5 Strengths That Make Honor of Kings: World Much Better Than You Might Currently Fear

Strength 5: Comparatively Fair Free2Play

Honor of Kings: World relies on a free-to-play model with battle pass, in-game shop, and Gacha mechanics. Sounds wild, but in our impression, it is handled much more gently compared to many other Asian MMOs. Here are the reasons:

• The most important currency for improving your character’s strength is gold. There is no way to turn real money into gold in HoK:W. You have to earn your gold.
• Astral crystals are the real money currency of HoK:W. This currency cannot be earned in-game. Various cosmetic items can only be purchased with astral crystals.
• The blue platinum crystals represent a second earnable currency, which can also be exchanged for astral crystals. You primarily use these blue crystals to pay for cosmetics and to unlock new classes/styles.
• There is a type of optional subscription that costs about 4 US dollars in China and supplies you with a specific number of astral and platinum crystals over 30 days. Other bonuses are not linked to the subscription.
• The Gacha system relies on the usual element of luck combined with a pity protection (after a maximum number of attempts, you are guaranteed to complete the respective set) and offers only cosmetic rewards. There are two variants: one for astral and one for platinum crystals.
• The battle pass consists of both a free and a paid path. Consumable items for stamina (needed for certain contents) are only available through the free path. Among other things, the paid path offers the battle pass class and some upgrade materials, but these can also be earned.

Honor of Kings: World

Action MMO

Essentially, HoK:W has a system that you also know from MOBAs. Some champions can only be earned, but most must be purchased. The currency needed for this can be earned over time or obtained through real money. So, if you need instant access to all classes, you will have to invest real money. However, if you’re satisfied with gradually earning the exciting classes, you can do so without spending real money.

The only exception to this rule is the class associated with the currently active battle pass. Whether this will later also land in the normal shop is still unclear.

All in all, we have a payment model that, although it employs undesirable random mechanics (Gacha) and occasionally hides exciting content like the battle pass class behind a paywall, is otherwise comparatively fair. In our view, pure free-to-play players should be able to have a lot of fun with Honor of Kings: World.

These were the biggest strengths of Honor of Kings: World that we discovered during the playtest. An analysis of potential gameplay brakes will follow. But how do you all feel about it right now: Are you excited for the MMO Lite? Or are you still waiting for the LoL MMORPG? Feel free to let us know in the comments. More on that: You won’t have to wait another 10 years for the LoL MMORPG, the big competitor from China is already delivering