceptions don't look interesting, everything is super easy.”
- “The only challenge you will overcome is the tedious boredom of grinding level after level of doing the same 3 reskinned quests over and over.”
- “I wanted to get back into the game after the steam launch but after 5 hours of playing, I am remembering how bad the leveling is and how grindy/boring the game is.”
optimization
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
44%
46%
The game's optimization has received widespread criticism, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly in large groups and on AMD hardware. While some users noted improvements since launch, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, leading to frequent frame rate drops and crashes. Despite its potential and engaging content, the lack of effective optimization continues to hinder the player experience.
- “It's optimized.”
- “The game itself feels very polished, well optimized.”
- “The fact that it is very optimized that even my potato PC can run it smoothly makes me want to rate it 10/10.”
- “The result was an unfinished and unoptimized game, marketed toward the exact sort of people that killed MMOs.”
- “Probably one of the most poorly optimized games I've ever played.”
- “Terrible performance and nonexistent optimizations make this title unplayable.”
stability
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users have experienced improvements over time, many still encounter persistent issues, particularly with character creation and quest functionality. Overall, the game's stability remains a major concern, leading to frustration and a lack of recommendation from a significant portion of the player base.
- “It runs great on my older PC as well as my new one; the characters look great, and the ambiance is really easy to get into.”
- “It works with no glitches.”
- “Just like all other pieces of software, Wildstar isn't bug-free and surely isn't full of features.”
- “The game is quite buggy and I have frequently encountered problems with bugs which have led to a need to reboot the game.”
- “Too many bugs, feels like a poor man's World of Warcraft; nice looking world but too buggy.”
- “The character creation menu freezes every single time.”
atmosphere
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
27%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant visuals, engaging lore, and unique sci-fi setting, creating an immersive experience that captivates players. Many reviewers highlight the game's colorful graphics and excellent soundtrack, which enhance the overall ambiance, while some note a friendly community that contributes to a welcoming environment. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the distinct atmosphere remains a standout feature that sets the game apart from others in the genre.
- “Great atmosphere, great lore, captivating and truly a wonder to behold!”
- “The worldbuilding and story are engaging and fun, and the atmosphere is gorgeous.”
- “There's a sense of style and atmosphere that carries through every aspect of the game, and even in 'scary' parts of the game, it is uniquely fun.”
- “The sci-fi setting is also a novelty compared to usual orcs and dragons, but the story and general atmosphere are immensely cheesy and forgettable (evil English space empire vs plucky space 'muricans), so I'm ambivalent to that aspect.”
- “The entire setting of Wildstar is amazing at best, yet the graphics are not that special, but the atmosphere it creates makes it a true open MMORPG unlike others like 'Rift' which focuses on small areas rather than the entire region.”
- “Every zone has an atmosphere that just sucks you in.”
monetization
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
42%
48%
The monetization in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the fair implementation of microtransactions and the optional nature of the cash shop, while others criticize it as a cash grab, particularly for certain race/class combinations and character slots. Although the game is free-to-play and offers daily login rewards, many feel that the monetization system detracts from the overall experience, especially when it comes to end-game content and the reliance on microtransactions for certain features. Overall, while the monetization is not seen as overly intrusive, it has contributed to a perception of the game being bogged down by cash grab mechanics.
- “Worth trying since it's free, and all in-game purchases that used to be cash are now easily earnable in-game.”
- “Game supported by microtransactions, but they are not intrusive or overly restricting.”
- “The servers (Jabbit EU) are fairly populated, during peak times at least, and NCSoft's monetization system is actually really not bad; leaps and bounds ahead of anything Perfect World Entertainment has infested the western market with.”
- “The in-game store is a massive cash grab (pay for certain race/class combos before they unlock).”
- “Played this game more than 400 hours out of Steam... and microtransactions killed the game.”
- “Premium and all the other buyable stuff is expensive; for me, everything over $50 for all in-game purchases together is just ridiculous, especially when other games allow you to put over 2,000 hours into them at a cost of under $10.”
character development
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
Character development in the game is characterized by a charming and cartoonish art style, offering a variety of customization options that enhance both aesthetics and gameplay mechanics. While the story and lore are decent, the depth of character progression and unique skill leveling systems stand out, providing an engaging experience despite some criticisms regarding the overall purpose of character development. Players appreciate the vibrant world and creative housing system, though some feel that certain aspects are hindered by paywalls and technical issues.
- “The character development is deep.”
- “Character development - the way that skills are leveled up and characters progress is very unique and exciting.”
- “On the surface, Wildstar is basically WoW in space with its cartoony look and feel, but has grown far beyond that with a lot more interactions with combat, housing, raiding, etc. The storyline is in-depth, and the mission and character development is robust.”
- “But based on what I remember about the game (aside from the dynamic shadows bug causing server disconnects on certain R9 series cards, numerous latency issues, and lack of general population actually running around doing things) some of the character designs were fairly neat, some of the skills and gameplay mechanics were enjoyable, there were a wild array of builds to play with should you choose, but other beneficial things were hidden behind an annoying and obnoxious paywall.”
- “Beyond this, the game feels pointless in the realm of character development.”
- “On the surface, Wildstar is basically WoW in space with its cartoony look and feel, but has grown far beyond that with a lot more interactions with combat, housing, raiding, etc. The storyline is in-depth, the mission and character development is robust, even the 'announcer' is light-hearted and witty and still brings a grin to my face.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting both the joy and heartbreak it brings. Many reflect on their experiences with nostalgia and sadness, particularly regarding its impending shutdown, while also noting the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through its storytelling and character interactions. However, some feel the game's tone may cater more to a younger audience, which adds to their emotional conflict about their own engagement with it.
- “As this is the second time in my life I have to endure a heartbreaking separation due to a game, all I can say is thanks.”
- “The fact that it's being shut down is honestly heartbreaking.”
- “Whenever I hear the name 'Wildstar,' I will always shed a tear.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
29%
29%
The game offers significant replayability due to its diverse selection of races, classes, and paths, alongside engaging dungeons and adventures that feature branching choices. While some players find the overall replay value to be limited, the variety in gameplay experiences and mechanics keeps many returning for more. Overall, the game has matured since its original release, enhancing its replayability through improved content and mechanics.
- “With six races in each faction to choose from, six classes, and four paths, this game offers plenty of versatility and replayability.”
- “Expeditions are generally shorter and straightforward, while adventures have branching paths and options, which makes for excellent replayability.”
- “Overall, the combat was fun, the dungeons were great, and there is good replayability.”
- “But I still find replay value.”
- “Tl;dr: large amount of content with (mostly) low replayability.”