Developed by Everstone Studio and published by NetEase Games, Where Winds Meet on PlayStation 5 offers a sweeping open-world action-RPG rooted in Wuxia tradition. Having first encountered the game at Gamescom two years ago – where its graceful traversal and eastern-flavoured setting immediately stood out – we approached the final PS5 version with high hopes and found much of those early impressions borne out.
From the outset the narrative places you in the midst of a volatile 10th-century China, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms era, as a young sword-master seeking answers about identity and legacy. The opening sequence delivers cinematic flair, then transitions into a full-scale adventure that spans both sprawling region exploration and classical martial-arts drama. The story embraces a lot of Wuxia conventions – including mysterious mentors, stolen heirlooms and conflicting loyalties – but occasionally the exposition drags and some of the terminology lands flat. For those less patient, the initial hours require patience before the game’s core energy kicks in.
Gameplay is where the title really shines. The PS5 version brings fluid motion, responsive controls, and a wide array of weapons – from traditional blades and spears to rope darts, umbrellas and fans – each paired with distinct martial-arts styles and “mystic” abilities. That flexibility supports both solo progression and co-op multiplayer, and traversal mechanics open up the world in satisfying fashion as you run along walls and glide through the air. The combat itself maintains weight and impact, with boss encounters and weapon switching working smoothly, while the mix of builds feels coherent rather than bloated.
Visually and aurally the game largely hits the mark. The open world ranges from mist-shrouded forests to sprawling ancient cities, full of ambient detail and evocative architecture. The PS5 version leverages the console’s horsepower for crisp textures and dynamic lighting. The audio design complements the visuals: weapon strikes carry satisfying weight, and the musical themes carry the right blend of east-Asian instrumentation and sweeping orchestral frames. There are, however, moments of technical unevenness – some pop-in of environments and less consistent animation quality in side-quests are present. Optimization is generally strong, but occasional stutters or technical hiccups remind that ambition comes at a cost.
In its structure the game blends solo narrative and multiplayer systems. A long, story-driven campaign sits alongside guild features, dungeons, and world content. The free-to-play model is handled with restraint: core gameplay remains accessible without aggressive gating, and monetisation focuses on cosmetics rather than pay-to-win mechanics. This makes the offering unusual among large open-world games that also include social or MMO-elements, and a rare treat for those who mainly enjoy story-driven content.
At the same time, the abundance of systems – and the size of the world – can sometimes work against narrative focus. At times the main arc is obscured by a wealth of side-quests and mechanics, and menus or menus overload can compromise momentum. Moreover, some gamers may find the learning curve steep as they absorb traversal, combat, multiplayer features and progression systems all at once.
In summary, Where Winds Meet on PS5 delivers a refined and ambitious Wuxia-themed open-world experience: it blends fluid exploration and stylised combat with a richly populated setting and generous play-structure. The slower start and occasional technical softness are real but relatively minor in the context of what the game achieves. For players drawn to martial-arts epics, sweeping landscapes and hybrid solo-multiplayer gameplay, this is one of the stronger offerings in recent memory. It also lives up to much of the promise glimpsed at Gamescom two years ago. It’s a compelling addition to the open-world action-RPG field on PS5 as long as you’re prepared to invest time in its systems, and with its F2P model it’s hard to find a reason not to dive in.
Score: 8.0/10
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