WildStar

About

WildStar is a multiplayer role playing shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Carbine Studios and was released on June 9, 2016. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

WildStar is a free-to-play, massively multiplayer sci-fi shooter game with hilarious moments and good graphics. Explore the vibrant world of Nexus, engage in exhilarating action combat, and customize your character and housing. Experience epic dungeons, raids, and world bosses for legendary loot, and enjoy the diverse marketplace with unique items like hoverboards, costumes, and pets. With its unique art style and expansive features, WildStar offers an immersive MMO adventure.

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,542 reviews

story255 positive mentions

grinding90 negative mentions

WildStar features a unique and engaging combat system that requires players to actively dodge and aim, making battles feel dynamic and rewarding.
The game has a vibrant art style and humorous writing, creating an enjoyable atmosphere that keeps players entertained.
WildStar offers an extensive housing system that allows for deep customization, providing players with a personal space to express their creativity.

The game suffers from a low player population, making it difficult to find groups for dungeons and other content, which can lead to a solitary experience.
Many players experienced technical issues, such as account suspensions and login problems, which detracted from the overall enjoyment of the game.
The questing system can feel repetitive, with many quests being fetch or kill tasks that lack depth and variety.

story
831 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 sci-fi setting. While some quests can feel repetitive and the quest tracker may overwhelm players, the narrative is often described as captivating, with a mix of lightheartedness and darker themes. Overall, the game offers a rich storytelling experience that keeps players invested, despite some criticisms regarding quest clarity and pacing.
- “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.”
- “The storyline is absolutely dull and uninteresting.”
- “It's as if the devs blew their entire budget on pretty graphics and art design, then realized they forgot the story and hastily slapped together a plotline.”
- “The whole story is quite a lot more complex, but you'll have to sift through layers of dull, repetitive quests trying to assemble the bits of lore here and there into a full picture.”
graphics
474 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The graphics of Wildstar are widely praised for their vibrant, cartoonish art style, which many players find charming and reminiscent of popular franchises like Ratchet & Clank and Borderlands. While some critics note that the graphics may appear dated or overly simplistic compared to more realistic titles, the unique aesthetic and colorful environments contribute to an engaging and immersive experience. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a strong point, enhancing its humor and dynamic gameplay.
- “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 so colorful and fun; I love the customization options and the fact there is no pay to win is great.”
- “The graphics are charming and have a likeable style, but they are starting to look dated.”
- “The game is clunky and the character was hard to control; the graphics are meh and I really wouldn't play this game.”
- “The graphics, writing, and voiceover are unremarkable.”
gameplay
440 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
Wildstar's gameplay is widely praised for its engaging and dynamic mechanics, particularly the telegraph system and active dodging, which enhance combat and make encounters more challenging and rewarding. Players appreciate the depth of the combat system, the variety of classes, and the innovative housing features, although some criticize the game's hardcore mechanics and the initial complexity of crafting and item enhancement. Overall, while the game has its flaws, many consider it to have one of the best combat systems in the MMO genre, offering a unique blend of action and strategy that keeps players invested.
- “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.”
- “Wildstar's gameplay is incredibly dynamic, complex, and straight-up fun.”
- “The gameplay is phenomenal, boasting action-based combat that you rarely see done so well in an MMO.”
- “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, wit, and playful irreverence, often drawing comparisons to beloved franchises 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 really enjoyable MMO, with fun, dynamic action combat, great cartoonish visuals (stylized, vibrant with a sci-fi twist), a very good player housing system (a lot of customization options, even for free), interesting lore and a pretty decent story (it also had humor and personality, and it didn't take itself too seriously).”
- “I never played anything quite like this; it just had so much character and charm. I've missed that sense of humor and wonder in this era of brooding, dystopian sci-fi.”
- “The game itself is rather solid, fun, and full of humor.”
- “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 game more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
- “I found the attempts at humor to be awkward and unoriginal, which detracted from the overall experience.”
music
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The music in Wildstar has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its exceptional quality and memorable compositions. Composed by Jeff Kurtenacker, the soundtrack is described as immersive and diverse, enhancing the game's atmosphere and gameplay experience. Overall, it stands out as one of the best soundtracks in the MMO genre, contributing significantly to players' enjoyment and engagement with the game.
- “The masterful soundtrack made by Jeff Kurtenacker made every step on Nexus so much more enjoyable and which I simply cannot resist to listen to, even after Wildstar shut down.”
- “The music is absolutely my favorite thing though, 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 manages to feel out of place as you adventure around the planet.”
- “Wildstar is the funniest MMO I've ever played, with the best music and the second best combat system of any MMO I've ever played.”
- “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.”
- “The eldan stuff is meant to be high-tech, but it is still sort of cutesy-cartoonish and the music and sound effects aren't as different as they should be.”
grinding
98 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 grind as overly time-consuming and lacking in meaningful rewards. Overall, players suggest that while grinding is a common feature in MMOs, this game manages to balance it better than some, though it still requires a considerable time investment.
- “The grind isn't as grindy as most MMOs tend to be.”
- “It's actually difficult, not tediously time-consuming - it's not about showing up every day to amass the best gear.”
- “The end game is really great and actually not grindy.”
- “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
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
44%
47%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly on AMD CPUs, leading to low frame rates and crashes. While some users noted improvements since launch, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, causing frustration for those attempting to play in larger groups or with higher settings. Despite its potential and engaging content, the lack of effective optimization has contributed to a dwindling player base and negative reviews.
- “The game itself feels very polished, well optimized.”
- “The game is surprisingly more optimized than it was at launch - back when AMD rigs performed really poorly and Intel rigs were able to run the game at near 60fps - it's still far from perfect but it still performs better than some AAA titles these days.”
- “Optimization - game runs fine now and has come a long way since the days of sub 10 fps in raids.”
- “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 a significant concern, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that hinder gameplay. While some users have experienced smoother performance after updates, many still encounter persistent issues, particularly with character creation and quest functionality. Overall, the game's stability is viewed as a major drawback, leading to frustration and a lack of recommendation from many reviewers.
- “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 and engaging world, characterized by colorful graphics, a captivating soundtrack, and rich lore that immerses players in a unique sci-fi setting. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create distinct atmospheres across different zones, contributing to a sense of community and exploration. While some critiques mention the gameplay and graphics quality, the overall ambiance and artistic style are consistently celebrated as standout features.
- “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.”
- “Wildstar is just filled with lore, making it a great game to spend time on trying to figure out what's going on behind the calm atmosphere of Nexus.”
monetization
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
43%
48%
The monetization in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the fair implementation of microtransactions and the availability of in-game purchases that were previously cash-based. However, many criticize the in-game store as a cash grab, particularly for locking certain race/class combinations behind paywalls and pushing microtransactions heavily, especially in the tutorial. Overall, while the game is considered a solid free-to-play experience, its monetization strategy has been a point of contention, with calls for better advertising and a more balanced approach to in-game purchases.
- “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, but it seems people are already familiar with all that (for me, everything over $50 for all in-game purchases together is just ridiculous, when other games you can put over 2,000 hours into at a cost of under $10).”
character development
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
Character development in the game is characterized by charming and exaggerated designs that some players find appealing, alongside a robust system for skill leveling and customization options. While the story and lore are decent, the overall depth of character development is mixed, with some players feeling it lacks significance despite the engaging mechanics and creative housing system. The game's vibrant art style and unique interactions contribute positively to the character experience, though some aspects may feel overshadowed by monetization issues.
- “The way that skills are leveled up and character progression is very unique and exciting.”
- “Character development is deep.”
- “The storyline is in-depth, and the character development is robust, even the 'announcer' is light-hearted and witty and still brings a grin to my face.”
- “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 feel a sense of nostalgia and loss at the prospect of its shutdown, while others appreciate the emotional and humorous storytelling, despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game elicits a complex mix of feelings, from satisfaction and fond memories to sadness and disappointment.
- “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%
14%
43%
The game offers significant replayability due to its diverse selection of six races, classes, and paths, along with shorter expeditions and branching adventures that enhance player choices. While some players find the replay value to be limited, the engaging combat, enjoyable dungeons, and varied boss mechanics contribute to a fun experience that encourages multiple playthroughs. Overall, the game's content provides a solid foundation for replayability, despite some areas needing improvement.
- “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.”
- “I still find replay value.”
- “But I still find replay value.”
- “I've had the chance to try dungeons and adventures; boss mechanics in dungeons are awesome, even at low levels, and adventures are neat with their focus on story and several choices to make with your group, which gives a little replayability.”
- “Tl;dr: large amount of content with (mostly) low replayability.”