New World Critic Reviews

New World is a pretty damn good MMORPG. It's fun and accessible, and though it doesn't do anything truly new, it has enough little twists on existing ideas to keep me invested.

From the moment I began my journey in New World I felt like, outside of the specific world and story, I had been here and done this many times before, in many other MMOs. That said, New World does those familiar things very competently. It looks great and controls well, either with mouse and keyboard, or the slightly less optimized controller. Survival mechanics and crafting are core elements and not side gigs, but luckily, they are engaging and layered with depth. New World rewards the player for just about everything, all the time, and there is always something to do, whether fighting, farming or exploring and questing. It’s accessible to solo players and embraces the PvP and coop communities with a great deal of content. All MMORPGs are major time commitments by definition, so whether New World can hold your attention long term is probably a function of your expectations, and whether you connect with what the game has to offer. New World probably won’t ever surprise you, but it won’t disappoint you either.

It is obvious that players will ask for small adjustments and additions to be made on New World, but let's not forget that the game is making its premiere and that it is already very satisfactory for its debut. It has mechanics that will appeal to players who are tired of classic MMOs and they will find a variety of elements that are very relevant. Crafting is no longer useless: it is now necessary to have professions to have a viable game experience in late and end game. The world of Aeternum will be able to take players on a journey in a new MMO that should continue to grow in beauty over time.

New World has just had its global launch and it is obvious that it deserves some adjustments, especially at the server or PvP level. But it is nonetheless a good MMO that should delight players avid for competition or craftsmanship. The universe is catchy and the desire to travel from region to region makes us want to know more about Aeternum. The progression of our character is free, which allows us to have a certain ease in the approach to the game.

In New World, Amazon finally has the hit it has been chasing. However, as an MMO – with a one-time entry fee – the key part is going to be if they stick around and treat the community well with thoughtful additions, instead of asking people to shell out on pages upon pages of cosmetics. The foundation is strong, and if nothing else, it feels good to batter things with a spear.

New World does a lot of things right. Combat and crafting work very well. The world looks stunning and the game has one of the best sound designs in the history of video games. However, be sure you know what you sign up for. If you are looking for a quest-based and story-driven MMO like WoW, then New World will not make you happy. But if you enjoy exploration and PvP in a MMO, then this game is for you.

While New World isn’t a World of Warcraft or Final Fantasy XIV killer, it does prove that a new MMO can succeed. We’ll have to wait to see how they capitalize on their momentum.

New World has every element that an MMORPG fan needs to spend hours in front of the screen while they level up their characters and jobs nevertheless, its lack of variety of enemies and activities make it repetitive and tedious very soon. The PvP quests are great, but limited to high levels, while PvE delivers what's set to accomplish. New World can be quite entertaining if you have a lot of free time and patience, but if you don't, you might want to look somewhere else.

While young and not perfected, New World is Amazon's first hit, a MMORPG with some classic aspects to it while others are refreshing. Its action gameplay, craft and endearing world building make for a pleasant journey, especially with no subscription. The rest will depend on Amazon capacity to entertain its community in the month to come.

I’m not going to pretend for a minute that I’m unaware of the fact that some people aren’t exactly happy with New World‘s current state, nor will I pretend that I disagree with everything. The game isn’t perfect, and it absolutely has some growing to do. I’m not going to pretend that I dislike the game, either, however. New World is a fun, solid MMORPG packed with plenty of enjoyable content that will keep players busy for a long, long time. Sure, it might have some imperfections, but I’m hopeful that the game will address all of those as it continues to grow—and I look forward to being a part of its community while it does.

New World is such a large MMO that we will have to spend our time in the vast world of Aethernum. While some mechanics or functionalities don't have much of a place nowadays, it has other things that seem to me to be genuine and cutting edge in terms of massively multiplayer online development.

New World is a great title for new MMO fans to get themselves lost in, but it may be a struggle to entice older fans of the genre to leave the worlds they know.

I thoroughly enjoyed New World. I wish there was more guidance in some areas in-game, and the game does seem geared towards PvP rather than PvE. Despite these minor gripes, the game is incredible.

Do I regret spending 70 hours playing New World? Absolutely not, but I hoped for something better, especially in terms of endgame. New World is a great MMO and a poor RPG. The developers need to keep working and improving their game, and I heartily hope the will, because there's considerable potential here.

New World is a great theme park at its inauguration. Not all attractions are ready, some work well but need to be run in and others are still in the planning stage. There is absolutely no doubt that the foundations for something great are all there, benefiting from a colossal budget and substantially infinite resources, but it is equally true that what we now have in our hands is an introduction and nothing more.

New World brings you into the mysterious world of Aeternum after sailing into a wild storm that leaves you stranded. While there are many things to do in New World, it can often feel tedious to make any progress as the leveling system relies heavily on the player grinding out tasks.

New World is one of the most beginner-friendly MMOs available, but its lacking quests and PvE makes me worried about the future. The PvP, however, is a blast.

Amazon's MMO is an ambitious, player-led experience, but that doesn't forgive a lack of narrative or worldbuilding. For every good idea or unique concept, it feels like it's missing the chance to take the next big step and do something more interesting...And yet, I find myself returning to Aeternum's shores just to passively enjoy its community spirit and stick it to rival factions through the community board. I just wish there was something bigger to hold me there for longer.

New World is an MMORPG for fans of the genre. Although the work that Amazon Game Studios presents has interesting ideas for its multiplayer section, this experience will not change your opinion regarding this type of games.

I was admittedly surprised with how thoroughly I enjoyed my time with New World. From the freeform character and weapon progression to the resource gathering and faction dynamics, there’s a lot to explore and experience. That said, New World very much feels like an MMO in a very early state. There’s not a ton of Expeditions, there’s no mounts, and there’s an obvious need for balancing with features like Siege. Luckily, MMOs often get better as they age, and if Amazon Games can build upon this great foundation, they’ll have a surefire hit on their hands.