Wander
Release Date: June 4, 2015
Adventure, TPP, indie games, experimental/artistic, MMO, exploration games, internet
OpenCritic
Steam
An unusual MMO game, focusing completely on relaxing exploration, which you do on your own or with other players. Unlike other games in the genre, Wander features absolutely no rivalry element. The game is set on an alien planet. The protagonist wakes up in the middle of a tropical forest, unable to remember how she got there, and, to her surprise, discovers that she can shapeshift.
Videos and Screens
[1:12] Wander launch trailer
[0:30] Wander trailer
Push Square: 4 / 10 by Stephen Tailby
We really wanted Wander to be brilliant, but unfortunately, it comes across as half-baked, lacking in things to do, and underwhelming in almost every area. The developer, Wander MMO, had some grand ideas for this title – but for the most part, it's been poorly executed. There is potential here for a compelling experience – perhaps after some significant patching – but for now, it doesn't quite reach the developer's lofty, risky goals.
The Jimquisition: 2 / 10 by James Stephanie Sterling
An incomplete, creatively bankrupt vacuum. If we're so starved for nonviolent experiences that this is what we champion, the industry's in worse shape than I thought.
COGconnected: 10 / 100 by Adam Dileva
If there's no groundwork and fundamentals in place for players to interact with one another, especially for a game with zero objectives, it's destined to fail. I can understand what Wander was trying to do, but even so, it's both nowhere near complete and polished, and sadly, completely void of fun in any way.
Wander Description
Wander is an unusual MMO game which focuses solely on relaxing exploration (solo or with others) and does not offer any kind of competitive gameplay. It is the debut production of the independent Australian studio, Wander.
The action takes place on an unknown planet. The protagonist wakes up in the depths of a tropical forest, not knowing how she got there. She also discovers that she can shapeshift, so she sets out on a journey through the mysterious world, trying to uncover its secrets. She runs across remarkable geologic formations, such as floating rocks, forgotten ruins, traces of an advanced civilization, friendly locals and so on.
Gameplay in Wander concentrates almost completely on exploration of a beautiful and huge island that holds many mysteries. The aforementioned shapeshifting comes in handy. We start out as a walking tree, then unlock a gryphon, underwater azertash, and others. All of these creatures come in different variants, and each has its own culture and history. Moreover, the influence they have on the other inhabitants of the planet is also unique for every one of them.
The game is powered by CryEngine. The developers put the engine’s capabilities to good use which results in beautiful graphics. Wander also has an atmospheric and relaxing soundtrack that adds a touch of mystery to the whole.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
Wander Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
PlayStation 4
Wander System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Quad Core 3.0 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GTX 460/1 GB Radeon HD 6870 or better, Windows 7/8 64-bit
Recommended: Quad Core 3.0 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce 660Ti/3 GB Radeon HD 7950 or better, Windows 7/8/8.1 64-bit