Highguard is Scratching an Itch I Didn’t Know I Had

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The new multiplayer game Highguard has launched, and early signs aren’t promising. Developed by former Respawn Entertainment staff, it’s a 3v3 “raid shooter” that was surprisingly revealed at The Game Awards 2025. Traditionally, that event slot is reserved for major announcements from established franchises like Monster Hunter Wilds or studios like Naughty Dog. So, unveiling a new free-to-play hero shooter instead left some players disappointed.

After announcing Highguard at the Game Awards, the developers went quiet, releasing no new trailers or gameplay footage for over a month, which led to a lot of questions about the game. It surprisingly launched on January 26th as planned, and initial reviews from the press were largely positive. The game quickly attracted almost 100,000 players on Steam, but it was immediately flooded with negative reviews. Currently, Highguard has a ‘Mostly Negative’ rating on Steam, with over 19,000 reviews – a large portion of which are from players who spent less than an hour playing. However, I’m one of the few who’s actually finding the game enjoyable.

Highguard Isn‘t a Perfect Game…

Image by Wildlight Entertainment

Let’s be clear: Highguard isn’t flawless. It has problems, and players are right to share their thoughts. A frequent criticism I’ve noticed is that the game’s maps and main mode don’t quite work with the 3v3 team size. I understand that concern – during the early part of the game, you can often go several minutes without encountering opponents, and the base designs seem better suited for teams of four or five.

Many players have mentioned that the visual style of Highguard feels inconsistent. It draws from both medieval fantasy and science fiction, but these elements don’t quite come together seamlessly. This clash is also noticeable in the weaponry; some weapons, like the Dynasty assault rifle (which closely resembles an AK-47), appear overly realistic and don’t fit the overall aesthetic.

…But I’m Having a Blast With It

Image via Wildlight Entertainment

Despite those minor problems, I’m still really enjoying Highguard. I usually prefer single-player games, especially those with a good story and solid gameplay. But every now and then, a multiplayer game grabs my attention and I end up playing it constantly – for a few months, at least. That’s happened with games like Overwatch, Apex Legends, Fortnite, and Call of Duty many times over the years. Most recently, I was completely hooked on Marvel Rivals for about four months.

I’ve spent about 10 hours playing Highguard, and I’m really getting into it. The game combines elements from several popular titles: you start by building up your base, similar to Rainbow Six Siege. Then, you explore a large map to find gear, like in Apex Legends, and buy upgrades, much like Counter-Strike. The core of the match revolves around a powerful weapon that appears in the center of the map. Two teams of three players then race to grab it and use it to destroy the enemy base, creating a fast-paced, chaotic experience that feels like classic Halo Capture the Flag, but with heroes that have unique abilities similar to those in Overwatch.

I’m really enjoying how Highguard mixes elements from different games. I’ve spent a lot of time playing Rainbow Six Siege, Apex, and Overwatch, and while I love them, I’ve gotten very familiar with how they all work. Highguard seems to be combining those same mechanics in a fresh way, and it’s hitting the spot. It’s like getting a constantly changing mix of all my favorite things – switching from defending in Siege to looting in Apex to the combat of Overwatch keeps everything feeling exciting and new.

The Million Dollar Question: Will I Be Playing Highguard in a Month?

Even something you really enjoy, like a great burger, can get old after a while. Ten hours is usually enough time to know if you like a video game, but that’s not very long compared to how much time dedicated fans spend playing their favorites. I’ve personally put hundreds of hours into games like Marvel Rivals, Overwatch, and Fortnite. It’s likely that my initial excitement for Highguard will fade, and I’ll probably go back to playing the games that inspired it. However, I’m still hopeful about what the future holds for Highguard.

Just after launching, the team behind Highguard shared a comprehensive plan for the year ahead. They aim to release a new ‘Episode’ every two months, broken into two parts to ensure fresh content arrives monthly. Here’s a glimpse of what players can expect from Highguard in 2026:

  • February and March — New Warden, new base, new map, new raid tool, new mount, Ranked Mode
  • April and May — New Warden, new base, new weapon, new loot items
  • June and July — New Warden, new base, new limited-time mode, new map, new weapon
  • August and September — New Warden, new base, new weapon, new mount
  • October and November — New Warden, new base, new map, new weapon, “Surprise”
  • December — New Warden, “Surprise”

As a fan, I’m really hyped about the idea of getting a new Warden to play every couple of months! Honestly, I’m still figuring out all the cool things you can do with the eight we already have. Plus, the promise of new maps, weapons, and ways to build your base sounds amazing. What’s even better is that the developers of Highguard are already listening to feedback and pushing out updates. They’re actually planning one for today or tomorrow (as of January 28th) that will add field of view sliders for consoles and more graphics settings on PC. It won’t solve all the issues people are having with the game, but it’s a great sign and makes me optimistic about how long Highguard will be around!

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2026-01-29 00:06