When the team behind Apex Legends announces a new project, the gaming world pays attention. But our Highguard review reveals that Wildlight Entertainment’s surprise-launch shooter is currently more of a cautionary tale than a genre-defining hit. Released just 48 hours ago, this tactical shooter 2026 contender promised to blend the kinetic movement of Titanfall with high-fantasy raid mechanics. While the pedigree is undeniable in its fluid gunplay, the experience is currently marred by a disastrously unbalanced meta and a baffling lack of endgame depth that has left the community divided.
The Apex DNA: Where Highguard Shines
It is impossible to discuss Highguard gameplay without drawing immediate comparisons to its spiritual predecessor. The movement system is undeniably crisp; sliding down a hillside while firing a hand cannon feels just as satisfying here as it does in World’s Edge. Wildlight Entertainment has successfully translated that signature momentum into a fantasy setting, replacing jump kits with arcane traversal abilities and summonable mounts.
The core loop of fighting over the "Shieldbreaker" objective to open up enemy bases for a raid is genuinely innovative. When a match clicks, it offers a frantic mix of capture-the-flag strategy and team deathmatch aggression. The "Wardens" (the game's hero characters) feel distinct, with abilities that interact in clever ways—like using a gravity well to pull enemies off their mounts or summoning a stone wall to block a base breach.
A Launch Plagued by Technical and Design Missteps
However, the polish ends at the basic mechanics. Highguard launch problems have dominated the conversation since the servers went live on January 26. Beyond the expected login queues and PC performance stutters, the game suffers from fundamental design flaws. The decision to lock matches to a 3v3 format has proven controversial, with many players arguing that the sprawling maps feel empty and that losing a single teammate to a disconnect (a frequent occurrence) makes a win mathematically impossible.
The Unbalanced Meta
More concerning is the state of the game's balance. In these first two days, a "rush meta" has already solidified, rendering defensive playstyles nearly obsolete. Certain weapon combinations, particularly the heavy burst rifles combined with mobility-focused Wardens, are decimating lobbies with little counterplay. For a studio known for meticulous tuning in Highguard versus Apex Legends comparisons, this lack of balance is shocking. The "death penalty" mechanics—where you lose shield tiers upon dying—also feel punishing for casual players while being easily exploited by coordinated three-stacks.
The Content Void: Is There a Reason to Stay?
Perhaps the most damning criticism in new game reviews 2026 is the question of longevity. Once you have raided a few bases and unlocked the starter loadouts, Highguard exposes a shallow endgame. There is currently no ranked mode, limited cosmetic progression, and a repetitive map rotation that makes extended play sessions feel monotonous. Players are already asking "is this it?"—a dangerous sentiment for a live-service title in its opening week.
Final Verdict
Highguard is a game of brilliant moments trapped in a confusing package. The shooting is world-class, but the structure surrounding it feels like an early beta rather than a full release. Wildlight Entertainment has built a Ferrari engine and put it inside a go-kart; it is fast and exciting, but it falls apart if you push it too hard. Unless the developers can rapidly deploy content updates and balance patches, this ambitious shooter risks being forgotten before the next season even begins.
