Update: Check out the launch trailer above.
Phoenix Labs' free-to-play action-RPG Dauntless is launching today, as revealed in the Nintendo Indie World Showcase.
Announced almost exactly a year ago, the game is already on PS4, Xbox One and PC and has been ported to Switch with the help of port specialists Iron Galaxy, the studio which brought Skyrim and Diablo III to Nintendo's handheld hybrid console. The Switch version features cross-platform support from the off.
The Switch version includes some newly released content in the form of "Stormchasers". Here are some more details from the official blurb:
To celebrate the launch, Phoenix Labs is releasing “Stormchasers,” the biggest free content update to date. Stormchasers includes the challenging new gameplay experience Escalation, a new type of sequential hunt that features dual Behemoth encounters in addition to a number of elements of the “roguelike” genre. Escalation culminates in a showdown against a fearsome threat - the shock-infused Behemoth Malkarion. Stormchasers also heralds the arrival of a new Hunt Pass, Myth & Legend, which offers Slayers the opportunity to explore the history and heroism of Ramsgate.
To accompany the announcement here's a handful of images. We'll update this post with more info as we get it.
Excited to see Dauntless drop on Switch? Let us know with a comment below.
Comments 34
I haven't really been paying too much attention to it since it was annouced. What's the catch to being free with this one?
Maybe this will be a good introduction into monster hunter games for me
@BenAV Yeah, thats what I want to know too.
A big maybe from me, I lost interest a long time ago...and from the videos it seemed really boring to me. Especially when compared to Monster Hunter, so I dunno.
Besides, I've been playing Black Flag lately. lol
Fortnite Monster Hunter?
Definitely want to give it a shot.
@BenAV
This is one reason I love Dauntless: there's no real downside. It has a season pass like Fortnite or Paladins, so you can get more things if you sign on...but the whole game is open and free and you don't NEED to pay anything to enjoy it. I'm going to make my daughters get this too...finally...and hunt together with them. I've been looking forward to this day for a long time now (ever since it was first announced). I really enjoyed this so much on my PS4...but since I haven't turned it on in several months now (playing pretty much exclusively on my Switch these days)...I've been eagerly waiting on this to come out on Switch.
So by what I hear it is very similar to how Fortnite has a battle pass, you get extra stuff for getting their pass. A lot of cosmetics you can buy with in game currency and you can grind for a lot of good gear to hunt. I had my money on this dropping at the Game Awards.
@Highlar Thanks. I'd still prefer that it were just a once off payment with everything included as I'm not a fan of the whole season pass model even when it's just cosmetic but it certainly could be worse.
Finally! Now the Switch has a Monster Hunter-like game on it =D
@Kinoen
You mean like Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate?
I tried it on PS4, I wasn’t really enjoying it, guess it’s just not my thing.
@Kang81 I thought about trying it out on PS4... But 1,330+ hours in World/Iceborne stopped me.
I might give it a go on Switch though.. I think the art style, to me at least, seems like it might shine on a smaller screen?
I tried it out because I enjoyed MHW, despite never finishing it. There is nothing wrong with the game, I thought it would possibly be an easier more accessible version of MH.
I may give it another go to see how it is on Switch, but considering I didn’t even stick with MHW, I doubt I’ll stick with this.
I do love the visuals and art style though.
Might try this one out! Looks cool at least
Well time to break away from Fortnite and Warframe for a while and check this one out.
I tend to like monster hunter clones but not monster hunter so I'll give this a try.
@BenAV I definitely recommend giving it a try. There really is no ‘catch’. There’s an absolute ton of content that’s just available for free. One of the better F2P structured games.
Go in with expectations set at a reasonable level (it’s not as deep as MHW) and I think you’ll enjoy it.
The simplicity worked for me. IMO MHW over complicated itself with chores, so I enjoyed Dauntless a lot more.
So, I downloaded it and gave it a try. I really don't think it's for me...
The hub area is a horrible blurry stuttering mess. The actual areas you fight in seem to improve the resolution and frame rate some though, but still not perfect. I played portable mode, so not really sure how it plays docked.
I also feel like the fighting itself has no feeling of weight or nuance to it... Maybe the nuance comes later on though?
Back to Monster Hunter I go.. to anyone undecided, it's free anyway, so it's worth giving it a try to see if it clicks with you more than it did for me.
Now if only the PC version would finally come to Steam like they promised it would before I bought one of those Founder packs. Mouseaiming the revolvers finally brought the missing element to Monster Hunter clones: combat gameplay that doesn't feel like crap.
@ObsidianEleven
Hmm, forgot about that 3DS port.
@Ajent I'm a fan of more traditional Monster Hunter games and feel that Monster Hunter World simplifies it too much if anything so this probably isn't for me then, haha.
Nice. Game is finally out for Switch. Can't wait to give it a try with a buddy of mine.
Well, I tried out Dauntless, deleted the game after the first quest. xD
@ObsidianEleven How far did you get? I gave up after the first quest. xD
As far as I know it's no different docked, hub area is horrid, battles are just boring. Also, I've seen videos of the other monsters, they use the SAME EXACT attack pattern constantly, there's no variety. They're all just...so boring. lol
I'm enjoying it... Much better than that fortnight garbage. The systems don't overwhelm you and best of all. I don't have to pay a cent to enjoy it with my buddies. Think of it as a monster Hunter world "lite"
Might be worth a look, if I have the space. Still need to get a SD card...
Totally forgot about this one, still playing the crap out of Asphalt 9. Another free game to the list is a good thing. Looking forward to giving it a go.
Performance in the hub town is just absolute garbage, but on an actual hunt it seems fine. I did 4 of them and had a decent time. Nice to see more quality free options on the Switch.
And it still looks no better than the E3 build. Still played it for 2 hours, though, lol
I really don't understand those saying that Ramsgate is such a god-awful mess. Does it stutter every now and again? Sure...but it did that on my PS4 too sometimes. None of the game is all as "blurry" or as harsh as being made out by some. Is it lower res than a PS4 in 4K? Sure. Is it an unplayable mess? Absolutely not. The game runs just fine, the hunts are still just as fast and and flashy as they are on other systems. Is the game for everyone? Of course not. But saying its a blurry mess that runs like garbage is just not true.
Man this gamebis awesome!!!
And for free. Love it.
@Joeynator3000 I completed the first four hunts, and pretty much just hack and slashed them, with the occasional no pressure dodge roll out of danger. Certainly hasn't scratched that Monster Hunter itch for me.. honestly, the only game that ever came close to doing that was Soul Sacrifice/Delta on Vita.
tried the game last nite...
uninspired visuals, glitch movement, boring fights...
better leave it for the 10yo Fortnite players that may enjoy a "my first monster hunter"
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