ArcheAge is a multiplayer role-playing game from the South Korean studio XL Games. It was in development since 2006 and was originally based on the CryEngine 2, but was later transitioned to CryEngine 3. Thus, by its release (which took place in South Korea in January 2013), ArcheAge turned into not only an interesting but also a very beautiful MMORPG. The game world feels so alive and realistic that you want to start exploring it literally right away, even without fully understanding the game mechanics.
Although ArcheAge is considered a multiplayer "role-playing" game, it can also be classified under the "sandbox" genre – there are plenty of opportunities for interesting pastimes. Of course, attributes of the South Korean conveyor such as "grind" and tedious level progression haven't gone anywhere, but players are not compelled to endlessly slay monsters. After all, you can engage in farming, construction, and many other activities that can captivate players fully. Alternatively, nothing prevents you from embarking on a dangerous journey through the vast game world, using mounts, mechanized wagons, and other “foot” means for traversing the land. But that’s not all. ArcheAge also permits flying – on public airships or your own gliders – as well as sailing across the seas on various types of vessels.
Yes, each player in ArcheAge can build their own personal ship and equip it with cannons, after which they can set sail across the seas accompanied by their friends. This is undoubtedly thrilling but also extremely perilous – the waters are patrolled by pirates, who may very well be other players. When encountering them, an intense battle complete with cannon fire and even boarding may ensue. But pirates are one thing; an encounter between fleets of two opposing sides is something entirely different. Dozens of ships engage in adrenaline-fueled naval battles, each of which can make history on the game server.
Sea battles, house construction, farming – what else can ArcheAge offer to its potential players? Firstly, captivating castle and fortress sieges. Capturing fortifications is far from an innovation, but in ArcheAge, the process of attacking castles has been significantly reworked and modernized. Secondly, mass PvP battles – players can kill each other with virtually no restrictions. However, if you get too carried away with exterminating the populace, you may become an outcast, or simply a PK. Thirdly, the "Non-target" system. No locking onto enemies, no mandatory targeting – these outdated elements of the combat system are no longer utilized in high-status MMORPGs, among which ArcheAge can be counted.