Dauntless Review Summary

Fun gameplay, intense fights, and nostalgic visuals shine, but predatory monetization and persistent technical issues hold it back.

Core gameplay remains fun: Players consistently report that the core combat and gameplay loop are enjoyable and engaging, with a satisfying feel. This holds true both historically and in the current version, as the fundamental action remains strong.

Past greatness nostalgia: Many players fondly recall the game's earlier days, describing it as great, fun, and even the best in its genre during that period. There is a strong sense of nostalgia for the game's prime, which contrasts with its current state.

New content and changes: There is new content to do, and some modes like Escalations remain mostly unchanged dend; the new gameplay is considered pretty good. The game's core skeleton is still deemed acceptable.

Visuals and designs praised: The graphics, art style, and monster designs are frequently commended for being appealing and well-crafted. The aesthetic quality enhances the overall experience and adds to the game's charm.

Rich content and mechanics: The game offered a substantial amount of content, including multiple weapon types, varied behemoths, and interesting mechanics, allowing for long play sessions. The depth and variety were notable strengths.

Weapons locked behind paywall: Multiple clusters highlight that new weapons are gated behind the premium battle pass or direct payment, making the game pay-to-win. Players feel this shift is a significant downgrade from previous free access.

Battle pass became predatory: The battle pass no longer refunds its cost when completed, contains worse rewards, and is more expensive. Combined with FOMO mechanicsaine, it feels more manipulative and less rewarding than before.

Update wiped player progress: A major update reset or deleted nearly all player progression, including years of earned gear, builds, and levels. This angered the community because their long-term investment was erased with minimal compensation.

Weapon crafting removed: The core weapon crafting system was completely removed, replacing it with token purchases or direct cash. This stripped away a fundamental gameplay loop and left many weapons unobtainable without spending.

Game shutting down permanently: Multiple reports indicate that the game servers are closed or will close soon, making the game unplayable. Players express sadness and frustration about losing a game they loved.

Battle pass with weapon rewards: The game features a battle pass with seasons, containing cosmetic and weapon rewards. Weapons are gated behind the paid pass, which is a common monetization complaint.

Weapon crafting system exists: Players can craft weapons and armor, with crafting being a core progression feature. This system is mentioned as both a current feature and a previously removed element.

Monster Hunter-like gameplay: The game is a monster-hunting game in the same genre as Monster Hunter, often described as a direct alternative. This is a key identity of the game.

Game is grindy: The game involves repetitive tasks and heavy grinding for progression. This is a common negative aspect mentioned by players.

Skill tree for weapons: The game includes a skill tree system, particularly for weapons, with point thresholds. This adds build variety but may be complex.

Performance and optimization issues: Multiple clusters report significant performance problems, including FPS drops, micro lags, and unstable frame rates. The game runs poorly on various PCs, with some users noting a drastic decrease in FPS compared to earlier versions.

Crashes and instability: Several clusters mention constant crashes and errors that cause the game to become unplayable, including crashes specifically on Steam. These issues disrupt the gaming experience and contribute to overall dissatisfaction.

Poor optimization after update: Users report that optimization worsened after an update, with one noting a drop from stable 60 FPS on epic settings to struggling on low settings. Another mentions the game now runs at 70% of its previous FPS, indicating a regression in performance.

Missing system requirements: The game requires Windows 10 version 1909 or later, but this is not mentioned in the system requirements, causing unplayability for some users. This oversight leads to frustration and prevents affected players from running the game.

Visual and HDR problems: The game appears blurred to some players, and there is concern that HDR support may have been removed. This affects visual quality and immersion.

Avoid this game entirely: Most reviewers strongly advise against playing Dauntless, calling it a waste of time and not worth the investment. They recommend new and veteran players alike to avoid the game in its current state.

Play Monster Hunter alternatives: Reviewers frequently suggest switching to Monster Hunter Wilds, World, Rise, or Iceborne as better alternatives. They believe these games offer superior gameplay and respect players' time.

Game is effectively dead: Reviewers believe the game is shutting down or will die unless the developers reverse course. The removal of content and bugs have made it unplayable, leading to low retention.

Not recommended for veterans: Veteran players feel the game is no longer the same and see no reason to return. The update has ruined their experience, leading to negative reviews and advice for others to move on.

Avoid for new players: New players are also advised to avoid the game due to its poor state and the risk of wasting time. Even those with no prior experience are cautioned against starting.

Community fair range: $0.00 - $15.00.

The game never becomes fun in its current state due to stripped progression, paywalls, microtransactions, and tedious grind that replace previous rewarding systems.

Friction: progression stripped; paywall; microtransactions; tedious grind; pay-to-win mechanics; slow weapon leveling.

Betrayed Veteran: Previously enjoyed building diverse loadouts and grinding for specific gear; now forced into generic builds and excessive grind. Motivation: Preserving and being rewarded for long-term investment and progression. Stance: no buy.

Casual Hunter: Prefers simple progression, experimenting with builds, and short, relaxed sessions. Motivation: Casual, relaxing gameplay without excessive grind. Stance: no buy.

Monster Hunter Migrant: Enjoys theorycrafting builds and methodical combat, but now faces tedious grind and poor design. Motivation: Seeking a polished, rewarding hunting experience akin to the Monster Hunter series. Stance: no buy.

Monetization: Dauntless has transitioned into a predatory pay-to-win model, locking core gameplay weapons behind real-money purchases and a paid battle pass. The progression system has been gutted, and a currency obfuscation scheme forces players to buy weapon tokens or grind excessively. The update removed existing content to redirect players to the cash shop, earning near-universal condemnation as a cash grab.

Monster Hunter comparison: Many reviewers compare the game to Monster Hunter, often unfavorably. Some state it makes them want to play Monster Hunter instead, indicating the game fails to meet expectations set by similar titles.

Acquired by blockchain company: Reviewers report that Phoenix Labs was bought by Forte Labs, a blockchain company. This acquisition is seen as a turning point leading to the game's decline and eventual shutdown.

Game shutdown scheduled: Multiple reviewers note that the game's servers are shutting down, with a specific date of May 30, 2025 mentioned. This closure marks the end of the game's availability.

Weapons locked behind battle pass: New weapons are exclusively obtainable through the premium or elite battle pass, requiring real money purchases. This monetization of weapons is a common complaint among reviewers.

Cross-platform availability: The game was previously available on Epic Games Store before moving to Steam, where it was launched as part of an update. This migration is part of the game's history.