Warhaven is an upcoming free-to-play PVP combat game that seeks to add a tactical element to the carnage of medieval battles. Following the open beta test last fall, the developers have made numerous changes to make it easier for new players to feel prepared before they confront the enemy. More gamers will have the opportunity to experience Nexon's Warhaven for themselves when a demo launches on June 18th, just ahead of the Steam Next Fest taking place from June 19th to June 26th. Warhaven undoubtedly has mass appeal to gamers who enjoy a blend of strategy and brutal sword fighting in a multiplayer setting. The following is a breakdown of what to expect when the highly anticipated demo drops.
Warhaven is a PVP medieval combat game that allows up to 32 players on two teams to face off with an easy-to-learn combat system. However, teams will have to carefully assemble their squad using soldiers with very different skill sets. Players will work together to achieve set objectives using a variety of weapons including swords, maces, and the magical powers of Immortals.
If you have seen any of the incredibly chaotic Warhaven gameplay which involves 16 players on each team, it might be expected that its battle system and controls are overly complex. Knowing that there isn't much time to react with armies surrounding players, to attack, gamers start off only having to left-click their mouse in conjunction with a handful of keyboard commands. As a player progresses in Warhaven, they will learn how to launch assaults and cast spells with greater speed and efficiency.
Teamwork and strategy play a crucial role in Warhaven's gameplay. Teams will have to best utilize the skills of the 6 different available classes which take on offensive, support, and healing roles, each with it's own strengths and weaknesses. Blade is a class of brave sword-wielding knights that offers some well-rounded skills and can launch enemies into the air with the powerful Ox Slash. This character can find glory using some basic attacks and blocks, so Blade is a perfect choice for newcomers to Warhaven. Accompanying Blade in the attacking class are Spike, Warhammer, and Hush.
If you don't mind taking some punishment, the Guardian class are essentially tanks who are at the forefront of assaults. Guardians can employ a trusty shield to protect themselves as they charge the enemy, or plant their shield into the ground and become invulnerable to damage for a brief time.
Finally, for gamers who prefer to keep a distance from the worst of the action, the Smoke class relies on magical powers to heal allies. However, they can also inflict some damage on opponents with a variety of smoke-powered attacks.
As impressive as some of these classes are, during battle players will see their gauge gradually reach maximum levels. Once a gauge is full, soldiers can transform into a powerful Immortal that can turn the tides of a battle. These mystical beings also have different abilities and also can take on either offensive or support roles. Martyr, a well balanced Immortal in terms of both offense and defense, is a great option for Warhaven novices to achieve what once looked like an unlikely victory.
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The two main game modes players will encounter in Warhaven are Dominion and Skirmish. The goal in Dominion is to capture footholds and win by being the first side to reach a 100% team score. Meanwhile, in the tense Skirmish, the idea is to capture the center A-Foothold and reach a 100% score as a team. The action in Dominion and Skirmish amounts to more than just a kill or be killed scenario. As matches unfold, teams can gradually construct relics, which enables players to quickly respawn in locations that can most rapidly assist fellow teammates. These game modes provide a balance between large-scale brawls and intense skirmishes, offering dynamic and strategic gameplay.
A practice field has also been added to Warhaven as well as training modes, so new players can practice attacks and decide which classes best suit their individual play styles.
While there is no story-driven single-player campaign in Warhaven, the developers have made sure that there is some sense of progression from one match to the next. Earning XP in the game results in players being granted perks, which allows them to upgrade characters with passive abilities to make soldiers more difficult to defeat. Also, through a leveling system, gamers can add various cosmetic items to change the look of their characters.
To encourage a growing Warhaven community, Nexon will regularly be hosting events and tournaments to keep fans involved in the game.
New Warhaven players will start off in the Boot Camp to get familiar with the basic commands and game mechanics, using the strong all-around Blade. Gamers can then experience what it's like to engage the enemy, with the Advanced Boot Camp which includes both AI and human opponents. Players will also have a wider selection of soldiers to choose from to decide on which characters they feel most comfortable going into battle with.
Players should also familiarize themselves with the Dominion maps Gella and Moshabarg, as well as the Skirmish maps of Podden and Sihan. Each location will have unique devices like cannons, slingers, and ballistas. Players will want to locate where these deadly tools are on maps and determine how they can effectively be worked into a battle plan.
Finally, in Warhaven, battle cries and stickers are not only a thrill to use but also have strategic importance in keeping a large team organized. While battle cries can rally a squad and show team spirit, stickers are a quick way to communicate with teammates from around the globe who may speak a variety of languages.
In anticipation of gamers once again returning to battle in Warhaven, Nexon's title has been showcased in a number of events in recent weeks. During the Intel Future Games Showcase, the company unveiled a new trailer that saw squads traveling to battlefields in some surprisingly modern forms of transportation.
At the Summer Game Fest, another new Warhaven video dropped which detailed many of the classes in the game. Also, viewers saw the debut of Hush, a playable assassin who waits for the perfect opportunity to foil the plans of an enemy squad.
Warhaven will have a huge presence at the next Steam Next Fest starting on June 19th. Typically, during these showcases, developers will release demos of games, so gamers can try out titles for themselves. At the same time, viewers often get more information about anticipated releases, with live streams and interviews giving insight into what will become the most popular games in the months to follow. Even though the June Steam Next Fest technically starts on June 19th, the new demo for Warhaven will be released at 18:00 PDT on June 18th. The period to test the free to play Warhaven will extend throughout the duration of the Steam event until June 26th.
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As far as the competition, Chivalry 2 is another extremely popular online medical action game, though it's more in the vein of a classic first-person shooter. From a third-person perspective that gives gamers an expansive view of the battlefield, Warhaven teams can effectively plan and execute a plan to destroy the enemy. In addition, the game looks quite spectacular with highly detailed maps and characters, supporting such graphical advancements as DLSS 3 for Nvidia's 4000 series graphics cards.
Warhaven is a PVP medieval combat game that allows up to 32 players on two teams to face off with an easy-to-learn combat system. However, teams will have to carefully assemble their squad using soldiers with very different skill sets. Players will work together to achieve set objectives using a variety of weapons including swords, maces, and the magical powers of Immortals.
GameRant will keep you updated as gamers get their hands on the new demo build of Warhaven, ahead of its expected full release this fall. Until then, make sure you head over to Steam on June 18th when the demo drops or add Warhaven to your wishlist.