Lost Ark

Lost Ark could feel like too much of a good thing and overwhelming with the amount of gameplay mechanics. But it all merges into an addicting gameplay loop filled with exciting set pieces, fun and customizable classes and attacks, and enough varying content to keep you happy for the foreseeable future.

Despite its brilliance, Lost Ark’s ARPG nature won’t be for everyone. However, if you’ve been yearning for a new free-to-play experience to explore, you won’t get much better than this. The combat is exciting, the progression is quick and accessible, everything about Lost Ark screams a level of quality we’ve not seen in an MMO for many years. Lost Ark is the best free-to-play game to launch in the last 10 years, and I cannot wait to dive in at full release.

Lost Ark is a wonderfully fun MMOARPG with a compelling story and unique gameplay. If you can wrap your head around it all, that is. The game itself is a breath of fresh air with its 2.5D style and fast-paced combat. However, for an "open-world" RPG, Lost Ark takes its time opening the world to you. A barrage of info-dumps for lore and tutorials make Lost Ark overwhelming at first. With some time, exploring, and no shortage of patience, you can see what Lost Ark really has to offer.

Lost Ark is literally great enough to re-ignite my passion for MMORPGs after 15 years. That’s not a joke, and it’s not something that I’m just saying for the sake of this review. Because of that, I don’t know that I should be reviewing this game so much as I should be thanking it. I’m incredibly happy to have finally found an MMO that I can look forward to playing every day, and, if you’re willing to take my word at all, I think you’ll find that you’ll end up the same way once you sit down with this game for yourself.

Lost Ark is the gold standard of Modern MMOs. Smilegate and Tripod deliver an incredibly polished experience that gives players dozens of dishes to choose from, all equally delicious. It hits on all those classic MMO beats, while injecting a fresh style and approach to all of it. Lost Ark has already proven to have some strong staying power in the east, and is now set up for a long and fruitful lifespan in the west.

A superb dungeon crawler that's held back from perfection by some crude monetisation practises and half-baked dialogue.

Lost Ark is a huge game, and feels like a game that has been out for several years already. It's polished and balanced, all the different classes are good, and there's an almost endless amount of content here.

A massive time sink which needs an entire rainforest of sticks to shake at. Just grab it and jump in.

If you want an MMORPG that respects the time of casual players, while also giving hardcore players plenty of content to keep them busy, then Lost Ark is worth considering. It's combat is wonderfully fun. The story is entertaining and packed with epic moments. Plus, there is a wide variety to the endgame content, including equalized arena PvP.

Diablo laid the foundations for what the ARPG should look like, but Lost Ark innovates on these and brings them into 2022 in style. Aside from the narrative caveats, Lost Ark rises from the ashes of Diablo 2 Resurrected and New World with the power to topple titans. An immersive, beautifully crafted universe defined by its dynamic vistas and face-paced combat, Lost Ark is the rebirth that the hack and slash genre needs. I can freely admit that there's no doubt in my mind that Lost Ark will become one of my favorite titles, and as future releases add new classes and zones into the game, I know that I'll be on the edge of my seat just waiting to dive back in all over again – and boy, I can't wait.

Lost Ark is light on the MMO, and heavy on the action- RPG, taking all the elements from MMOs that make them great, and a few that make them a bit dull to fans of the genre. It’s easy to get lost in the customization before you even set foot in the fleshed out world. The five main classes are the big star, each feels and plays differently enough making me want to replay the game just to try them out. Being able to tackle this game with friends will make for a better overall time with the game, but it isn’t required to have a good time. Lost Ark warrants a look if you like action-RPGs, MMOs, or both.

Lost Ark is probably the best free-to-play MMO you can play today. It has an addictive combat system and the campaign is extremely long and you can complete that with or without friends. The only problems come with the ending that appears too intricate and difficult to understand completely.

Lost Ark has great content for a free-to-play game. Its mechanics and narrative are well polished, although they are not fully exploited. Highly recommended for fans of MMORPGs.

Lost Ark is a good game that gets better over time. There should be enough content for everyone, but it all comes down to how Amazon will manage this game in the future. I'm sure that Lost Ark will be popular, and its very accessible gameplay model should attract new players to join the fight.

Lost Ark is fantastic, but like all MMOARPGs, it demands a massive time investment and a ton of extra reading to get the most from it.

Amazon Game’s second run at the MMO market is very impressive. The years of content already created for Lost Ark provide an enticing package filled to the brim with fun activities and exciting locals to explore. Each class is wonderfully unique, and the customization systems allow for an abundance of freedom to tailor to a variety of playstyles. I’ve had a great time with Lost Ark in these early days, and I’m looking to sink many more hours into it with friends over the coming weeks and months. Those looking to scratch an Action/RPG itch or sink time into an MMO won’t go wrong giving this adventure a fair shot.

Lost Ark is a polished, solid, substantial, and engaging free-to-play MMORPG that is very solo-friendly and offers a vast amount of well-made content for just about everyone. The combat is exciting and fun, the classes are appealing and varied, and the world is colorful and lush, if not necessarily state-of-the-art. The story isn't going to turn heads, but the number and range of quests and side activities will keep you happily entertained. I've only scratched the surface, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the end game has to offer and what kind of community coalesces around Lost Ark.

Lost Ark is a competent MMOARPG that has visceral combat and interesting side systems. The end game is what this MMO is all about, but the levelling experience is streamlined and easy with beautifully directed set pieces and action scenes. Infrastructure issues and huge queue times on the EU servers cast an ugly shadow on an otherwise great game.

A fun - if unoriginal - fantasy hack'n slash game both good for a single player experience and a multiplayer adventure- The free to play elements feel fair and the end game content is hard enough to pose as an interesting challenge.

Lost Ark is easily worth the download and feels remarkably fully-formed, but it should really thrive with new world events and additional endgame content.

Lost Ark is a title that thrives on ups and downs, but which manages to entertain the player thanks to a frenetic and rewarding combat system that is in fact the beating heart of this MMORPG.

Aside from a difficult launch, Lost Ark surpasses the Diablo formula and manages to build and exciting, deep, and lavish MMO out of it .

With an outstanding variety of places to visit and a strong combat system, Lost Ark is an extremely generous free-to-play action-RPG-MMO that draws a lot from Diablo – including its well-worn story about humans and Heaven teaming up against demons.

Quotation forthcoming.

Like Genshin Impact a year ago, Lost Ark comes to taunt the big paid games by offering quality content in a free-to-play economic model. The graphics are very strong, and the sensations provided by the fights are excellent. It's a very great achievement on the part of Smilegate and Amazon Games.

We waited long for Lost Ark to visit us in the West, but it was worth it. The gameplay of this CRPG-Action hybrid works well, with a lot of freedom and customisation from the gameplay. A complex but accessible F2P that will let you dive in its universe with style.

As with any MMO, Lost Ark is tricky to review on release. The most I can say is I enjoyed the mindless questing, beautiful locales, and great game feel. I can't speak on the endgame, but the fact that I'm excited to jump back in on launch day to do it all again with friends is a pretty good sign for now.

Overall and to be quite honest, Lost Ark is truly an excellent game. Very complete in most aspects, the game from Smilegate RPG doesn't skimp on details and promises many hours of play to those interested in the MMOARPG style. However, it is important to mention that Lost Ark suffers from some serious defects due to its condition as a Korean game: the exploitation of the player's irrepressible need to spend money to compensate for a possible backlog and its affiliation with gambling games, two factors that should be seriously considered, especially by those players who are serious about committing themselves. Nevertheless, aside from these defects, Lost Ark offers Western gamers a new way to approach both the MMORPG and Hack'n'Slash styles. By taking the time and enjoying the game without rushing to get the credit card out as soon as possible, the average gamer should enjoy Lost Ark without too much trouble, and that's probably the most important thing in the end.

Lost Ark finally made its way to the west and – despite the unfulfilling PvE content – it proved a successful third attempt for developer Smilegate and Amazon. It is not a perfect game. Some content is still missing, the story is mediocre and classes are bafflingly gender locked. However, from the 15 distinct and intriguing playable classes to the beautiful world design, there is much fun to be had with the game. Lost Ark is already brimming with content and with even more to look forward to the world of Arkesia has a bright future ahead of itself.

So long as you're willing to play by its rules, Lost Ark it is an absolute blast thanks to its perfect blend of visceral ARPG combat and steady MMO progression.

With some small setbacks like pay-to-progress features and awkward movements, Lost Ark manages to stand out with its overall style, story, and game mechanics. Free-to-play is going to push this game to the top now that it's in the West.

With so many studios trying to hit the coveted MMO market, one thing is clear if you want to succeed - your game has to be unique. You can make up for tonnes of mistakes if you can just carve out a market for it. Although it has its own issues of identity - with a Diablo-like fighting system and enough extra activities to feel full - Lost Ark is a game that I'm looking forward to seeing grow.

Lost Ark might be one of the most banal games you’ll ever come across if you’re just looking at it from a narrative point of view, but it’s a prime example of how good gameplay and combat can carry the entire experience. Sometimes, all it takes is the appeal of watching your tiny numbers gradually grow into big numbers for you to get hooked on a game.

Pretty, complete, accessible and technical, fun and generous in content, Lost Ark is a success. While it will probably be necessary to checkout if you want to invest in the very high level of the game quickly, the economic model should not be too intrusive and you will be able to access the content of the game without paying a penny, even if naturally this will take more time. All that remains is to see if the game will find its audience in the West and if the content will be regularly expanded to maintain players over time. As it is, you already have many hours of free play in prospect.

A well-crafted and highly polished ARPG that is certain to fare better than Amazon's previous outings. If you want plenty of lore, a deep narrative tale, and combat that gets straight to the point then Lost Ark is worth your time.

Despite the lacking narrative and unexcitingly standard progression systems, it’s easy to see people getting completely lost—if you’ll pardon the pun—in Lost Ark. It’s a game packed to the brim with content, collectibles, and systems, but more importantly than that, it’s made certain those systems are fun to go through…Visible effort went into nearly every avenue of the game, making it an easy recommendation even if it doesn’t bring much innovation to the space. The quality of the combat and the variety of content on offer elevates this ARPG experience to be a cut above the rest. The only thing you can stand to lose in trying out Lost Ark is time, and even in a gaming landscape defined by competition for said time, it’s absolutely worth giving a gander.

Lost Ark is a fantastic, free-to-play MMORPG that features exciting combat, attractive visuals, and a seemingly endless endgame.

Lost Ark is a good MMO with tons of content, alas unnecessarily complicated and repetitive endgame mechanics.

Given that Lost Ark is free-to-play, it’s certainly worth your time to have a look at it. Just don’t go into it expecting the second coming of Diablo or you’ll quickly find yourself disappointed by the underwhelming loot, milquetoast characters, and pedestrian story. If you can put that aside and have the patience to push your way through the game’s grindier stretches, you might find yourself enjoying the game’s combat animations, overall sense of style, and range of activities once you finally reach the end game.

Excellent combat and a stunning sense of scale help steer Lost Ark through its more tired MMO conventions.

Interesting character classes, enticing atmosphere, visual attractiveness, satisfying combat – Lost Ark hit the mark on everything one expects from a good action RPG. I could feel my character’s power from the very first step in this interesting, varied world, and saw potential for one of the best Diablo’s cousins in years. It’s a pity that the MMO aspects of Lost Ark forced some compromises and simply get in the way of enjoying the satisfying Diablo-esque side.

No classic, then, but Smilegate has delivered a big, silly, characterful romp that's best experienced with friends. [Issue#370, p.118]

The environments are beautiful and varied, the combat is very well done and the PvE content is satisfying. But why would you lock it all behind daily limits and randomness?

Its popularity does, however, speak to its quality as a new MMO. There's a sense of scale and spectacle that isn't often seen in the genre, and its fantastic combat is only dampened by some archaic and rudimentary quest design during the main story. Once you reach the endgame, it really comes into its own with some thrilling and challenging encounters, so it's a shame this also devolves into a tedious grind due to an unpleasant emphasis on microtransactions. The excellence of Lost Ark's combat is reason enough to give it a try. It might not match up to the titans of the genre just yet, but it's a solid start, and I'm eager to see how it evolves over time.

Dragged down by a dated and boring campaign, Lost Ark is saved by an engaging and visually attractive combat system. Although it has payed elements, it’s a good choice for an MMO with tons of content.

Lost Ark is a beautiful and engaging MMORPG, which is surprising considering the game has been on the market for over three years already. Fans of the genre will enjoy all the staples that the genre has become known for, but for others, the repetitive combat and linear quests can bog down the experience somewhat. But overall, while it may not exceed any expectations, Lost Ark does set a standard for what modern MMORPGs should strive for.

While it’s clear that Lost Ark isn’t necessarily an ARPG, but rather a traditional Korean MMORPG with an isometric view, Smilegate is very clearly looking to cater to a specific audience. Lost Ark finds itself focused on a never-ending gear treadmill, and it does an extremely good job at it. Unfortunately, casual players who want to explore an interesting world or want diverse or more dynamic content will likely be let down. And while Lost Ark is fun, the arduous leveling process and repetitive endgame will likely lead to polarizing opinions about it, with most players either loving or hating their experience in the end.