Mad World: Age of Darkness
Setting: 2D Dark Fantasy | Developer: Jandisoft | Platform: PC | Release Date: April 27, 2023 | Model: Free2Play
What kind of game is this? Mad World is a very dark MMORPG that is played from an isometric perspective in 2.5D. The graphics style is particularly striking, showing very quirky enemies that were reportedly all hand-drawn by the developers.
- There are no classes, but you choose your skills from a complex skill tree. You can switch between all six weapons in the middle of combat.
- The battles are action-packed, and you must develop special strategies for the toughest opponents.
- There is a story to follow.
- You can organize yourself into tribes and wage wars against other tribes.
- In many endgame areas, there is PvP – with and without penalties.
The highlights of the game are mainly the dark graphics and the fact that you can play Mad World not only on Steam or in a client but also directly in your browser, making it cross-platform. A mobile version is also planned.
The game is being developed by Jandisoft, some of whose developers have previously worked on the MMORPG classic Metin 2. You can check out the gameplay here:
Who is it interesting for? Mad World is aimed at players looking for a complex MMORPG in the style of Path of Exile, but with a very unique graphic style. However, it mostly fills a niche and is not for the general public.
How is it performing currently? There was no major hype. The quirky graphics and endgame PvP seem to deter some. Additionally, there were server issues at launch. However, the developers finally released the Steam version in January 2024.
The all-time peak on Steam was reached four months ago, with just 476 concurrent players. Currently, there are hardly more than 2 players roaming in the MMORPG during prime time.
The mere 565 reviews from Steam users are balanced, with a total of 45 percent positive reviews. The criticism targets the monetization, as well as the poor controller support, constant lags, or the poorly balanced difficulty level.
Ethyrial: Echoes of Yore
Setting: Old School Iso Perspective | Developer: Gellyberry Studios | Platform: PC | Release Date: May 1, 2023 | Model: Free2Play with optional subscription
What kind of game is this? The MMORPG is reminiscent of old classics like Old School RuneScape – both in gameplay and content. There is an extensive skill system, all items are crafted by players, and teamwork is generally supposed to be important.
- The game offers various biomes, including mountains, deserts, and snowy landscapes that you can explore.
- There are eight different dungeons that you can tackle before the endgame
- In the endgame itself, there are raids and world bosses waiting for you
- You follow a story with over 100 quests
The special aspect of the game is the hardcore approach. If you are defeated in battle, you lose your equipment. The developers want to reward the risk of players: the greater the challenge, the greater the loot. Some crafting blueprints are said to be able to drop only in a limited number.
Who is it interesting for? Ethyrial: Echoes of Yore is aimed at MMORPG fans who seek a challenge and can live with the idea of having to take risks and possibly lose something. Additionally, you should place little value on modern graphics.
The problem, however, is that getting into the game already does not seem worthwhile.
How is it performing currently? Extremely poorly. At launch, the MMORPG peaked at 1,815 concurrent players, which is impressive for an indie title with a subscription model. But the release did not go well.
There was criticism for the boring start, missing drops, poor controls, broken balance, and gold dupes that destroyed the economy. Additionally, there were technical issues at launch, preventing many players from logging in at all.
Furthermore, developers accidentally charged the subscription twice, leading to a shitstorm. Currently, Ethyrial has 1,007 reviews, 64 percent of which are negative. At present, the game hardly gets more than 20 concurrent players together. By the way, 81 percent of the last 16 reviews were positive.
