Highguard review finds a bold idea but muted execution.

Highguard is a free-to-play raid shooter from Wildlight Entertainment that stages two teams of three in matches combining fortifying, looting, and sieges. The reviewer finds the central concept novel and mechanically sound but says downtime, linear item progression, and limited depth weaken its long-term competitive prospects.

Highguard launched under a cloud after a dramatic reveal at The Game Awards 2025, and Wildlight Entertainment’s raid shooter is now being judged on both its showmanship and its gameplay. Matches pit two teams of three against each other in cycles of fortifying, looting, and raids, with rounds lasting from a few minutes up to about 45 minutes. The game mixes familiar first-person shooter mechanics with a novel Shieldbreaker objective and a four-stage match cadence. Review coverage highlights that the concept is compelling but that some design choices blunt its competitive edge. Key details: - Highguard is a 3v3 raid-focused shooter where teams fortify a base, loot across a large map, contest a central Shieldbreaker, and launch timed raids. - The Shieldbreaker, when delivered to an enemy base, opens a section of its dome shield and begins a raid with limited attacker respawns and three bomb sites; detonating the third site ends the match. - Loot phases let players explore on foot or by summoning mounts, gather weapons, armor, utility items, and currency crystals; mounts mainly serve as faster movement and have small health pools. - Item rarities unlock as a match progresses: blue items appear early, purple after one raid, and gold after two raids; chests are replenished between raids, which reduces rarity scarcity. - Combat is described as mechanically solid and varied, with tense close-quarters fights, but looting phases often act as extended downtime with little enemy interaction. - The reviewer summarizes Highguard as novel and accessible but notes a perceived lack of depth and scale that could limit its long-term competitiveness. Summary: The article portrays Highguard as an imaginative blend of familiar shooter elements and new raid-focused ideas that is easy to pick up and enjoyable in moments. Its pacing, predictable loot progression, and small-team scale are presented as barriers to sustained competitive appeal. Undetermined at this time.