Lost Ark
What is Lost Ark? Lost Ark is an action MMORPG from Korea that has only been released there and in Russia so far. It mixes the genres action RPG and MMO to create something unique:
- It utilizes elements from Diablo, such as the isometric perspective and mouse-click movement
- It features MMORPG elements like an open world, dungeons, raids, crafting, housing, and PvP.
With its social elements and group play, it feels more like an MMO than a classic hack-and-slash:
- You fight in group raids against powerful boss enemies
- It is possible to own a house
- You can compete against other players in PvP arenas
- You can build relationships with NPCs
Visually, Lost Ark combines a fantasy world with elves and demons with many steampunk elements. Currently, there are 12 classes with different abilities.
How did the development of Lost Ark go? Lost Ark was released in Korea at the end of 2018 and started an open beta in Russia in 2019. You can participate from Germany too, if you can handle the language barrier.
The game initially experienced hype that then calmed down. Still, the MMORPG remained in the top 5 in Korea for several months. In 2019 and 2020, Lost Ark picked up pace with several updates, and much content has already been announced for 2021.
The big question of when and how the game will come to the West has been clarified, at least largely. In September 2020, Amazon announced that it would distribute the MMORPG here. This increases the chance that it will also be released in German.
The release is planned for 2021, although no more specific time frame was given.
That’s why Lost Ark will succeed
A highlight if it releases on time
Lost Ark has won many awards since its release in Korea, including multiple awards at G-Star 2019. The MMORPG impresses with its combat system, massive areas, and its loot spiral, which is one of the most important components in an online role-playing game.
Its unique gameplay resembles Diablo, but it also offers everything MMORPG fans desire. Therefore, the game is interesting for a broad audience and looks like a hit on paper.
My biggest concern regarding the success of Lost Ark is that it may release late in 2021 or even not at all this year. Additionally, there is the question of how quickly content will be released after launch. The potential for Lost Ark is considerable.
Alexander Leitsch
MMORPG expert at MeinMMO
What do you think about the 3 games? Are you looking forward to them, or do you prefer to wait and see how they develop after the release? And do you have any hidden gems that should be watched in 2021?
For those not wanting to wait for the release of new games, here are some titles that we at MeinMMO recommend:
