Dauntless Reviews
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Phoenix Labs released their free-to-play co-operative action-RPG Dauntless on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the Epic Games store a couple of weeks back, offering a seamless cross-play experience for the supported platforms. And if you're interested in figuring out if the game is any good or would like to know how it compares to the Monster Hunter series it was so clearly inspired by, you should check out the reviews below:
IGN 8.5/10:
Dauntless is a surprising achievement not only for its insanely fun and accessible monster hunting action, but also for its seamless cross-platform multiplayer and non-intrusive free-to-play mechanics. Removing much of the supporting systems' complexity from games like Monster Hunter leaves a core that’s immensely fun to dive into for quick sessions or hours on end, even if the depth outside of combat and crafting is occasionally lacking.
GameSpot 7/10:
Overall, Dauntless is clearly an experience that has been optimized to deliver the most stress-free multiplayer session possible. From the seamless crossplay to the way that anyone can hop into a game and confidently take up arms against formidable foes, it’s refreshingly accessible and looks great to boot. While it can feel a little empty, and there are bugs that mar the experience here and there, its fresh look and lively spark are more than enticing enough to warrant a spin.
GameInformer 8/10:
The cycling of collecting, building, and customizing cycle is great all the way to the end. At that point, things change. Dauntless’ endgame offers players a new type of loot to collect, rare recipes that provide insane bonuses that break all the rules (like resurrecting after death for a few incredibly powerful vengeful blows). However, the true top end of the game is currently limited to two challenging monster encounters. Both these fights are awesome to learn and master, but after you’ve brought them both down 20 times or so, even hoping for those amazing exotic drops doesn’t provide enough incentive to hop back in for another round.
As a live service, developer Phoenix Labs could address the scarcity of content for advanced players in the future, but that possibility doesn’t excuse the missteps in the current version of the game. Dauntless is a great foundation for a rollicking monster-mashing time, but without the critical component of a compelling endgame, your journey has no satisfying destination. Only time will tell if the swirling islands around Ramsgate can provide something more.
GameSpace 8.5/10:
Dauntless is a marvellous co-op action RPG wrapped into a wonderful and fun monster hunting game. It's an excellent F2P choice for casual gamers and hardcore hunters alike. It's also one of the few games that console only owners can cooperatively play alongside their PC-centric friends! Phoenix Labs has set a new standard for cross-play that we hope other developers will one day also embrace! Bottom line this game is monstrously fun!
PlayStation Universe 9/10:
Dauntless comes bursting out of early access with one of the best, most original, and most polished games in the free-to-play space. With tons of content, amazing battles, a great matchmaking system, and endless room to grow, Dauntless is going to be around for a long, long time. Beyond highly recommended, Dauntless is compulsory, obligatory, required gaming.
CGMagazine 7.5/10:
The developers at Phoenix Labs have created a great foundation at launch for Dauntless to build off of with the help of their rapidly growing community. While the experience as a whole is rather vanilla when compared to other titles in the genre, what Dauntless truly offers is a great entry point to hunting games that is easily accessible to players who have yet to experience the thrill of the hunt. With a clear roadmap ahead of where they plan to go next, I look forward to the future updates of Dauntless and can’t wait to see how they build the world out more with new content and powerful Behemoths.
DualShockers 9/10:
Dauntless has plenty of room for growth, but it’s already one of my favorite free-to-play games. I initially overlooked Dauntless as another Monster Hunter clone and I was wildly wrong for thinking that. Whether you’re a newcomer to the genre or just looking for an alternative while you wait for Iceborne, you can’t go wrong with Dauntless. As the West’s first foray into the monster hunting genre, Phoenix Labs’ Dauntless is an absolute triumph.
