The whispers started almost immediately after the trailer dropped: “Dead on arrival.” I watched the forums light up with negativity, the comments sections overflowing with skepticism. Then came the invite – a hands-on preview in Los Angeles, a chance to see if Wildlight Entertainment’s Highguard was truly doomed.
Personally, I suspect many early detractors will soon be eating crow. The initial debut trailer, frankly, wasn’t indicative of how fun and unique Highguard actually is. I get the hesitation, but judging a game before seeing real gameplay felt like overkill.
Highguard marks the debut title from Wildlight Entertainment, an independent studio largely composed of ex-Apex Legends developers. We’re talking about talent that’s touched Titanfall 2, Call of Duty 4, and Overwatch. These developers have shaped some of the most influential FPS games of all time, and it seems they’ve got another potential hit on their hands.
Wildlight calls Highguard a “raid shooter” because it defies easy categorization. After playing for several hours, I agree. Its innovation lies in its blend of different facets, offering something unique and enjoyable, especially when playing with friends. The pacing is what gripped me: fortification, looting, the Shieldbreaker grab, and then the raid phase itself.
Since playing Highguard, it’s been the only game I’ve wanted to return to. As a strictly PvP experience, it’s sparked a level of excitement I haven’t felt in ages. The game has a genuine shot at achieving FPS greatness.
Pace Yourself
Ever notice how some games just feel good from the start? Highguard nails this. Wildlight is self-publishing, but the game oozes AAA polish, from the menu screens and UI to the visual style and character customization.
Apex veterans will feel right at home with Highguard’s gunplay. Elements of EA’s battle royale title have carried over, including that satisfying feeling of cracking an enemy’s shields. No need to hunt for attachments either; every gun can quickly equip or unequip a scope with a press of a button.
Matches are three-vs-three, yet the scale feels much larger. The core theme is “escalation,” which is evident throughout each match. Teams defend a home base, choosing a layout and fortifying walls *a la* Rainbow Six Siege. The game even suggests base layouts based on team composition, finalized by a team vote.
Each base contains three targets. Destroying one reduces the team’s overall HP, which starts at 100. Before the raiding begins, though, there’s looting to be done.
After reinforcing walls (or stockpiling fortifications for later use), you venture into the world to loot. This stage resembles the early moments of a battle royale, with players using mounts (three options available at launch) to find better gear.
At the start, you select three weapons: two guns (close, mid, or long-range) and a raid tool (rocket launcher, hammer, zipline gun) for breaching structures. Red loot chests scattered across the map contain upgrades, denoted by color-coded rarity: white, blue, purple, gold, and the coveted red supply drop items. Higher quality guns offer advantages like larger magazines and reduced recoil.
Blue loot chests contain shields, which regenerate over time. A merchant, voiced by JB Blanc (Caustic from Apex, Blisk from Titanfall), appears across the map, offering upgrades in exchange for Vesper, a shiny teal material mined with your combat axe. The cycle of looting, upgrading, and preparing for a fight becomes rhythmic.
The looting and exploring phase lasts about five minutes, with potential enemy encounters at any moment. Staying alert is a must.
What are the different phases in a Highguard match?
Break the Walls Down
Ever notice how momentum can shift on a dime? That’s Highguard in a nutshell. Phase three involves the Shieldbreaker spawn. The map highlights its location, with a countdown timer, prompting players to converge and fight for it.
The Shieldbreaker is a massive, magical sword that acts as a key to the raid phase. Winning this fight is key to progression (death results in a respawn at base after a short timer). This is arguably the most critical part of any match.
Mounts become vital here. The sound of approaching mounts telegraphs enemy positions, adding a layer of tactical awareness. A horse, bear, or panther allows for fast re-engagement, but sacrifices stealth. Weapons can be fired from mounts, but it requires practiced skill.
Mounts also function as tools for repositioning or disengaging. If you’re at a disadvantage, a quick retreat on your mount can buy valuable time, but mounts can be destroyed, triggering a cooldown. It’s another layer to the game’s movement.
Character abilities are relevant, but superior loot and sharp aim often dictate the outcome. The team that secures the Shieldbreaker controls the next phase.
Raid Night
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a well-executed plan coming together. Securing the Shieldbreaker signals the start of the raid phase, where Highguard truly stands out. The first step is breaching the enemy shield, which deducts 30 HP and deploys a battering ram siege tower for entry.
If neither team can secure the Shieldbreaker before overtime, control is automatically granted to whoever holds it at the time. Respawning at base and using mounts allows defenders to contest the Shieldbreaker in the open. Avoiding a breach at all costs is crucial, as that 30 HP loss can be devastating.
Once attackers breach the base, chaos erupts, showcasing Highguard’s most thrilling gameplay. Inside are a main generator and two smaller generators (A and B). Planting a bomb on A or B inflicts 35 damage, while destroying the main generator ends the game, although that bomb timer is longer.
Attackers have limited respawns during the raid. Defenders can rebuild walls with scavenged items, selecting strategic points for reinforcement. Defenders freely move through doors, while attackers must use raid tools and abilities to breach walls.
How does Highguard compare to Rust or Fortnite?
The developers mentioned Rust as an influence during development, particularly evident in the raid segment. Breaching fortifications strategically echoes Fortnite, creating opportunities for gunfights.
Planting and defusing bombs, maneuvering through broken or fortified walls, and isolating enemies generates genuine excitement. Successful defense, depleting the attackers’ respawns, deals damage to the attacker’s base, turning a failed raid into a counter-raid. Defending is as rewarding as attacking; clutch defusals during raid overtime offer an incredible adrenaline rush.
Once the raid concludes (if the defending base remains), teams respawn and repeat the cycle: loot, secure the Shieldbreaker, attack. Matches can stretch to 30 minutes or end swiftly with a successful Shieldbreaker assault that takes down generators A, B, and the main generator.
Find your style
Remember the joy of finding that perfect character fit in your favorite game? Highguard delivers that. At launch, eight playable characters (Wardens) are available. I gravitated towards Redmane, the game’s sole Destruction class character. Recon characters like Condor gather intel, Support characters provide shields, and Assault characters engage in straightforward combat, but Redmane’s ability to demolish enemy bases was the most appealing to me.
Redmane’s main ability is a leap that shatters walls and deals damage upon landing (trajectory visible by holding the button). It’s incredibly effective for repositioning or flanking. Multiple times, I used Redmane’s leap to land on top of or behind enemies, creating chaos.
Redmane’s ultimate is a charged attack that annihilates base walls (enemy or friendly) in his vicinity, disorienting nearby players. During raids, this turns you into a force of nature, capable of shifting the momentum instantly.
Condor has a Bloodhound-style ping to see enemies through walls, while another’s ultimate creates a spawn point. One Warden deploys a line of fire for area denial, while another throws a lightning bolt that sticks to walls. There’s even a character who builds an ice wall that can be breached and shot through, later transforming into an ice monster with their ultimate. Highguard’s world provides ample room for fun and expression, with its lore expanding over time.
While character abilities add flavor, Highguard is fundamentally about leveraging high-tier weapons and gunskill to defeat enemies in the open or within bases during raids. That’s where I found the most enjoyment, and I suspect others will as well.
Highguard has significant potential, both strategically (experimenting with different approaches across match phases alongside friends) and from Wildlight’s perspective (a year of post-launch content, including new characters, maps, and weapons). I’m genuinely excited about its future.
Highguard’s distinct match phases feel seamless, well-telegraphed, and inherently fun, involving considerable strategy. Do you immediately push the enemy base, or loot for better gear first? Do you snipe from a distance or rush with a rocket launcher and shotgun? Do you let the enemy grab the Shieldbreaker and then ambush them? Do you hoard wall fortifications or use them proactively? Do you destroy your own walls to create chokepoints? It is less a game and more an experiment.
The pacing of each match is Highguard’s greatest strength. Familiar elements combine to create something innovative and fresh. Every match offers unique, unpredictable gameplay that may never feel repetitive.
I can’t predict if this will become the next big multiplayer phenomenon, but its initial reveal was a misstep that I believe the game can overcome. Once players experience it firsthand, many will appreciate its appeal.
Highguard is free-to-play and available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Go try it; you might be surprised. Could this be the PvP dark horse of the year?
For more on Highguard, check out Moyens I/O’s coverage here:
- What is Highguard? ‘PvP raid shooter’ from ex-Apex Legends devs, explained
- All playable characters in Highguard – All Wardens and their abilities
- All weapons in Highguard – Full list of guns
- How to use mounts in Highguard – List of mount types
Wildlight Entertainment provided travel and lodging for the hands-on gameplay event in Los Angeles.