Highguard arrives as a bold experiment in multiplayer shooters: a free-to-play hybrid of raid mechanics and battle royale, where six players split into teams of three to battle over a glowing sword called the Shieldbreaker. Developed by Wildlight Interactive, the game leans into chaotic, high-stakes moments—like mounted combat on bears and horses—while struggling with repetitive looting and tactical stagnation during sieges.

Tested on an RTX 5090, Ryzen 7 9800X3D (boosted to 4.7 GHz), and 64GB of RAM, Highguard* delivers fluid performance but reveals deeper design contradictions. Its core Raid mode is inventive, yet the execution often feels underdeveloped, leaving players stuck in a cycle of predictable looting and prolonged sieges that drain momentum.

  • Unique Raid Mode: A fusion of Rainbow Six-style sieges and battle royale, centered around the Shieldbreaker—a sword that weakens enemy defenses when plunged into their gates. The mounted combat and team-based objectives create intense, coordinated fights.
  • Repetitive Looting: While the looting phase introduces progression, it lacks meaningful variety, and the secondary gear (armor, helmets) feels redundant once acquired.
  • Drawn-Out Sieges: Multiple siege rounds per match lead to stagnation, with defenders often exploiting predictable attacker spawn points, turning battles into prolonged stalemates.
  • 5v5 Mode Success: Wildlight’s recent addition of a 5v5 variant—spawned from player feedback—proved more engaging, reducing downtime and increasing chaos in the Shieldbreaker phase.
  • Free-to-Play Without Exploitation: Unlike many live-service shooters, Highguard avoids aggressive monetization, offering a clean experience without ads or expiring battle passes.

The game’s artistic style is divisive—over-the-top with arcane punk aesthetics and cringe-worthy hero one-liners—but the mechanics of mounted combat and objective-based teamplay shine. However, the repetitive structure and lack of depth in looting phases undermine its potential. For players craving a fresh take on FPS multiplayer, Highguard is worth a try, but it may leave them yearning for more variety and tighter execution.

Performance & Technical Specs

  • Tested on: RTX 5090, Ryzen 7 9800X3D (4.7 GHz boost), 64GB RAM.
  • Supports up to 10 players (3v3 and new 5v5 modes).
  • No Steam Deck support.
  • Release date: January 26, 2026.

The developer’s willingness to iterate—such as adding the 5v5 mode—suggests Highguard* could evolve into something more polished. For now, it’s a mixed bag: a game that occasionally dazzles but often frustrates with its pacing and repetitive design choices.