- Dauntless is a new free-to-play game that is looking to take Fortnite down a peg
- The game is made by Phoenix Labs, which was created by the founders of League of Legends
- Gameplay is a little like a cross between Destiny and Monster Hunter
- It’s poised to be one of the biggest games of the summer
It’s a new week, which means you can expect another free-to-play game that promises to be the next big Fortnite.
But while some games manage to crack the code – we’re looking at you, Apex Legends – many others fall by the wayside.
Enter Dauntless, an online multiplayer game that’s a little like a cross between Monster Hunter and Destiny. It’s one of a handful of games that boasts proper cross-platform support between both Xbox and PlayStation consoles and your PC.
Much of the game revolves around going out on hunts with other online players, fighting big old monsters and using the loot and experience you grind out along the way to fight bigger monsters. Yes, the gameplay mechanics are nothing new – but that doesn’t mean it’s not a tremendous amount of fun.
You play as a Slayer, a professional hunter who wanders the countryside fighting dangerous beasts who want to end the world. Along the way, you’ll find supplies, craft new weapons and armor, and gain experience.
There are multiple weapons to choose from, including large swords and hammers that are slow but deliver big damage, and things like chain blades which are less powerful, but quicker to use. Monsters vary too, including bigger more armored beasts who take a while to go down and more agile predators that move fast but hit hard.
Combat is simple, but satisfying – you get a few basic combo attacks as well as specials – and a good emphasis of each skirmish involves rolling out the way of invading attacks.
Developed by Phoenix Labs – which was created by the founders of League of Legends – Dauntless is an easier approach to the Monster Hunting formula. Everything is geared towards fun, including the cartoonish graphics, casual science and your home base – a floating island in the sky.
The in-store shop – which is how Dauntless will make its money – sells premium items.
But it’s not all good news. Since its official release on May 21st the game has been plagued with server problems and matchmaking issues. But its developers say that things will only get better as new servers are added.
If you can get by the issues, then Dauntless is a ton of fun. Does it do enough to make a dent in Fortnite’s loyal fan base? Only time will tell.
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