I strongly dislike battle passes and overpriced, FOMO-driven cosmetics of any kind. Because of my ongoing stance against this type of monetization, I have to leave a negative review here. I firmly believe there are fairer and healthier ways to monetize f2p games without constantly pressuring players into a “need to play” mindset, especially considering how susceptible many people are to these systems.

That said, I mostly played the game to complete the Discord Quest (“Play 15 minutes of Where Winds Meet”).

From a purely visual standpoint, this is one of the most beautiful MMOs I have ever played. The controls (or rather the default key bindings) take some time getting used to, but overall the gameplay feels very fluid. Even within my relatively short playtime, the combat system left a genuinely positive impression. The world itself is stunning, the Wuxia setting is very appealing, and the intro sequence was well done. While it is unfortunate that Europe only gets an English voice-over, the voice acting itself is of good quality.

I also read that the game can apparently be played almost entirely solo, which is a very welcome feature for a f2p MMO. MMOs like World of Warcraft have always thrived primarily on a broad base of casual players; people without massive guilds or dozens of friends to grind endgame content with. Designing systems that accommodate solo-oriented players is therefore a smart decision.

However, aside from the FOMO-heavy monetization, the launcher was another immediate annoyance. MMOs on Steam that require an additional launcher are always frustrating, especially when Steam playtime is already being tracked while you are forced to wait minutes for lengthy updates. On top of that, shader installations seemed to run every single time I launched the game. That really shouldn’t be necessary.

The menus and overall UI design also feel very cluttered and unintuitive. Getting into the actual game feels clunky, and even quitting requires you to hunt for a small, poorly placed button. On top of that, the sheer number of currencies thrown at the player right from the start is overwhelming. Within the first few minutes, you are flooded with items and two to three different currencies, without any clear explanation of what they are used for. As a new player, this is extremely disorienting.

This strongly reminded me of Lost Ark. I felt similarly “lost” there, playing along, constantly receiving rewards without understanding their purpose or value. Personally, I much prefer a World of Warcraft–style approach: start with a single main currency (like gold), and gradually introduce additional ones slowly over time, while clearly showing what each currency is used for.

At least for now, the game does not seem to be a gacha and does not appear to be pay-to-win. Still, it features a very grind-heavy battle pass and extremely expensive cosmetics. These monetization choices could absolutely be handled in a fairer way. I understand that the game originates from China, where the market is generally more whale-driven and in-game purchases are more widely accepted. That said, I would personally much prefer a fixed purchase price, paid expansions, or even a subscription model in exchange for all content, including cosmetics, being permanently earnable in-game.

For me, collecting cosmetics and progression items is a core pillar of the MMO experience. Locking that behind battle passes or limited-time shop rotations undermines that pillar. Games like this often demand full commitment from minute one, simply to avoid missing out. People may say “it’s just cosmetics,” but for many players it clearly isn’t - otherwise this business model would not be nearly as successful as it is.

All in all, Where Winds Meet is a very beautiful game with a strong foundation. I will likely continue to play it casually for free Discord rewards, but beyond that, probably not; for the reasons mentioned above. If you don't care about cosmetics and stuff, it might be worth trying out.

For the Right Player, Nightreign Might Be Something Special.

Elden Ring: Nightreign dares to fuse the brutal elegance of Soulslike gameplay with the unpredictability of roguelike mechanics. On paper, it sounds like the ultimate test for veteran players. In practice, the launch was rocky – plagued by technical issues and some design choices that didn’t quite land for everyone, myself included.

From what little time I spent in the game, I felt that releasing Nightreign as a standalone title, rather than an expansion or DLC to Elden Ring, might not have been the wisest decision. The vast majority of players diving into Nightreign already own the base game, so this could’ve worked better as a seamless continuation or mode.

That being said, the core pillars of what makes a FromSoft game great are still present: hauntingly beautiful environments, mesmerizing boss designs, and a combat system that’s as punishing as it is rewarding. No one needs convincing on that front — it’s FromSoftware, after all.

I personally refunded the game, not out of spite, but because I simply don’t have the luxury of consistently playing with a group of friends and I don't feel ready playing with strangers yet. I also walked in with little preparation and, as someone who’s still relatively new to Soulslikes, this may not be the right entry point for me just yet.

Still, I fully intend to return to Nightreign once solo or duo play sees some improvement (or implantation)— or when I feel ready for what it demands. Elden Ring was a game I believed everyone who calls themselves a gamer should experience (like I said in my ELDEN RING review). Nightreign, in contrast, has a more focused audience — and maybe I’m just not part of it right now.

But here's the important part:
Despite my refund, I’m leaving a positive review. Why? Because Nightreign is one of the rare online-focused games in 2025 that doesn't exploit players with microtransactions or FOMO-driven content. That alone deserves recognition and support. If more developers followed FromSoft’s example: crafting games with respect for their audience instead of squeezing them dry, the industry would be a better place. I’ll be back, Nightreign. Just give me time.