F2P adventure in a post-apocalyptic world
Wuthering Waves is a free-to-play open-world role-playing game developed by Kuro Games. You will take on the role of Rover, an amnesiac hero who explores his or her past in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world. Joined by various characters called Resonators, they will help the hero in finishing his epic journey.
With similarities to Genshin Impact, Wuthering Waves also relies on a gacha mechanic with open-world gameplay. However, it focuses more on combat. However, its pity system makes sure persistent players are rewarded with a guaranteed reward after a certain number of pulls.
Find your past and allies to help you
The story behind Wuthering Waves starts with Rover, waking up to a post-apocalyptic future after a long slumber. He has no recollection of his past and will uncover clues as he progresses. He is joined by characters known as Resonators, classified into six types: Aero, Electro, Fusion, Glacio, Havoc, and Spectro. There are a total of 17 Resonators available for its Version 1.0 release.
As mentioned, the game lets you explore the environment in an open-world style. It features clear, crisp 3D visuals that aim for realism and immersion. While other games in its subgenre have limited raw distances, this one renders everything within view with superior quality. This visual and animation quality also makes its combat system additionally enjoyable. Paired with good-quality sound effects, you have an addictive experience.
Despite its smoother animation and impressive artwork, overarching concepts in this game appear unoriginal. The hero collection aspect, the tiers, and the elements feel largely similar to Genshin Impact. Even the amnesiac player character meeting collectible allies will feel familiar to Arknights players. The same goes for the Pity System, an improvement among gacha games to reward players who continue pulling.
Deeper story and exploration in version 2.2
Wuthering Waves Version 2.2, titled Tangled Truth in Inverted Tower, expands the game with narrative developments and exploration changes. New main quests begin at Beohr Waters and lead players into Avinoleum, a once-sacred theological seminary of Rinascita. These quests aim to resolve some of the lingering mysteries from Version 2.0, promising story-rich content for those following the overarching plot.
One of the standout features of this update is the gravity-defying region of Avinoleum. Here, players experience exploration in a new way, as gravity itself is reversed. The region introduces Gravity Calibrators, allowing players to change gravity direction dynamically. The update also introduces two new 5-star Resonators: Cantarella and Rover: Aero. New Echoes also join the roster, including Capitaneus, Sagittario, Sacerdos, and Electro Drake, and more.
Version 2.2 adds two new 5-star weapons—Whispers of Sirens and Bloodpact’s Pledge—and a Companion Story, A Fleeting Night’s Dream, focused on Cantarella. Quality-of-life improvements include the Story Review feature for replaying voiced scenes, streamlined leveling via quicker supply access, and increased deployable limits for Waypoints and Casket Sonar, enhancing exploration. These updates refine both narrative engagement and gameplay flow across the expanded world.
New storylines and resonators in version 2.3
The Wuthering Waves Version 2.3 update, Fiery Arpeggio of Summer Reunion, brings a host of exciting content and improvements. Players can dive into the new Companion Story, A Blaze in the Dark, where Ragunna’s turbulent past comes to light. Meanwhile, the Your Summer Will Never Wither event quest reveals a hidden tragedy tied to Daemons and The Golden Anthem.
Two new 5-star resonators join the roster in Version 2.3: Zani and Ciaccona. Zani, a member of Averardo Vault's security team, serves as a main damage dealer specializing in heavy attack damage. Ciaccona, a wandering bard from Rinascita, plays a supportive combat role focused on Concerto Efficiency, Traction, and Aero Erosion.
The Echo Aspect feature lets players apply Glide or Flight Aspects to their Resonators, adding more customization. Two fresh Tactical Hologram challenges, Fleurdelys and Lorelei, offer even more opportunities for combat mastery. With so many exciting content additions, bug fixes, and overall improvements, this update enhances the experience for all players.
A promising Genshin alternative
In conclusion, Wuthering Waves offers an immersive post-apocalyptic adventure with high-quality visuals and engaging combat. While its gameplay and hero collection elements might feel familiar to fans of Genshin Impact and Arknights, the game's smooth animation and addictive mechanics ensure a captivating experience. Despite some unoriginal concepts, the game's environmental exploration and sound design contribute to its overall appeal, making it an exciting journey for players.
