Mordhau has only been out for a few days and has already become the new bestseller on Steam. We look at why so many fans are celebrating the new sword fighting game.
What is Mordhau? Mordhau is a new game from indie developer Triternion. Mordhau was released on April 29 on Steam. It is comparable to Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, Mount & Blade, and in the broadest sense, also to For Honor.
In Mordhau, you take up various weapons such as axes, swords, and bows to play with or against each other in different modes. The game features a progression system that allows you to level up and purchase new equipment.
What Players Say About Mordhau
Although Mordhau has some issues to deal with, it is quite popular. (currently 76% positive reviews on Steam, as of May 1 at 6:45 PM) We looked at the comments about the game to find out what players like so much.
This is good about the gameplay: The gameplay of Mordhau is heavily skill-based. The weapon physics react to numerous circumstances in the game to make strikes realistic:
- the direction determines the type of a strike
- strikes and damage react to armor and shields
- feints can confuse opponents
- with the right timing and direction, strikes can be reposted
- the type of weapon affects its damage for certain strikes and against certain armor
- most weapons have an alternative mode (such as the “Mordhau”, where the sword is held by the blade to strike with the pommel)
Many fans praise this way of playing. Since “Friendly Fire” is always active, players must be particularly careful not to injure or even kill each other, especially in large battles.
How is the long-term motivation? Mordhau offers a progression system for developing classes and accounts. Players earn gold and experience points for each match, more for victories.
Experience points increase the account level, and with gold, new and often better equipment or cosmetics can be purchased to create individual classes (mercenaries). Many fans particularly like this customization feature.
However, they also see it as long-term motivation because some items can only be purchased at significantly higher levels or are quite expensive. This is especially true for special cosmetics.
How good are graphics and performance: Another point that players often find positive is the visuals of Mordhau. For a game that allows up to 64 players per server, everything runs smoothly and looks very good.
However, there are deductions mainly for the current stability issues. Some players complain that they have no or only a very poor connection to some servers, making fights difficult or even impossible.
Additionally, the “Battle Royale” mode currently does not work for some players. They either can’t find matches or the lobbies do not fill up.
How are the features? Mordhau offers numerous features that set it apart from other games of its kind. However, these are sometimes received with mixed feelings:
- The co-op horde mode is largely well-received. Those who prefer playing with friends and do not want to face human players like to meet here with colleagues to play together.
- Horses are both a blessing and a curse. In most modes, horses can be ridden. However, according to many fans, the controls are a bit tricky and can be frustrating. Additionally, they can be too powerful on one hand and a danger to their own team on the other hand. Overall, most players are glad to have the feature, but it is also criticized.
- The selection of weapons excites many fans. Various axes, polearms, bows, swords, and even siege weapons are complemented by useful items like shields, construction kits, and healing. Quirky weapons such as frying pans and musical instruments add extra fun to the game.
Conclusion: The fact that over three-quarters of the reviews on Steam report positively about Mordhau speaks for itself. Despite this sentiment, there are also objective and subjective criticisms from players. Here is a brief overview:
Two points that are frequently mentioned by both sides are “Friendly Fire” and the required skill. Some players find it great that this attention to detail enhances realism. Others find it annoying to die because of inexperienced players.
Regarding skill, many fans are glad to finally have a challenge and appreciate the opportunity to improve continuously. Others are frustrated that the entry is so difficult, especially against better players.
Have you played Mordhau? What is your impression?
Mordhau shows that it doesn’t always have to be AAA to be good:
