Honor of Kings: Exclusive Hands-On Preview at World Gamescom

Emerging Competitors in the Free-to-Play RPG Arena

In the wake of Genshin Impact‘s phenomenal success, game developers worldwide are racing to create free-to-play titles that can match its appeal. While replicating such success is undoubtedly a formidable challenge, a number of upcoming games are demonstrating impressive quality that rivals not only HoYoVerse’s flagship title but also premium offerings. One notable example is Neverness to Everness, which creatively blends a contemporary urban landscape with influences from the iconic Persona series, promising to enhance players’ overall experience.

Honor of Kings: World – A Promising New Title

Another title to keep on your radar is Honor of Kings: World. This upcoming open-world action RPG is based on the immensely popular MOBA, Honor of Kings, and aims to provide an immersive gaming experience within a vast and breathtaking world. Unlike many current free-to-play RPGs, this game aspires to deliver more intricate gameplay mechanics that engage players at a deeper level.

First Impressions from Gamescom

At last month’s Gamescom, I had the opportunity to experience a demo of Honor of Kings: World, which showcased both the early game and later content. The initial tutorial set the stage with a dynamic introduction, allowing me to assume the role of a newcomer at Jinxia Academy. From there, I embarked on my first adventure in the stunning world of Primaera. The impressive scope of the game world was immediately evident, with Jinxia Academy and its sprawling environments promising a myriad of activities, such as crafting and house-building.

Honor of Kings World characters in a fantasy setting with Honor of Kings text visible on top left. — Honor of Kings: World is setting out to be a great open-world action RPG with a focus on multiplayer.

Combat System and Mechanics

During my brief playtime, I concentrated on the combat system, which stood out as a highlight of the game. While Honor of Kings: World maintains accessibility typical of free-to-play models, it also offers a more engaging combat experience compared to its competitors. The game features advanced mechanics, including perfect dodges, a diverse range of skills with unique effects and synergies, and weapon switching. Though it might not reach the technical heights of character action games like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, the depth of combat turned the boss battles in the demo into thrilling and sometimes challenging encounters, thanks to well-designed adversaries with varied move sets.

Unfortunately, I was unable to test the game’s multiplayer components. However, I did learn that these features will be optional, ensuring solo players will not miss out on any content. The gameplay strikes a compelling balance between a simplified character action experience and elements reminiscent of the Monster Hunter series, UI design, alongside engaging dungeon layouts that incorporate simple puzzles and multiple pathways, encouraging exploration.

Monetization and Future Prospects

As of now, details surrounding monetization and gacha mechanics remain scarce. This uncertainty makes it challenging to predict how Honor of Kings: World will perform against similar titles upon its impending release on PC and mobile platforms later this year. However, the foundational elements are in place for this game to compete effectively with both free-to-play RPGs and premium offerings alike, potentially appealing even to those unfamiliar with its MOBA roots.

In conclusion, Honor of Kings: World seems poised to carve out a significant niche in the competitive landscape of open-world RPGs, and I’m eager to see how it evolves in the coming months.

Source & Images