Redfall, the latest open-world, single-player, and co-op first-person shooter from Arkane Austin, has been creating quite a buzz in the gaming community. With numerous reviews hitting Metacritic, most of which decidedly mixed, it’s clear that opinions are split on whether Redfall is worth playing, or whether it’s not quite ready to sink your teeth into. Because the game can be such a mixed back, you may wonder who exactly should be adding Redfall to their gaming library? Let's delve into the various reasons that might make this story-driven action shooter the perfect fit for certain gamers.
Fans of Arkane Studios – Apply Here
First and foremost, if you have enjoyed Arkane Studios' previous games like Prey and Dishonored, you will likely find plenty to love in Redfall. While it may not be as polished as its predecessors, and some players might experience performance issues due to system requirements – especially on PC - the game still offers a plethora of fun and engaging content. Expect the signature Arkane gameplay, with an emphasis on exploring intricate, well-designed missions and engaging in and immersive world. Redfall is provides a fresh experience for fans of the studio's previous works, complete with creepy vibes and suspenseful situations.
As most Arkane games are known for their single-player or competitive gameplay prowess, Redfall won't disappoint as a solo affair, but you'll find much more enjoyment if you have a solid group of friends available to team up with, and explore Redfall in its entirety.
Borderlands Enthusiasts Might Find Fun in Redfall
If you are a fan of the Borderlands series, Redfall may pique your interest as well. The loot system in Redfall shares some similarities with Borderlands, although with a few differences. For instance, weapons in Redfall are not dropped by enemies; instead, players can discover them by exploring the world, unlocking secrets, and finding weapon chests.
Another key similarity is that the loot in Redfall is instanced and cannot be traded with other players, even during co-op sessions. This means that each player's loot is exclusive to them (except for the consumables out in the open world). As you progress through the game, you will find weapons with increasing rarity, each with a possibility for various mods that can change their power, accuracy, or provide other special modifiers. This offers ample opportunity for min-maxers to strategize and discover the perfect combination of weapons and mods to suit their playstyle. Although Redfall isn’t exactly as visceral as Borderlands, Arkane has created a co-op shooter that Borderlands fans could dig, at least for a little while.
If You Like Fallout – Try Fallout with Vampires
Redfall may not be explicitly post-apocalyptic like the Fallout series, but it does share some common ground with these beloved games. The world design in Redfall is reminiscent of Fallout's open-world approach, offering players a variety of ways to complete missions and encouraging exploration. Scavenging for supplies, unlocking and hacking boxes, finding new ways to access previously unexplored areas, and uncovering a non-linear story will be familiar territory for Fallout fans.
Fallout players may miss their power armor , but you can at least breathe a sigh of relief that there’s no deathclaws. It also needs to be noted that, currently, Redfall has a lot of issues, but it’s still a far cry from the kind of bugs Fallout 76 had even a year post-launch. Redfall also boasts a range of legendary weapons and formidable enemies to keep even the most seasoned Fallout player on their toes. The game's unique setting and atmosphere, combined with its similarities to Fallout's gameplay, make it an enticing choice for those who appreciate the series.
Play Redfall if You Have Xbox Game Pass
When I first played Redfall it was through the Steam version of the game, with our illustrious managing editor and our visual fidelity fanboy, with a key provided by PR. Post-launch, it’s clear that a lot of Steam players are unhappy with the game and having to pay 70 dollars for what is largely a buggy, unoptimized mess on PC. I completely get that. I can see reasons why there’s negative reviews for a game that is so expensive for the base game.
But there’s a clear circumvention to this, and that’s Xbox Game Pass. There’s so many reasons why this is the far better option, and it isn’t just the cost, though that might be the main factor here. Redfall is a day one release on Game Pass, not just for the Xbox Series X|S versions but for the PC version as well. That means, no matter where you play it, Redfall is available for Game Pass. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Redfall is an Xbox Series X|S exclusive. That means last generation consoles – the Xbox One’s - CAN’T play the game. Or at least, they can’t natively. If you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, you have access to Xbox’s Cloud Gaming, which will also play Redfall, no downloads needed. You can also play on the cloud on PC, your Phone, or pretty much anywhere you can access Xbox’s Game Pass Cloud. So not only are you playing Redfall for nearly 20% of the total cost of the game, and you have far more options on where to play it, and how you want to play it – and it opens up the option to play the game on first-gen Xboxes that would otherwise not have access at all.
Should You Play Redfall?
Redfall is a game that can appeal to a wide range of players. If you enjoy open-world environments and a peculiar storyline that will take some doing to unfold, you definitely shouldn’t hesitate to give Redfall a spin. Most notably, if you’re already a subscriber of Xbox Game Pass, you have nothing to lose in giving this game a shot. You don’t even have to worry about the lengthy download time of the game if you choose to play on Xbox’s cloud platform (though depending on your connection speed, your performance might take a hit – Xbox Cloud is still in beta after all). While it may not be Arkane’s best showing, its immersive gameplay and fascinating world has the potential to keep you entertained for quite some time, especially once you make it past the initial starting area of Redfall Commons.
