7 Things Highguard Needs to Do to Go From Good to Great

It’s well known that Highguard had a difficult launch. When it was first shown at The Game Awards, it received a lot of negative feedback and criticism. However, players who looked past the initial negativity found a solid game underneath. While Highguard isn’t perfect, the developers have shown they’re committed to listening to players and making improvements. Wildlight Entertainment has already released significant updates, boosting performance and adding a popular 5v5 mode.

Despite these efforts, saving Highguard will be challenging. The game is now under intense scrutiny, meaning every update and new feature will be closely watched. Wildlight Entertainment can still turn things around, but they need to act fast and make significant improvements to demonstrate that Highguard is genuinely enjoyable – and it can be! If they deliver on these seven updates, Highguard has the potential to become one of the top free-to-play multiplayer games of 2026.

Quality of Life and Polish Update

Highguard has a strong base to build on, but it really needs some improvements to make playing more enjoyable. While the core game is solid, small annoyances could drive players away over time. Even a potentially amazing game won’t succeed if it’s frustrating to actually play. A key improvement would be a better system for handling players who leave matches before they’re finished.

The user interface and menus feel outdated and confusing. For example, I’ve been stuck in the lobby with friends, unable to start a game, and the game doesn’t explain why – it turns out a friend was in a different menu. Many parts of the menu system just aren’t easy to understand and could be simplified. During gameplay, we also need more clear information, especially when a match is ending and about what other players are doing. These are just a few examples; the game could use some overall polish to improve these supporting features.

Hero & Game Balancing

The game really needs some balance adjustments, particularly with the hero characters. Some heroes have obvious issues – Una’s summoned creatures often won’t attack nearby enemies, Redmane’s attack sometimes fails to deal damage or misses completely, and Mara’s ultimate ability feels too limited to be useful. On the flip side, heroes like Scarlet and Condor are so strong that it feels like you’re at a disadvantage if you don’t include them in your team.

Honestly, the gunplay needs a little work. Weapons like the Ranger and Longhorn just don’t feel powerful enough when you’re using them. Also, planting the shieldbreaker is way too fast – it needs to take longer, or we should be able to stop someone planting it by shooting them. Right now, it feels like once they start, you can’t really do anything unless you get to them super early. And the biggest issue? The respawn time! With a bomb timer of 45 seconds, waiting 15 seconds to get back in the game just feels awful. It’s hard to actually make a difference when you spend so much time waiting to respawn.

Make Maps & Looting Phases More Interesting

Some players feel the map in Highguard is too small, but the real problem is a lack of engaging activities during that stage of the game. It’s currently too easy to quickly get the necessary equipment and still have plenty of time remaining. Adding more enemies to the map that offer better loot or more Vesper would help. This would give players more to do, increase the tension of matches, and create a risk-reward scenario – fighting these enemies could reveal your team’s location to opponents.

A key issue is the way loot works. Currently, both teams get better gear with each attempt, which creates a fair but uninteresting fight. It doesn’t encourage players to explore and search for loot. Introducing rotating areas with better gear would significantly improve this. We also need more ways to get Vesper resources beyond just mining – perhaps through defeating enemies or finding special crystals and completing objectives. While the maps themselves are okay, making Highguard more engaging during certain phases would be a big help. Finally, the vendor needs a complete overhaul; instead of random items, it should offer upgrades for the weapons players are already using.

New Weapons, Especially Fantasy Ones

Although Highguard aims to be a fantasy game, it doesn’t quite feel that way – the character Shieldbreaker is the only truly standout element. The weapons seem contemporary, and the heroes blend fantasy and modern styles. Even the bases, despite their fantasy themes, lack that immersive feel. Beyond this inconsistent style, the limited number of weapons makes most battles feel repetitive. The developers at Wildlight Entertainment have promised to add more content, and it’s important they focus on creating a more consistent fantasy aesthetic.

Adding bows or crossbows to Highguard would be a natural fit, especially for players who enjoy ranged combat and a classic fantasy experience. The developers at Wildlight Entertainment have plenty of room for creativity here – perhaps a javelin for raids, or a shield that benefits both the player and their teammates. To add even more variety to combat, we could also use more types of grenades, like flashbangs, smoke grenades, or even gas grenades, to make each encounter feel more strategic and interesting.

More Game Modes & Base Options

While raids are the biggest attraction in Highguard, Wildlight Entertainment could add more variety. Instead of always planting bombs, players could try a Capture the Flag mode, grabbing the enemy’s flag and returning it to their siege tower. A King of the Hill mode, where teams fight to control key areas of the base, would also be a fun addition. Even simple changes to the existing Raid mode, like adding different modifiers, could make each game feel fresh, as the core gameplay is enjoyable but often repetitive.

Both attacking and defending feel limited in options. When defending, players mostly just reinforce walls, and adding things like traps or defensive towers would make it more engaging. Attackers could also use more tools – perhaps a catapult to randomly bombard the base, or a battering ram to breach the walls. Many players share this concern, and it’s easy to see why.

Team Resizing

One of the biggest debates surrounding Highguard is the ideal team size. Three versus three matches are more focused on strategy, making each play feel significant, while five versus five is more action-packed and embraces the fast-paced, unpredictable style of first-person shooters. Both modes have their strengths and attract different players. Many consider 3v3 to be the more competitive option, while 5v5 is generally seen as better for casual play. I mostly agree with this assessment, though I think both modes have their drawbacks. 3v3 feels stronger during Raid phases, but 5v5 excels during map phases.

Introducing a 4v4 game mode would be a great way to please all players of Highguard. With both 3v3 and 5v5 already available, Wildlight Entertainment should test out this new format. It would address concerns about map size – making it feel right for those who find 3v3 maps too large, and resolving issues with base size for 5v5 players. Plus, 4v4 would likely improve matchmaking, particularly for groups of friends. Highguard has a lot to gain from trying out 4v4 as a new, experimental game mode, and very little to lose.

Progression System

Players are motivated by having clear goals and rewards. Beyond existing systems like War Chests and challenges, a general progression system would give them even more reasons to keep playing. This could involve earning unique items or extra in-game currency as they level up. This will be particularly important when Ranked mode launches. Rewarding players with exclusive cosmetics for progressing through seasons or episodes would strongly encourage continued engagement. Even small rewards like titles or level icons would add more activities beyond simply spending currency in the Trading Post and War Chest.

Wildlight Entertainment aims to ensure fair gameplay, so any unlockable content or progression systems shouldn’t give players an unfair edge. Focusing rewards on cosmetic items, emotes, and profile customizations can make the game feel satisfying without discouraging new players. Offering special rewards to players who consistently play or achieve certain ranks in each season would be a great way to recognize their dedication to Highguard. Even better, increasing a character’s mastery level could unlock unique backstory details and items tailored to that hero.

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2026-02-02 18:12