A Retrospective On The Once Free-To-Play MMORPG Wayfinder

On May 31, 2024, Wayfinder surprised everyone with the Echoes update — shifting from a free-to-play MMORPG to a buy-to-play single-player action RPG with three-player co-op. While we’ll never know how successful the original Wayfinder might have been, this new version has pulled in over $11 million in revenue.

Usually, it’s the other way around. MMORPGs often launch as buy-to-play games and switch to free-to-play after their player base dwindles. This lowers the barrier to entry, attracting new and returning players. With a bigger audience, developers can then monetize through microtransactions — cosmetics, convenience items, battle passes — which tend to provide more steady income over time. Free-to-play also helps games stay competitive and revive interest in a crowded market.

Wayfinder was an outlier, though.

The game has generally received praise for its storytelling, world-building, exploration, and progression. But I didn’t like the new direction. The online elements that made the world feel alive and connected are gone. The social hub feels empty. Without random encounters or open-world group content, the world feels smaller. Honestly, it feels like the game traded a half-baked MMO for a half-baked co-op action RPG.

And I say this as someone who logged over 130 hours in the original Wayfinder.

Don’t get me wrong — the core gameplay that hooked me remains, and the new content has its bright spots. Mounts finally arrived, for example, which is huge for exploring the world. Armor now actually affects your stats instead of being purely cosmetic. Customization is deeper — you can dye gear and tweak your character’s appearance more than ever before. The game runs smoother, too, with less lag and more responsive combat. And importantly, it now works offline, with no microtransactions.

Still, for me, someone who loved Wayfinder before, it feels like something vital is missing. The MMO spirit is gone, but its ghost lingers. Playing solo can feel isolating unless you already have friends to team up with. One thing that still shines is the art direction and gear system. Unlocking new gear, customizing your loadout, and making your character look badass remains genuinely fun. And while I’m clearly critical of Airship Syndicate’s decision, I respect that the developers didn’t just abandon Wayfinder. I truly enjoyed the game at launch, and it’s sad to see what it’s become.

If you never played Wayfinder, though, there’s a decent game here, even if it sometimes feels a little empty.