Arknights

 iOS
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No score yet - based on 2 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
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  1. Gamezebo
    May 4, 2020
    80
    If nothing else, Heart of Surging Flame with the brand new collaborated song ‘After It All’ composed by famous Dutch DJ duo Yellow Claw is an excellent reason to download the game right now. If you enjoy strategy RPG games, Arknights is unlikely to disappoint.
  2. Noisy Pixel
    Feb 12, 2020
    80
    There’s a lot to love about Arknights. Within the game’s story, base-building mechanics, and resource collecting side missions, there’s a ton to experience, but I was hoping for a little more. A PvP mode or event story modes would have worked well here as well as have it more in line with other mobile games available.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 71 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 71
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 71
  3. Negative: 7 out of 71
  1. babinro
    Feb 18, 2020
    7
    On the surface Arknights presents itself as a somewhat unique Tower Defense experience. In this way, the game excels. In reality, ArknightsOn the surface Arknights presents itself as a somewhat unique Tower Defense experience. In this way, the game excels. In reality, Arknights is a mobile idle game where 95% of your time is spent waiting 3 minutes for auto-play to finish so you can get to your next auto-play.
    This might sound like I hate the game but that's far from the truth. As an idle game, Arknights is flawed but rewarding. The lack of quality of life features in the auto-play really harms the games day to day 'fun' but the constant gradual progression even when playing 100% free to play is satisfying. Every few days I find myself actually playing a couple levels of the tower defense and seeing just how my roster has improved while also being presented with new challenges.

    It's worth noting that if you do NOT view Arknights as an idle game and instead choose to see it as a Tower Defense Gacha...prepare to love your first couple weeks and then hate the game. The drop rates in this gacha are atrocious (as they are in most mobile games) and the barriers that get in the way of more fun tower defense game play are monstrous. Based on what I've seen from youtubers showcasing the game...you need to spend a lot of money if you want to keep this game going at a good pace.

    As for the monetization in this game its pretty typical of a mobile game. Arknights is mostly PvE aside from a friends list system which plays a minor role in the overall experience. As such the pressure to 'pay to win' is entirely self inflected if you choose to go that route. If for some reason you're in a rush to get through the grind so you can start a new grind then so be it. If you're the sort to spend big on loot boxes and cosmetics than this is not going to be a pleasant experience for your pocket book and you should likely stay away.

    I very highly recommend people check this out. The hype is real and its among my favorite mobile experiences to date. That said mobile gaming in general isn't in the greatest place so there's still a ton of room for improvement and I can't bring myself to giving this more than a 7/10.    … Full Review »
  2. Priest_Chan
    Jun 24, 2020
    10
    日系手游現在已經有了一系列的製作套路，循規蹈矩跟隨潮流是最穩妥的方案——然而確實有人想要做點不一樣的游戲。想做不一樣的游戲，一般也是在遵守大多數已有成功設計的前提下選擇少數方面進行革新——然而這游戲在大多數地方都不跟隨主流。手游中特立獨行的扁平化UI，以現代和近未來設計爲主的美術和人日系手游現在已經有了一系列的製作套路，循規蹈矩跟隨潮流是最穩妥的方案——然而確實有人想要做點不一樣的游戲。想做不一樣的游戲，一般也是在遵守大多數已有成功設計的前提下選擇少數方面進行革新——然而這游戲在大多數地方都不跟隨主流。手游中特立獨行的扁平化UI，以現代和近未來設計爲主的美術和人設，復古但改動極大的塔防模式（實際上這種游戲方式已經不像塔防，更像是一個單人操縱的MMORPG團隊），非常沉重絕不輕鬆的世界觀和劇情。每一樣在手游裏都不算是首創，但敢集合如此多逆主流而行的設計，并且比較完美地組合在一起，這游戲就值得給出高分。… Full Review »
  3. Vocaholic
    Jun 23, 2020
    10
    I have been playing the game since it's launch on January the 16th and it has quickly soared to the top of my favorites when it comes toI have been playing the game since it's launch on January the 16th and it has quickly soared to the top of my favorites when it comes to mobile/gacha games, taking a well-deserved place alongside Azur Lane if not above. Now I will say I'm heavily biased in that the game tickles my fancy in each and every way, from it's dystopian world and setting to the narrative story, it's uniform art style, the characters and the TD-like game-play.

    However setting personal bias aside, there's a good amount of things it has going for it when comparing to other games around the same genre. Though maybe not as 'generous' as say Azur Lane when it comes to acquiring materials for the gacha, it's still quite up there and offers more leniency on other aspects. Such as not being limited to a certain character/inventory limit that you have to expand by means of premium currency. It's foremost business model does revolve around the gacha and to some extent the operator skins, but I wouldn't go as far as calling it P2W in the slightest. It's a game that when given the time and careful thought, makes for a friendly and acceptable environment towards free players. Now I could elaborate a lot more on specific features and details but I feel it would make for too long of a review.

    There's one thing I will mention though, which is that yes, the game does feature a stamina system. Which to some who want to go hardcore can be a deterrent but at the same time it doesn't push people to be glued to their screen. In that sense, the game is definitely not as much of a grindfest either as most gacha games are, where you get RNG on top of RNG through various equipment and upgrades. it may not be perfect to be played as a true 'main game' but more of a work of art that you tend to and grow over the course of time. That said, recent events have showed a way to enjoy the game thoroughly without any stamina limit, with more of such events to come as well as new ones on the horizon that are still being developed and thought of.

    HyperGryph has definitely revived the TD genre for me, and with YoStar who are admirable in their own way for having what I consider the most generous gacha game, Azur Lane; they make for a promising future for this game. So it should come as no surprise that I give it a 10/10.    … Full Review »
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