Info about Highguard:

Official game description:
An All-New PvP Raid Shooter
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_Highguard_ is a PvP raid shooter where players will ride, fight, and raid as Wardens, arcane gunslingers sent to fight for control of a mythical continent.
Team up, secure your base, then ride out across vast uncharted lands to loot, harvest resources, and upgrade your arsenal as you face off against a rival Warden crew looking to claim your territory as their own. Battle for possession of the legendary Shieldbreaker in the open field; fight to carry it to the enemy base to bring down their shields—then raid to destroy their base before they can destroy yours.
Assemble Your Crew
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Pick from an ever-growing roster of Wardens, and form up in teams of three. Wardens wield guns and raid tools, in combination with rare magical abilities leftover from a dwindling age of magic, now returned. Every Warden ability is designed to add depth to the game’s unique loop and mechanics, like raid combat and destruction; siege stealth and infiltration; base repair and defense; harvesting and loot gathering; open-world combat, and much, much more.
Secure Your Stronghold
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Choose from an array of unique strongholds to call in as your base of operations in large, open maps. Each base has different layouts, advantages, and vulnerabilities. Pick the base best-suited for your team composition, play style, and map type. Once you’ve called in a base, take some time to reinforce walls and customize your loadout before heading out into the field.
Mount Up, Ride Out
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Mount up with your team and ride across the vast mythical landscapes of Highguard in search of loot, resources, and gear to strengthen your arsenal. You can find upgraded guns, armor, and other equipment, like better saddles and magical amulets imbued with perks. Be on the lookout, as the enemy team will be doing the same. Fight them off to secure the best loot for your team.
Battle For the Shieldbreaker
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Strange magical storms periodically ravage the continent of Highguard. Everytime one appears, an ancient magical sword, called the Shieldbreaker, forms at its heart. This sword is the crucial key for breaking through the outer shields of the enemy base so that you can raid. When one of these storms forms in the sky, ride with your team to its location and battle the enemy team for possession of the Shieldbreaker forming beneath it.
Intercept in the Open Field
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Once you have the Shieldbreaker, battle across the open field, on mount or on foot, as you attempt to carry the sword to the enemy base. But stay vigilant—if the enemy team eliminates you while carrying the Shieldbreaker, they can pick it up and ride to raid your base instead.
Summon a Siege Tower
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Once you’ve successfully reached the enemy base with the Shieldbreaker, plunge the blade into the base’s outer superstructure to weaken its shields, then summon in a Siege Tower to finish the job. When those shields go down, it’s time to raid.
The Raid
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With the base shields gone, you’ll need to push in to destroy the base by planting bombs on the base’s generators. But in order to get inside a well-fortified base, you’ll need to use every weapon, raid tool, and arcane ability at your disposal to shoot, sneak, or smash your way inside. Once inside, plant bombs and hold the objective while defenders try to flush you out. Chip away at a base’s strength by taking out multiple generators, or go straight for their anchor stone to destroy the base in one fell swoop. And if you’re defending, protect your generators and repel attackers until the energy of the Siege Tower is depleted and your outer shields repair.
Fight For Control
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If multiple generators or the anchor stone is destroyed, the enemy base is destroyed and the attackers secure the territory. But most of the time, victory doesn’t come with a single raid. When that happens, the enemy base shields repair, the siege tower dissipates, and the fight escalates as loot, gear, and weapons all upgrade in the field, and a new Shieldbreaker forms in a different location in the world.
From there the fight for control continues—until only one base is left standing.
An Ever-Evolving Fantasy Universe
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Each new Episode will bring an array of new core content every month, including new maps, bases, modes, wardens, weapons, mounts, raid tools, loot items, and many more surprises we can’t wait to share. And all of this core content is completely free for all players.

Release date: Jan 26, 2026

Categories: Extraction Shooter, Competitive Multiplayer, Team-based Combat, Objective-Driven Combat, Character Progression, Mount-based Exploration, Base Building, Loot-Driven Combat System, Tactical Shooter

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 65; verdict: Aggressive Monetization (Cosmetic-Focused); summary: Highguard's monetization strategy is a mixed bag, with clear strengths and significant weaknesses. On the positive side, the game avoids pay-to-win mechanics, offering only cosmetic items for purchase and unlocking all characters from the start. However, the aggressive introduction of a day-1 battle pass and overpriced cosmetic bundles ($20+) has created a strong negative perception. Users criticize the bundling of items, forcing players to purchase entire bundles for specific cosmetics, and the excessive grind required to progress through the battle pass. The monetization feels prioritized over core gameplay, leading to accusations of the game being a 'cash grab.' While the monetization is not predatory in the traditional sense (no P2W), the execution is seen as tone-deaf and exploitative, particularly given the game's lack of content and polish at launch.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Instructional and Spatial Data Deficit; summary: The user feedback reveals critical gaps in instructional and spatial data, with players struggling to understand core mechanics, navigate technical issues, and access lore or balance information. The absence of a wiki exacerbates these problems, forcing reliance on external resources. While economic (TIER 1) and inventory (TIER 2) dependencies are not explicitly mentioned, the feedback overwhelmingly highlights barriers related to learning systems (TIER 3) and navigation (TIER 4).
- Steam Deck: score 90; verdict: Broken; summary: Highguard's launch is marred by severe technical barriers that significantly hinder user experience. The most critical issues include unplayable performance on high-end hardware, forced upscaling leading to blurry visuals, restrictive anti-cheat requirements that lock out Linux and Steam Deck users, pervasive crashes, and poor input customization. These problems create a frustrating and inaccessible experience for a large portion of the potential player base, overshadowing any positive aspects of the game's design or concept.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Strong gunplay and movement (weight 0.99): Players consistently praise the satisfying gunplay, smooth movement, and responsive controls. The gunfights and weapon feedback are highlighted as major strengths, contributing to an enjoyable core experience.
- High potential for growth (weight 0.21): Players note the game’s solid foundation, promising roadmap, and room for improvement (e.g., balance tweaks, matchmaking). The core mechanics and vision are seen as strong enough to support long-term development.
- Mounts enhance mobility and fun (weight 0.17): Mounts (horses, bears, panthers) are universally praised for their fluidity, speed, and impact on gameplay. They make large maps feel manageable and add unique combat/rotation opportunities.
- Balanced and strategic 3v3 format (weight 0.1): The 3v3 team size is lauded for fostering tight, teamwork-driven matches with constant action. The format balances accessibility and competitive depth, making it ideal for both casual and ranked play.
- Free-to-play with fair monetization (weight 0.1): The game’s free-to-play model is well-received, with no pay-to-win mechanics and cosmetic-only monetization. Players appreciate the low barrier to entry and lack of aggressive microtransactions.
- Intense and chaotic raid mechanics (weight 0.1): The base-raiding phase is frequently cited as the most thrilling part of the game, with destructible environments and high-stakes team fights creating memorable moments.

Common complaints:
- Severe performance and optimization issues (weight 0.95): Players report frequent crashes, freezes, low FPS (even on high-end hardware), and poor optimization. These issues significantly hinder gameplay, especially in competitive settings where performance is critical.
- 3v3 mode mismatched with large maps (weight 0.87): The 3v3 team size feels too small for the game's large maps, leading to sparse action, excessive running, and a lack of tension. Players suggest larger teams (e.g., 5v5 or 6v6) would better suit the map design.
- Lack of identity and originality (weight 0.83): The game is criticized for feeling like a mix of other titles (e.g., Apex Legends, Overwatch) without a unique identity. Characters, abilities, and art design are described as bland or generic.
- Unpolished and buggy launch (weight 0.77): The game launched with numerous bugs, glitches, and unfinished systems (e.g., tutorial soft-locks, matchmaking issues). Players feel the game was released prematurely and lacks polish.
- Weak core gameplay and balance issues (weight 0.73): Gunplay, abilities, and character designs feel unbalanced, inconsistent, or underwhelming. Issues like OP shotguns, weak SMGs, and lackluster ultimates detract from the experience.
- Forced mechanics and missing settings (weight 0.68): Players criticize forced mechanics like motion blur, toggle crouch, and DLSS with no option to disable them. Missing settings (e.g., mouse acceleration, graphics options) further frustrate players.
- Boring and repetitive loot/farming (weight 0.65): Looting and farming mechanics feel like padding, with no meaningful consequences or rewards. Players describe these phases as tedious, unrewarding, and lacking engagement.
- Lack of game modes and content (weight 0.64): The game launched with only one mode (3v3), leading to repetitive and boring gameplay. Players request additional modes (e.g., 5v5, Hardpoint) and more maps, characters, and weapons to improve variety.
- Poor base defense and siege mechanics (weight 0.62): Base defenses are weak and ineffective, with reinforcements feeling pointless. Siege mechanics are criticized for being unbalanced, punishing, and lacking strategic depth.
- Poor communication and matchmaking (weight 0.62): Matchmaking is unstable, with issues like lobby balancing, disconnections, and skewed matchups. The lack of in-game chat (text or voice) further hinders team coordination.
- Respawn system is punishing (weight 0.56): Respawn timers are too long (e.g., 30 seconds), and the system lacks flexibility (e.g., no respawning on teammates). This exacerbates issues like spawnkilling and short TTK.
- Unclear or broken tutorials (weight 0.13): The tutorial is overly long, unskippable, and poorly explained, leaving players confused about core mechanics. Some players report soft-locks or bugs during the tutorial.

Gameplay feedback:
- 3v3 Raid Mode Core Gameplay (weight 0.78): The game primarily features a 3v3 raid mode with attack/defend mechanics, including phases like looting, base reinforcement, and bomb planting. This mode blends hero shooter and MOBA elements with objective-based gameplay.
- Phased Match Structure (weight 0.75): Matches are divided into distinct phases: looting, reinforcement, sword capture, and attack/defense. This structure creates dynamic pacing but may introduce downtime.
- Large Maps with Mount Traversal (weight 0.68): The game features expansive maps designed for 3v3 gameplay, with mounts (e.g., horses, bears) enabling quick traversal. However, players note the maps may feel too large for small teams.
- Character Abilities and Teamwork (weight 0.66): Characters have unique abilities (e.g., ultimates, mounts) and roles (e.g., breacher, support), emphasizing teamwork and strategy. Balance and synergy are critical for success.
- Suggested Team Size Adjustments (weight 0.64): Players frequently suggest larger team sizes (e.g., 4v4, 5v5) to better suit the map design and reduce downtime. The current 3v3 format is seen as mismatched for the game’s scale.
- Resource Gathering and Looting (weight 0.45): Matches include a looting phase for gathering resources (e.g., mining crystals) to purchase upgrades, armor, and weapons. This phase is critical for preparation before combat phases.
- Hybrid Genre Mechanics (weight 0.37): The game combines elements from multiple genres, including hero shooters (Overwatch/Apex), MOBAs (League of Legends), and tactical shooters (Rainbow Six Siege). This creates a unique but complex gameplay loop.
- Upgrade and Progression Systems (weight 0.28): Players upgrade weapons, armor, and abilities during matches using in-game currency. Progression systems (e.g., battle pass) and loot rarity add depth to the gameplay loop.
- Base Reinforcement and Destruction (weight 0.24): Teams reinforce their bases during preparation phases, with destructible walls and siege mechanics. Failed attacks reduce base HP, leading to sudden-death scenarios.
- Shieldbreaker and Bomb Objectives (weight 0.13): Key objectives include capturing the Shieldbreaker (to attack the enemy base) and planting bombs on generators. These mechanics drive the raid/defend loop.

Performance notes:
- Poor optimization on high-end PCs (weight 0.6): Multiple reports indicate that the game suffers from low FPS, frame drops, and instability even on high-end hardware (e.g., RTX 4090, 3090). Performance issues persist despite hardware capabilities, suggesting poor optimization.
- Hardware compatibility problems (weight 0.52): The game has strict hardware requirements (e.g., TPM 2.0, Secure Boot) and compatibility issues with peripherals like high-polling-rate mice. Some players report crashes or performance drops due to these constraints.
- Blurry visuals and ghosting (weight 0.48): Numerous reports highlight persistent blurry visuals, ghosting, and motion blur issues, regardless of graphics settings or DLSS/FSR usage. This affects visual clarity and immersion.
- Performance varies by settings (weight 0.44): While some players achieve stable FPS on high settings, others must lower resolutions, disable DLSS, or tweak settings to avoid performance issues. This inconsistency highlights optimization gaps.
- Overheating and hardware strain (weight 0.39): Some players experience overheating, PC shutdowns, or 100% GPU usage, indicating the game may push hardware beyond sustainable limits.
- Server and connectivity issues (weight 0.22): Players face lag, disconnects, desynchronization, and long queue times due to server instability. These issues make PvP unplayable and affect overall match accessibility.
- Input and control issues (weight 0.17): Players report input delay, mouse acceleration, DPI slowdown, and crouch/aim control problems. These issues affect responsiveness and competitive gameplay.

Recommendations:
- Give the game a fair chance (weight 0.46): Many players recommend playing the game for at least an hour or multiple matches before forming an opinion. They emphasize that the game may grow on players over time, especially if they adjust settings or play with friends.
- Free-to-play is low risk to try (weight 0.36): Many players highlight that the game is free to play, making it a low-risk opportunity to form an opinion. They encourage others to try it despite negative reviews.
- Adjust team sizes for better gameplay (weight 0.24): Players frequently suggest increasing team sizes to 4v4, 5v5, or even 6v6 to improve action and balance. Some propose alternative modes like 3v3v3 or 3v3v3v3 for variety.
- Add more game modes and variety (weight 0.19): Suggestions include adding modes like Hardpoint, Deathmatch, Domination, and PvE elements. Players also want more weapons, gadgets, and movement options to enhance gameplay diversity.
- Balance weapons and characters (weight 0.13): Players request better weapon rotation, balancing, and more interesting weapon designs. They also suggest rebalancing characters and adjusting mechanics like shield gain and respawn timers.
- Adjust map sizes and designs (weight 0.11): Feedback suggests making maps smaller for faster-paced gameplay or larger for bigger team modes. Players also want improved map designs and clearer objectives.
- Improve loot and farming mechanics (weight 0.1): Feedback highlights the need to streamline the looting phase, reduce resource gathering, and improve UI for loot boxes. Some suggest replacing looting with map objectives for a more dynamic experience.
- Improve reward and progression systems (weight 0.1): Players want better reward systems, such as hero/weapon mastery and camouflages, to enhance long-term engagement and satisfaction.
- Reduce movement and fall damage (weight 0.02): Some players suggest toning down movement speed and removing fall damage to improve gameplay fluidity and reduce frustration.

Other player notes:
- Gameplay inspired by MOBAs/FPS hybrids (weight 0.05): Players frequently compare the game's map size, UI, character design, and mechanics to titles like League of Legends, Overwatch, Apex Legends, and Valorant. This suggests a hybrid design blending MOBA and FPS elements.
- Proposed team size and loadout changes (weight 0.02): Feedback suggests increasing team sizes to 6v6 or 5v5 with defined roles and limiting backpack capacity to a hotbar loadout. These changes aim to improve balance and streamline inventory management.
- PvE and strategic gameplay additions (weight 0.02): Players suggest adding PvE action, buildable traps/defenses, and neutral AI camps for currency. These features could diversify gameplay beyond PvP.
- Kernel-level anticheat implementation (weight 0.02): The game uses Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) at the kernel level, which is noted alongside hardware specs like high-end CPUs/GPUs. This highlights a focus on security but may raise privacy concerns.
- Developed by ex-Apex Legends team (weight 0.02): The game is noted to be developed by former Apex Legends team members, which may influence its design and reception. The team size (102 developers) is also highlighted.
- External controversy impact (weight 0.02): Mentions of the Game Awards controversy and reveal timing suggest external factors influenced the game's reception, though these are not gameplay-related.
- UI/UX bugs reported (weight 0.01): A specific bug where character ability descriptions are cut off is mentioned, indicating usability issues that need addressing.
- Menu bind conflict issue (weight 0.01): A keybind conflict (SHIFT for game mode selection) is reported, which could frustrate players trying to navigate menus efficiently.
- Monetization concerns (weight 0.01): Cosmetic items like gryphon mounts are priced at 27CAD, which some players may find expensive or indicative of aggressive monetization.
- No Russian language support (weight 0.01): Players note the absence of Russian language support, which could limit accessibility for non-English-speaking audiences.
- Free gift perception (weight 0.01): Some players received the game as a free gift, which may have shaped their expectations or initial impressions.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.34): Players experience significant frustration due to persistent technical and gameplay issues, including poor optimization (e.g., frame drops, input lag, crashes), matchmaking failures, and unfair team balance. Core mechanics like gunplay, respawn systems, and raid phases are criticized for being punishing, inconsistent, or poorly executed, exacerbating the negative experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.14): The game fails to meet expectations due to unfulfilled potential, lack of depth, and technical shortcomings. Players cite repetitive or unsatisfying gameplay loops, underwhelming character/ability design, and a disconnect between marketing promises and actual delivery. Poor optimization and rushed mechanics further diminish the experience, leaving players feeling the game is unfinished or generic.
- Hope (weight 0.1): Despite current flaws, players express optimism about the game’s future, citing its innovative base ideas and potential for improvement through updates. Many believe the developers can address technical issues (e.g., optimization, matchmaking) and refine mechanics, drawing parallels to past games that improved post-launch with community feedback.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.08): Players highlight fun and engaging aspects of the game, such as dynamic gunplay, unique character abilities, and the blend of PvP/PvE elements. The fast-paced combat, tactical depth, and social experience (e.g., playing with friends) are frequently praised, with many finding the gameplay loop fresh and entertaining despite its flaws.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Satisfaction stems from the game’s core mechanics, such as fluid movement, balanced gunplay, and strategic base-raiding dynamics. Players appreciate the tension, comebacks, and unique gameplay features, often noting that the experience exceeds expectations for a free title once they adapt to its systems.
- Excitement (weight 0.05): The game’s novel mechanics, such as mount systems, raid phases, and hero abilities, generate excitement for their intensity and strategic potential. Players enjoy the escalating tension in matches, the fresh take on the shooter genre, and the anticipation of future updates (e.g., ranked mode) that could enhance competitive play.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): Enthusiasm is driven by the game’s unique blend of gameplay phases (e.g., looting, base-building, raiding) and its potential as a competitive or esports title. Players appreciate the fast-paced, tactical design and the satisfaction of executing strategies with friends, often describing it as a polished and engaging experience.
- Optimism (weight 0.02): Players remain optimistic about the game’s long-term prospects, trusting the developers to address issues like optimization, content gaps, and balance. The roadmap for updates and the game’s foundational ideas (e.g., genre-blending mechanics) fuel confidence in its ability to grow and improve over time.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Players express confusion over the game’s identity, unclear mechanics (e.g., loot systems, character abilities), and the disconnect between its design choices and player expectations. The aggressive negative reception from others, including review bombing, further adds to the bewilderment about the game’s approval and reception.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement arises from the game’s quirky or unintended features, such as riding mounts (e.g., tigers), sarcastic critiques of its design (e.g., farming in a PvP shooter), or observing overly competitive gameplay. These moments provide lighthearted relief despite broader frustrations.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game’s originality, strategic depth, and the developers’ willingness to take risks with genre-blending mechanics. The high skill ceiling, creative character designs, and potential for competitive play are frequently highlighted as standout features worth celebrating.
- Defensiveness (weight 0.01): Players defend the game against perceived unfair criticism, such as review bombing or trend-following negativity. They argue that the hate is unwarranted, often attributing it to mob mentality or lack of understanding of the game’s design, and emphasize its potential or enjoyable aspects.
- Disgust (weight 0.01): Disgust is directed at the game’s poor technical execution (e.g., crashes, performance issues), unintuitive systems (e.g., shop mechanics), or perceived bias in journalistic reviews. The overall quality and lack of polish contribute to strong negative reactions from players.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom stems from repetitive or unengaging gameplay loops, such as monotonous looting/farming phases, lack of variety in matches, or shallow progression systems. Players often lose interest quickly, describing the experience as bland or uninspired.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are pleasantly surprised by aspects of the game that exceed their initial expectations, such as the smooth handling of mounts, enjoyable gunplay, or the game’s ability to grow on them despite skepticism. These moments defy preconceived notions about the game’s quality.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Relief is tied to the game being free, allowing players to try it without financial risk, or to discovering enjoyable elements after overcoming initial frustrations (e.g., server issues). The game’s ability to win players over despite negativity also contributes to this emotion.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance arises from specific design choices, such as the lack of a chat feature, unrealistic sound design, or frequent player disconnections. These issues disrupt gameplay and contribute to a frustrating experience, even if they are not dealbreakers.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Players draw comparisons to older games (e.g., *Overwatch*, *Rainbow Six Siege*, *Paladins*), evoking nostalgia for past experiences. These references often highlight how the game’s mechanics or aesthetics remind them of beloved titles from earlier eras.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is directed at fundamental design flaws, such as unpolished mechanics (e.g., mining, horses), tutorial crashes, or perceived betrayal by developers. High expectations not being met and the game’s overall poor execution fuel this strong negative reaction.
- Hopeful (weight 0.01): Players express hope for the game’s success despite its current flaws, emphasizing its great potential and their desire to see it improve. This emotion is rooted in a belief that the developers can address issues and create a compelling experience over time.}