Waven Review Summary

Offers deep character builds and fun solo and co-op play, but is abandoned with predatory monetization and poor PvP.

Varied and deep character builds: Players enjoy the wide variety of viable builds, playstyles, and character classes, offering significant replayability through different strategies and loot customization.

Game is fundamentally fun: Players consistently praise the core game as fun, good, and enjoyable, with many noting its potential and pleasant appeal.

Great solo and co-op experience: The game is highly enjoyable both solo and with friends, with co-op and multiplayer modes specifically praised for their fun and viability.

Beautiful and polished graphics: The graphics, art style, and visual polish are widely appreciated, with many calling the game beautiful, pleasant, and visually polished.

Excellent music and voice acting: The music, soundtrack, and voice acting are consistently highlighted as excellent, with memorable performances and an enjoyable OST.

Game abandoned and dead: Multiple reviews indicate the game is abandoned with no communication or updates since late 2025, leading to a dead community and very low player counts. The lack of news and ongoing support makes the game feel unmaintained.

Predatory monetization: Monetization is seen as predatory, featuring a battle pass at 16€ per month, multiple pay tiers, and expensive cash shop skins. Players feel the game is designed as a cash grab.

Poor PvP implementation: The PvP mode lacks attention and is criticized for resetting deckbuilding and offering no equipment progression, using only pre-built decks. This makes the mode feel incomplete and unenjoyable.

Game oversimplified and shallow: Players feel the game is being oversimplified to the point of losing depth, sacrificing core gameplay mechanics for excessive simplification. This trend may ruin the experience for those seeking strategic complexity.

Login system broken: The login system is widely criticized as troublesome and non-functional, especially with Google account access. Players report being unable to log in, which is a fundamental barrier to playing.

Turn-based tactical combat: The game is a turn-based tactical RPG with hex-grid battles, and it is compared to Dofus and Wakfu. It emphasizes strategy over MMO overhead.

Planned major overhaul: A major rework is planned, simplifying heroes, removing equipment, changing companions, and replacing islands with a hub. This aims for a more casual mobile experience.

Deck-building mechanics: The deck-building system is core to gameplay, allowing players to customize spell decks and strategies. It is often mentioned alongside turn-based combat.

Cooperative multiplayer mode: Players can play solo or co-op with up to 4 friends. Co-op is recommended for dungeons and provides a more engaging experience.

Companion summoning system: Companions can be summoned to fight alongside the player, with some using an action reserve system. They are compared to Magic the Gathering creatures.

Steam login bugs: Multiple login-related problems are reported, including connection errors to Steam and being stuck on email confirmation. These bugs hinder initial access to the game.

Optimization issues reported: Players report poor optimization leading to FPS drops on some configurations. This appears to be a sporadic issue affecting specific hardware setups.

Runs on low-end hardware: A player notes the game can run on low-end hardware, suggesting broad compatibility. This contrasts with optimization complaints from other configurations.

Linux compatibility problem: One user reports the game does not work on Linux, possibly due to a compatibility issue. This may affect Linux users seeking to play.

High abandonment risk: A significant portion of feedback warns that the game is abandoned or likely to be abandoned, with major reworks, data resets, and a lack of respect for players, making it a risky long-term investment.

Wait for full release: Many reviewers advise waiting for the full 1.0 release or official launch due to planned data resets and major overhauls, suggesting early access is not worth the time or money.

Best played with friends: Several recommendations highlight that the game is best enjoyed when played with friends or in cooperative mode, enhancing the strategic and social experience.

Great for tactical RPG fans: Fans of tactical RPGs, turn-based strategy, and the Dofus/Wakfu universe find the game enjoyable thanks to its strategic depth and familiar art style.

Strongly recommended by some: A subset of reviewers strongly recommends the game, praising it as worth playing, a good free-to-play option, and encouraging community growth.

Game completion: 200.0h.

Endgame: 50.0h.

The game starts with friction from tedious missions and monotonous fights, but becomes enjoyable once players understand the combat and class system, especially in multiplayer. However, interest may wane after unlocking all content due to repetitive endgame.

Friction: tedious tutorial missions; monotonous fights after a few hours; server issues; repetitive endgame grind; mandatory difficult story fights with premade deck.

Unlock drivers: understanding the card combat system; playing with friends; reaching higher levels; unlocking class abilities.

Franchise Veteran: Explores the game for narrative connections and franchise continuity, compares to Dofus/Wakfu, and engages with both lore and mechanics. Motivation: Continuing the Ankama universe experience and nostalgia from previous titles. Stance: sale.

Casual Deckbuilder: Plays at a relaxed pace, enjoys deckbuilding and progression without time pressure, often solo or with friends. Motivation: Relaxing progression and collection in a strategy card-based environment. Stance: buy.

Grind-Intolerant Optimizer: Seeks efficient progression and meaningful rewards; dislikes excessive grind, repetitive content, and resets that invalidate time investment. Motivation: Optimizing character builds without time-wasting or predatory mechanics. Stance: no buy.

Monetization: The game is free-to-play with a cosmetic-only cash shop and a paid battle pass. Most reviews confirm no pay-to-win mechanics, though some criticize the battle pass cost and free rewards as insufficient. The monetization is standard for F2P, leaning slightly aggressive due to battle pass pricing concerns.

Early access limitations: The game is in early access, missing the main story to avoid spoiling Wakfu season 4, and some end-game content is not yet implemented.

Beginner tips needed: Players are asking for tips for beginners, indicating that the early access version lacks adequate guidance for new players.