The Free2Play game Master X Master may seem at first glance like a clone of Heroes of the Storm. But within NCSoft’s colorful genre mix, there’s so much more than just HotS in green. Find out here why Master X Master is currently Jürgen’s new favorite game.
Are you looking for a free PC game that you can play anytime without much introduction, that excels in PvP and PvE, and is interesting for fans of MOBAs, arena brawlers, top-down shooters, and even platformers? Then Master X Master could be your game!
Master X Master – MOBA? Arena Brawler? Top-Down Shooter? What is it actually?
Master X Master is a colorful genre mix for PC that refuses to belong to just one genre. Currently, MXM has four game modes, each targeting a different type of player, which you can conveniently select from the lobby:
- Arena Mode: Here you play 3vs3 battles in a small arena that changes during the game. You have 5 minutes to achieve more kills than the enemy with your team. Power-ups occasionally appear.
- MOBA Mode: Here you play 5vs5 matches on a classic 3-lane MOBA map. In between, there’s the obligatory jungle with NPC monsters that you can take out for XP and points. The goal is to destroy the enemy’s energy core, but you can also summon particularly tough super NPCs called Titans to quickly deal with the opposing defense.
- PvE Stage–Mode: If you don’t like PvP, you can prove yourself in specific stages with up to two friends (or alone). There, you shoot and slash your way through AI enemies and nasty obstacles, fight mini-bosses, and face the final boss at the end.
- Minigame Mode: The minigames are a package of silly and fun little games for in-between. It’s about avoiding obstacles, collecting candies, and jumping from platform to platform.
All these game modes are not played in the usual “point-and-click” control of MOBAs like LoL or Heroes of the Storm. Rather, you move your hero with the WASD keys on the keyboard. You aim and shoot with the mouse. Along with the pleasantly clear camera distance, this control is intuitive and easy to learn. A few practice rounds should be enough to get the hang of it.
Master X Master – Hero Selection – Standard fare, but tasty
The hero selection of Master X Master currently includes 37 characters, some of whom should be familiar to you from other NCSoft games. For example, the grim Charr Rytlock from Guild Wars 2 and the former archvillain Jinsoyun from Blade & Soul make appearances in MXM.
Additionally, there are a large number of entirely new heroes, such as the gun-toting mercenary Lua or the wild barbarian Cagnazzo. However, there are currently no truly original heroes like Cho’Gall or Ragnaros from HotS. MXM offers solid standard fare without major surprises.
Master X Master – Tag Team – Double heroes, double fun
Unlike the usual genre representatives, you don’t just have one hero. You always have another hero with you, which you select before the round and can switch at any time with the middle mouse button in the game. The currently inactive hero regenerates health points and can be switched back after a short cooldown. With this “Tag Team Mechanic,” you can build particularly effective combos:
- You use a tank hero with control skills to pin down an enemy. Then switch to a tough DD hero and unleash your strongest damage skills on the helpless opponent.
- You are a weak caster DD and take a lot of damage. Switch to your second hero, who is a big tank, and laugh at the pathetic pinpricks from the enemy!
- You are a supporter who distributes strong shields. Buff yourself with it and then switch to a tank who becomes even tankier due to the ongoing buff.
Master X Master – No power to the meta!
Also cool: Due to the double combo of the players, the notorious “meta” (the currently very trendy hero selection) establishes itself much slower than in other games, as many combinations of heroes are possible in MXM.
Also, thanks to the Tag Team Mechanic, you can play your favorite DPS and still take the urgently needed tank or supporter as a second pick. This way, everyone has fun and is not forced to give up their favorite hero for the sake of the team.
MXM – Why is it so much fun?
Master X Master is simply a great fun. This is because it offers so many cool game modes that are all easy to learn, yet thoughtful and fun. Even if one – like me – prefers PvE over PvP, I find myself playing a few rounds in the arena or even in MOBA mode again and again.
Due to the strict time limit of 5 (Arena) or 25 minutes (MOBA), the PvP rounds are manageable and do not unexpectedly escalate into hours of torture like in LoL or HotS. This is ideal when you want to play a round shortly before going out and don’t want to explain to your partner why the “short round” has already lasted over an hour.
What I enjoy the most about MXM is in the Coop mode with my friends. The higher difficulty levels require good teamwork and are more than just mindless shooting. The loot is significantly better, allowing you to upgrade your Masters after the battle, buy new skins, or unlock new heroes. If you play long enough, you get all heroes without spending real money in the mandatory cash shop. Only the rather long grind in the same stages to unlock certain heroes can be a bit annoying. Also, the fact that you can only choose the PvE level with paid tickets and otherwise only play random stages.
Conclusion: Master X Master is a truly fun game that delights for many hours and offers something for every player’s taste. NCSoft fans also get the added value of beloved heroes from the publisher’s franchise games. So if you’re a fan of arena brawlers, MOBAs, or top-down shooters and play on PC, there’s really no reason not to try MXM. It doesn’t cost anything!
Here is the link to download Master X Master for free (the link starts the download).
Also interesting: Master X Master – These 5 AAA MMOs are included
