Wuthering Waves

Gameplay

Wuthering Waves is set in an open world. The player controls the protagonist Rover, as well as recruited allies called Resonators, which are split into 4-star and 5-star rarities. The endgame content features modes where characters can be used in a series of combat challenges.

The game's gacha system features banners known as Convenes, where Resonators and Weapons can be obtained. There are three types of Convenes: novice, event, and standard. Event Convenes are limited-time banners distinct from the permanent standard pool. They typically feature rate-up exclusive Resonators or weapons and rotate periodically as part of version updates. A pity system guarantees that 5-star items are obtained within a set amount of pulls.

Exploration

The game features a large open world on the planet Solaris-3, with traversal mechanics designed to support various forms of exploration. Players can sprint across open fields without consuming stamina, though it drains during combat, wall-running or climbing. Additional movement options include scaling sheer walls and cliffs with the grappling hook, performing mid-air dodges and parries, and gliding from heights.

In addition, the game features region-specific traversal mechanics introduced in major updates. Version 2.0 introduced a flight module in the Rinascita region, featuring a dedicated stamina system that enables aerial movement such as ascent, descent, high-speed dives, and Ultra Flight Boost. The feature was later expanded to areas of Huanglong, including Jinzhou and the Black Shores.

In version 3.0, the Expedition Motorbike was introduced in the Lahai-Roi region as a primary ground vehicle, enabling high-speed travel, obstacle-jumping boosts powered by an energy system, adaptive grappling, and limited autopilot functionality on designated routes.

Combat mechanics

The game's combat system features Intro and Outro skills; Intro skills are triggered when the characters enter combat and Outro skills are triggered when the characters leave combat. Both skills are triggered when the characters are switched. In December 2025, a new combat feature got introduced adding more depth into the gameplay. After attacking enemies for a certain amount of times, they enter a special state. In this state characters can perform Tune Break dealing damage and canceling the attack of the enemy.

Echo system

Resonators may acquire and equip Echoes from defeating enemies in the open world or in areas called Tacet Fields, completing quests, or participating in events, granting them abilities which summon or transform characters into monsters briefly and providing resonators with stats that increase their HP and/or damage.

Characters

Major nations

Huanglong

Chongzhou

Jinzhou

Mingting

Yuezhou

Rinascita

Ragunna

Septimont

Lahai-Roi

Major factions

Black Shores

Fractsidus

Plot

Setting

The game is set in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world of Solaris-3. A catastrophe called the Lament wiped out most of humanity in Solaris-3 and caused unknown beings and monsters, called Tacet Discords, to appear. Over millennia, Solaris-3 underwent multiple Laments including regional Laments, and over time, humanity adapted to the threat and over time rebuilt civilization. Solaris-3 is divided into regions, with at least three nations introduced in the game: Huanglong, composed of seven cities each guarded by supernatural beings called Sentinels, Rinascita, a confederation of city-states governed by competing governing bodies, and Lahai-Roi, an underground tribal nation that houses a technologically advanced mechanoid called Exostrider.

The story follows the Rover, an amnesiac wanderer who has awakened from a deep slumber and sets out to explore this new world. The player takes the role of the Rover, either the male or the female iteration depending on the player's choice, as the protagonist of the game. They would be shortly thereafter joined by a companion named Abby, a small, levitating cat-like being who regularly communicates with others as they journey throughout the world in search of their past and origins. In the game, they lead an organization known as Black Shores, whose goal is to combat against Threnodians and Tacet Discords that plague Solaris-3.

The game's main antagonists are the Fractsidus, a secret organization whose goal is to intensify the next and last Lament, which they call the True Lament. They view the Lament not as an apocalyptic event but as a step necessary for the evolution and improvement of humanity all over Solaris-3. Owing to their own perspective regarding the state and the fate of humanity, the organization is responsible for multiple attacks of varying scale all over Solaris-3.

Story

The game's story revolves around the Rover who slowly uncover their past and origins as they travel across the world. Along the way, they meet allies and enemies while continuing their journey, affecting the story throughout the game.

Prologue

The prologue of the game takes place in the outskirts of Jinzhou, an outlying province of the nation of Huanglong.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of the game takes place in Jinzhou, an outlying province of the nation of Huanglong.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of the game takes place in the nation of Rinascita.

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of the game takes place in the nation of Lahai-Roi and the Roya Frostlands.

Development

Wuthering Waves is developed by Kuro Games. It is directed by Solon Lee. It was first revealed in May 2022 with cinematic and teaser trailers. It was announced for iOS on March 25, 2024. Development happened at Kuro Games's recently opened facility in Hong Kong instead of its main studio in Guangzhou.

The game underwent two closed beta tests, with the second concluding in March 2024. After the first closed beta test, the story content was largely reworked in response to player feedback that it felt "uncomfortable".

On March 29, 2024, it was announced that Wuthering Waves was to be released on iOS, Android, and PC via the Epic Games Store in late May. In May 2024, it was announced that Wuthering Waves will be available via the Mac App Store in the future. On March 21, 2025, it was announced that the game will be released via Steam on April 29, 2025.

The PlayStation 5 version was released on January 2, 2025, with version 2.0, and the Mac version was released on March 27, 2025. An Xbox Series X/S version will be released in July 2026.

Reception

Wuthering Waves had over 30 million pre-registered users from over 100 regions and initially launched to a mixed reception with some positive feedback. While some players pointed out some issues at the game's launch, others praised the game, saying it had the "best gameplay" among gacha games. Within its first week, it became the most downloaded in 100 regions. Some players were able to access unreleased content by changing the system clock. Other bugs included animation errors, such as issues with character movement. Some players who attempted to launch the game from the Epic Games store were met with a screen that read "Fatal Error", with a guide later being published on how to fix the issue.

At the same time, critics said that the generous rewards in Lustrous Tides currency made up for these bugs. On May 23, 2024, Kuro Games issued an apology to players and promised that players would receive in-game rewards as compensation for the game's issues. When patch 1.0.19 was released on May 29, in an attempt to fix the game's bugs, players found that the patch had removed all music from the game, and guides were released on how to fix the bug. On the same day, a bug was found that caused the game's audio to become delayed or be removed altogether. Guides were later released on how to fix both bugs.

Despite the rocky launch, critics and the overall playerbase praised Wuthering Waves for its "refreshing" combat system, open world, and movement mechanics alongside its "forgiving" gacha system.

Commercial performance

Notes

References

External links