Free to play – RPG hits #1 on Steam Charts and shakes up the open-world scene

April 30, 2025 — Wuthering Waves, the latest free-to-play open-world RPG from Chinese developer Kuro Games, has captured attention worldwide following its official launch. Known for their action title Punishing: Gray Raven, the studio introduced Wuthering Waves in May 2024 on the Epic Games Store, Google Play, and the App Store. The game's highly anticipated release on Steam arrived on April 28, 2025, quickly climbing to the top of the "Trending Free" chart.

A Post-Apocalyptic World of Exploration and Combat

Set in a world reshaped by a cataclysmic event known as the Lament, Wuthering Waves follows the story of the Rover, an amnesiac protagonist on a quest to uncover lost memories and untangle the mysteries of a transformed world. The game combines open-world exploration with dynamic, action-driven combat, featuring unrestricted vertical traversal that enables players to scale mountains, urban towers, and various structures with ease.

Visually, the game adopts a semi-realistic anime-inspired art style, enhancing its atmospheric environments and character designs.

Combat System and Unique Features

Combat in Wuthering Waves centers around a three-character team system, with instant switching for seamless combo chains and powerful ultimate abilities. The fast-paced battles demand timing, precision, dodging, and parrying — offering a more reactive experience compared to other popular titles in the genre.

A standout mechanic is the "Echoes" system, where players collect special abilities from defeated enemies and deploy them strategically in combat, adding depth to character builds and tactics.

While it shares similarities with titles like Genshin Impact, Wuthering Waves distinguishes itself through its more technical, skill-based combat system and parkour-style traversal.

Reception: Impressive Combat, Uneven Storytelling

According to IGN’s review, the game impresses with its fluid, engaging combat system, strategic character swapping, and dynamic exploration. Performance across platforms — including high-end gaming laptops, handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go, and mobile devices like the iPhone 12 Pro — remains largely stable, though minor bugs and occasional lag were reported.

However, criticisms include a weak narrative structure, cryptic terminology, and uninspired voice acting, particularly in emotionally charged scenes. Additionally, the early hours can feel overwhelming, with numerous systems introduced rapidly and insufficient guidance for new players. The endgame experience also faces issues of repetitiveness, as players must frequently farm recurring enemy encounters.

IGN awarded Wuthering Waves a 7 out of 10, while Metacritic reflects a similar sentiment with a Metascore of 69 and a User Score of 7.0. Notably, the Steam community response has been far more positive, with an 87% positive rating from approximately 1,400 user reviews.

A Promising Start Despite Flaws

Despite its narrative shortcomings, Wuthering Waves has made a strong impression within the RPG community, thanks to its robust combat mechanics and immersive world design. Its top-ranking position in Steam’s trending charts signals a promising future for Kuro Games’ latest release, as the developer continues refining the experience based on player feedback.

Source: notebookcheck

Voice of Osiz

Our experts view Wuthering Waves as a standout example of combat innovation reshaping open-world RPGs. Despite a weak narrative, its fluid character switching and unrestricted vertical traversal set a new industry benchmark. The Echoes system, especially, impressed our team with its smart integration of enemy abilities into dynamic battle strategy.