Mistfall Hunter Surpasses 1 Million Players on Game Pass, But Reviews Are Harsh

An extraction action-RPG with a fantasy twist is making waves on Game Pass and topping the charts in its debut week, attracting over 1 million players. This achievement is particularly impressive given the genre’s crowded landscape and inherent challenges, especially considering the game’s largely negative reviews.

The latest title from Bellring Games and Skystone Games is Mistfall Hunter, which launched on PC and Xbox Series X/S on July 30. Players step into the shoes of Gyldhunters, resurrected by a mysterious figure named Dew for a crucial mission: to gather Gyldenblood and repair the Web of Fate. In this grim fantasy setting, players can choose to scavenge and battle solo or join forces with friends.

Mistfall Hunter quickly gained traction within the gaming community, peaking at 44.5k concurrent players on Steam. The official Mistfall Hunter X account celebrated the milestone of one million players. While the game’s free-to-play model via Game Pass likely contributed to its rapid player base growth, the most surprising aspect is that its success seems to defy the negative feedback on Xbox and Steam.

The criticism surrounding the game appears to stem from various issues. A major complaint is region locking, which hinders players from connecting with friends or others outside their geographical area. Additionally, lagging servers have made the PvP experience frustrating for many. Some players have reported trouble even getting past the character creation screen, while others have expressed frustration over spambots in the chat. These multiple issues could certainly deter new players from fully enjoying the game.

Although Bellring Games has not yet addressed these concerns, the developer is already looking ahead to future seasons of Mistfall Hunter. Along with the announcement of its player milestone, they unveiled a roadmap featuring new seasonal tasks, weapons, monsters, and events, including a hint at a new theme for the second season.

Given the abundance of extraction games currently available, it’s noteworthy that the development team isn’t prioritizing immediate improvements to retain the players who flocked to Mistfall Hunter in its first week. With a new season on the horizon and updates in the works, it seems the Mistfall Hunter team is not overly concerned with the negative reviews—at least for now.