RuneScape: Dragonwilds is the next installment in the massively popular RuneScape franchise, developed and published by the folks who started it all, Jagex Limited. If you’re a RuneScape fan or a newcomer, there is something for you here. Do keep in mind that the game is still in Early Access. New features will be introduced, mechanics will be reworked, and bugs will be squashed in time. This review purely reflects the current state of the game.
Editor’s Note: The Guide Hall received a review copy of the game from the developer/publisher/PR for this review. Their generosity does not impact our overall opinion or thoughts on the game!
VISUALLY AND MUSICALLY AND WHIMSICALLY INVITING
The game is made with the Unreal Engine, with the aesthetic having that art feel you’ve seen in other Unreal Engine games like Fortnite, Sea of Thieves, Absolver, and Grounded. You got characters that seem to be straight from a comic artist’s sketchbook, in a setting with dramatic lighting and textures that blend the cartoony with the realistic. While not a unique approach, it does feel appropriate for the fantasy adventure theme. The general vibrancy of the world is appealing, not too dense as to make traversal difficult, with some varying biomes. My only complaint in terms of visuals is the overreliance on bloom in some areas, which is sadly a staple for Unreal Engine games.
There is a clear story in the game, though it is mostly revealed through dialogue snippets and readables. While the narrative implies that there are stakes, the overall story does not take itself too seriously. The music, while not something that particularly stands out, is also competent and thematically appropriate. All in all, it is a solid presentation, and the performance has been equally solid.
STRAIGHT INTO THE STRAIGHTFORWARD RPG!
RuneScape: Dragonwilds’s RPG system is very simple, as the heading suggests. Much like OG RuneScape, the player has access to different skill trees. From melee combat to foraging and cooking. Partaking in an activity related to that skill will provide the player with experience. With enough experience, the player will gain a level in that skill, with most levels providing passive bonuses while certain thresholds provide active abilities or spells. Spells in the game can vary, and overall, there is a clear freeform approach to character building. Character creation is decent for the game’s current state, though if there were a few more options along the way, that would be a huge plus.
Similarly to the skill system, combat in the game is easy to grasp. Melee will be your bread and butter for most combat scenarios, and you’ll quickly access more powerful options such as an alternative attack, new attack strings, and the ability to parry. Given the nature of the melee combat, you are encouraged to spice things up with magic and ranged, though I noticed that the ranged skill tree doesn’t appear to be working at the moment. You can still use ranged combat. But it is not fleshed out the same way as magic or melee. Though combining mobility spells with ranged does make it better. Case in point, sorcery, swords, and sandals is the name of the game for now.
Enemies have an equally simple arsenal and can pack quite a punch, especially in the early game, where your defensive and offensive options are limited. There is a stealth system in place, though I did not engage with it much, as it currently feels rather unreliable.
DO YOU LIKE BUILDING BUILDINGS?
Base building plays a large role in RuneScape: Dragonwilds. For now, the player has access to a decent amount of options, with the limiting factors being your imagination and the structure’s stability. If you’ve played other games with base building like Starfield or Starbound, you’ll know that the more extravagant the home, the more resources it’ll require. If you like roleplaying as a knight building his own wacky home, then this is the game for you. My only complaint regarding the base building is that it doesn’t teach you enough about the support mechanic. Although I quickly realized what was happening, by that point, I had already wasted some time and resources, and it would’ve been nice if that part of the tutorial was a bit better.
CONCLUSION
Overall, I did enjoy my time with RuneScape: Dragonwilds. While the actual amount of content for a game in such a genre is at the lower end, at the moment at least, there is a stable foundation. Get some friends and go on a grand adventure!