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Wuthering Waves

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Wuthering Waves
Logo of Wuthering Waves
DeveloperKuro Games
PublisherKuro Games[a]
DirectorSolon Lee
ProducerSolon Lee
ProgrammerFarmer
Composers
  • jixwang
  • Minase
  • jkinss
  • YUE.STEVEN
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platforms
Release
  • Windows, Android, iOS
  • May 23, 2024
  • PlayStation 5
  • January 2, 2025
  • macOS
  • March 27, 2025
  • Xbox Series X/S
  • July 10, 2026
GenresAction role-playing, gacha, hack and slash
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese鳴潮
Simplified Chinese鸣潮
Literal meaningSound Tide
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinMíng Cháo
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationMìhng Chìuh
Jyutpingming4 ciu4

Wuthering Waves (Chinese: 鸣潮; pinyin: Míng Cháo; lit. 'Sound Tide') is a 2024 free-to-play open world gacha action role-playing game developed and published by Kuro Games.

Revealed on March 23, 2022, it was initially inspired by Death Stranding, with the aim to create a post-apocalyptic world where players can experience the fusion of new and old civilizations. The game developers drew inspiration from various sources, including Punishing: Gray Raven for its combat mechanics, as well as the Pokémon games for its echo system.[1][2] Wuthering Waves has been compared to other titles of the genre such as Genshin Impact, but aims to place greater emphasis on its combat system compared to its predecessors.[3] The game was released for Android, iOS and Windows devices on May 23 (May 22 in the United States), 2024, followed by PlayStation 5 in January 2025, macOS in March 2025, and Xbox Series X/S in July 2026.

Gameplay

[edit]
Yangyang engaging in a fight with three Tacet Discords
Gameplay screenshot showing character Yangyang engaging in a fight

Wuthering Waves is set in an open world.[4] The player controls the protagonist Rover, as well as recruited allies called Resonators, which are split into 4-star and 5-star rarities.[3] The endgame content features modes where characters can be used in a series of combat challenges.[5]

The game's gacha system features banners known as Convenes, where Resonators and Weapons can be obtained. There are three types of Convenes: novice, event, and standard. Event Convenes are limited-time banners distinct from the permanent standard pool. They typically feature rate-up exclusive Resonators or weapons and rotate periodically as part of version updates.[citation needed] A pity system guarantees that 5-star items are obtained within a set amount of pulls.[6]

The game features a large open world on the planet Solaris-3, with traversal mechanics designed to support various forms of exploration.[7] Players can sprint across open fields without consuming stamina, though it drains during combat, wall-running or climbing. Additional movement options include scaling sheer walls and cliffs with the grappling hook, performing mid-air dodges and parries, and gliding from heights.[8][non-primary source needed]

In addition, the game features region-specific traversal mechanics introduced in major updates. Version 2.0 introduced a flight module in the Rinascita region, featuring a dedicated stamina system that enables aerial movement such as ascent, descent, high-speed dives, and Ultra Flight Boost.[9] The feature was later expanded to areas of Huanglong, including Jinzhou and the Black Shores.[10]

In version 3.0, the Expedition Motorbike was introduced in the Lahai-Roi region as a primary ground vehicle, enabling high-speed travel, obstacle-jumping boosts powered by an energy system, adaptive grappling, and limited autopilot functionality on designated routes.[11]

The game's combat system features Intro and Outro skills; Intro skills are triggered when the characters enter combat and Outro skills are triggered when the characters leave combat. Both skills are triggered when the characters are switched.[12][13] In December 2025, a new combat feature got introduced adding more depth into the gameplay. After attacking enemies for a certain amount of times, they enter a special state. In this state characters can perform Tune Break dealing damage and canceling the attack of the enemy.[14]

Resonators may acquire and equip Echoes from defeating enemies in the open world or in areas called Tacet Fields, completing quests, or participating in events, granting them abilities which summon or transform characters into monsters briefly and providing resonators with stats that increase their HP and/or damage.[12]

Plot

[edit]

The game is set in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world of Solaris-3. A catastrophe called the Lament wiped out most of humanity in Solaris-3 and caused unknown beings and monsters, called Tacet Discords, to appear. Over millennia, Solaris-3 underwent multiple Laments including regional Laments, and over time, humanity adapted to the threat and rebuilt civilization. Solaris-3 is divided into regions, with at least three nations introduced in the game: Huanglong, composed of seven cities each guarded by supernatural beings called Sentinels, Rinascita, a confederation of city-states governed by competing governing bodies, and Lahai-Roi, an underground tribal nation that houses a technologically advanced mechanoid called Exostrider.

The story follows the Rover, an amnesiac wanderer who has awakened from a deep slumber and sets out to explore this new world. The player takes the role of the Rover, either the male or the female iteration depending on the player's choice, as the protagonist of the game. They would be shortly thereafter joined by a companion named Abby, a small, levitating cat-like being who regularly communicates with others as they journey throughout the world in search of their past and origins. Shortly after, the Rover realizes that their previous iteration led an organization known as the Black Shores, whose goal is to combat against Threnodians and Tacet Discords that plague Solaris-3.

The game's main antagonists are the Fractsidus, a secret organization whose goal is to intensify the next and last Lament, which they call the True Lament. They view the Lament not as an apocalyptic event but as a step necessary for the evolution and improvement of humanity all over Solaris-3. Owing to their own perspective regarding the state and the fate of humanity, the organization is responsible for multiple attacks of varying scale all over Solaris-3.

Development

[edit]

Wuthering Waves is developed by the Guangzhou-based studio Kuro Games. It is directed by Solon Lee.[15] It was first revealed in May 2022 with cinematic and teaser trailers.[16] It was announced for iOS on March 25, 2024.

The game underwent two closed beta tests, with the second concluding in March 2024. After the first closed beta test, the story content was largely reworked in response to player feedback that it felt "uncomfortable".[5]

On March 29, 2024, it was announced that Wuthering Waves was to be released on iOS, Android, and PC via the Epic Games Store in late May.[17] In May 2024, it was announced that Wuthering Waves will be available via the Mac App Store in the future.[18] On March 21, 2025, it was announced that the game will be released via Steam on April 29, 2025.[19]

The PlayStation 5 version was released on January 2, 2025, with version 2.0,[20] and the Mac version was released on March 27, 2025.[21] An Xbox Series X/S version will be released in July 2026.[22]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

According to review aggregator Metacritic, Wuthering Waves received "mixed or average" reviews for the iOS and Windows version, and "generally favorable" reviews for the PlayStation 5 version.[23][24][25] 80% of critics recommended the game according to OpenCritic.[26]

Wuthering Waves had over 30 million pre-registered users from over 100 regions and initially launched to a mixed reception with some positive feedback.[34][35][36] While some players pointed out some issues at the game's launch, others praised the game, saying it had the "best gameplay" among gacha games.[37] Within its first week, it became the most downloaded in 100 regions.[34] Some players were able to access unreleased content by changing the system clock.[38][39][40] Other bugs included animation errors, such as issues with character movement.[41] Some players who attempted to launch the game from the Epic Games store were met with a screen that read "Fatal Error", with a guide later being published on how to fix the issue.[42]

At the same time, critics said that the generous rewards in Lustrous Tides currency made up for these bugs.[34] On May 23, 2024, Kuro Games issued an apology to players and promised that players would receive in-game rewards as compensation for the game's issues.[43] When patch 1.0.19 was released on May 29, a bug was found that caused the game's audio to become delayed or be removed altogether. Guides were later released on how to fix both bugs.[44]

Despite the rocky launch, critics and the overall playerbase praised Wuthering Waves for its "refreshing" combat system, open world, and movement mechanics alongside its "forgiving" gacha system.[35][36]

Commercial performance

[edit]

In a September 2025 interview at Gamescom, Tencent senior vice president Steven Ma highlighted the game's sustained success, stating that Wuthering Waves was one of only six new titles from the preceding year to surpass Tencent's internal "Evergreen Game Revenue Line" benchmark (常青游戏收入线). Ma identified the six games as Zenless Zone Zero, Wuthering Waves, Love and Deepspace, Helldivers 2, Black Myth: Wukong, and Delta Force.[45]

Ma explained that Tencent monitors approximately 70 global evergreen games meeting strict criteria for long-term viability (defined by Tencent as surpassing an average quarterly DAU of 5 million for mobile or 2 million for PC, while generating over RMB 4 billion or ~$550–600 million in annual gross receipts). Around 5 to 6 titles drop from this list annually.[46] This recognition from Tencent indicates Wuthering Waves's achievement of sustained commercial performance in a competitive live-service and gacha-dominated market.

Accolades

[edit]
Year Award Category Result Ref.
2024 Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards Best Audio / Visual Accomplishment Won [47]
Game of the Year Nominated
Galaxy Award Best Science-Fiction Game Won [48]
The Game Awards 2024 Best Mobile Game Nominated [49]
Players' Voice Nominated
TapTap Game Awards Player's Choice Won [50]
Sensor Tower APAC Awards Best Open World Adventure Game Won [51]
2025 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Mobile Game of the Year Nominated [52][53]
The Game Awards 2025 Best Mobile Game Nominated [54]
Players' Voice Won
Google Play's best apps, books and games of 2025 Best Ongoing Won [55]
16th Hollywood Music in Media Awards Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a Video Game Won [56]
PlayStation Partner Awards Partner Award Won [57]
Users’ Choice Award Won
2026 Taipei Game Show Game Star Award Gold Award (Console Game) Won [58]
Gold Award (Mobile Game) Won
Gold Award (PC Game) Won

Other media

[edit]

An donghua series, titled Wuthering Waves: Elysium, was announced on July 18, 2026.[59]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Published in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan by Nijigen Games (Operated by Kuro Games)

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Reyes, Jess (August 26, 2024). "Wuthering Waves interview: Kuro Games looks back at launch and ahead to the future". Epic Games. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  2. ↑ Siddarth, N. (July 10, 2024). "'The initial concept was Inspired by Death Stranding' – Wuthering Waves devs discuss its development, challenges, and future plans [Exclusive]". Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Moorcroft-Sharp, Jamie (March 28, 2024). "Wuthering Waves release window, platforms, trailer, and more". Destructoid. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  4. ↑ Tolentino, Josh (July 26, 2022). "Wuthering Waves Gameplay Trailer Shows Open-World Action". Siliconera. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Allsop, Ken (March 27, 2024). "This Genshin Impact rival brings the HoYoverse charm but with better combat". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  6. ↑ Elona, Jules (March 8, 2024). "Is Wuthering Waves a gacha game? Here's what you can expect". ONE Esports. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  7. ↑ Ravi, Sinha (May 17, 2024). "Wuthering Waves – Everything You Need to Know". GamingBolt. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  8. ↑ Rodriguez, Jason (May 23, 2024). "Wuthering Waves guide: 15 tips to know before you play". Epic Games. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  9. ↑ Santos, Marc (January 3, 2025). "How to Unlock Flight in Wuthering Waves". Game Rant. Archived from the original on January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  10. ↑ Sarkar, Supratim (August 28, 2025). "Wuthering Waves 2.6 Patch Notes: New characters, area, and more". Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on September 7, 2025. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  11. ↑ Jain, Sanyam (December 27, 2025). "How To Get, Use, And Uprade The Expedition Motorbike In WuWa". TheGamer. Archived from the original on December 27, 2025. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  12. 1 2 Orr, Brett Michael (May 23, 2024). "Wuthering Waves Review: Genshin-Like, But No Genshin-Love". Anime Corner. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  13. ↑ Dean, Grace (May 28, 2024). "Wuthering Waves Resonator Intro and Outro Skills explained". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  14. ↑ Game8 "Tune Break Explained: Tune Strain vs Tune Rupture". December 27, 2025.
  15. ↑ Hyeon, Namil (December 28, 2024). "명조: 워더링 웨이브, 이제 겨우 '시작' 이다". ThisIsGame (in Korean). Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  16. ↑ Romano, Sal (May 27, 2025). "Wuthering Waves gameplay trailer – open-world action RPG from Punishing: Gray Raven studio Kuro Game". Gematsu. Archived from the original on February 17, 2025. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  17. ↑ Romano, Sal (March 29, 2024). "Wuthering Waves launches May 22". Gematsu. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  18. ↑ Lada, Jenni (May 20, 2024). "Wuthering Waves Launch Trailer and Mac Store Release Shared". Siliconera. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  19. ↑ Vargas, Diana (March 21, 2025). "Wuthering Waves Confirms Steam Release Date". Game Rant. Archived from the original on March 21, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  20. ↑ Killmurray, Conor (January 3, 2025). "Award-Winning Open-World Action RPG Has Arrived On The PlayStation 5". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 8, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  21. ↑ Neely, Amber (March 27, 2025). "'Wuthering Waves' and 'Control Ultimate Edition' now available on Mac". AppleInsider. Archived from the original on November 27, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  22. ↑ Romano, Sal (March 26, 2026). "Wuthering Waves coming to Xbox Series in July". Gematsu. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  23. 1 2 "iOS (iPhone/iPad) Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  24. 1 2 "PC Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on February 21, 2025. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  25. 1 2 "PS5 Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on February 20, 2025. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  26. 1 2 "Wuthering Waves Reviews". OpenCritic. May 22, 2024. Archived from the original on April 4, 2025. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  27. ↑ Romano, Sal (January 22, 2025). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1883". Gematsu. Archived from the original on January 22, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  28. ↑ Reyes, Jess (June 8, 2024). "Wuthering Waves Review". IGN. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Wuthering Waves : Plus beau que Genshin Impact, ce concurrent a-t-il de quoi faire de l'ombre au du roi du gacha ?". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). June 1, 2024. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  30. ↑ Zamora, Gabriel (January 13, 2025). "Wuthering Waves Review". PCMag. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  31. ↑ Walton, Shaun (November 15, 2024). "Wuthering Waves review – 'One of the best mobile games I have played'". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on July 19, 2025. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  32. ↑ Miller, Des (July 19, 2025). "Wuthering Waves is a fantastic game and one of the best current gachas from a gameplay standpoint". RPGFan. Archived from the original on December 14, 2025. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  33. ↑ Sinha, Ravi (January 9, 2025). "Wuthering Waves (PS5) Review – Riding High". GamingBolt. Archived from the original on December 9, 2025. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  34. 1 2 3 Mohan, Aaryanshi (May 30, 2024). "Wuthering Waves Player Count: How many people are playing". Esports News Gaming. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  35. 1 2 Alice, Holly (May 30, 2024). "Wuthering Waves review – why have one good gacha when you can have two". Pocket Tactics. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  36. 1 2 Chakrabarti, Sanmay (June 3, 2024). "Wuthering Waves Review: A Combat Juggernaut in Gacha Gaming". Beebom. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
  37. ↑ Busby, James (May 24, 2024). "Tectone praises Wuthering Waves saying it has 'the best gameplay in any gacha'". Dexerto. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  38. ↑ Liu, Stephanie (May 24, 2024). "Wuthering Waves Bug Lets You Access Future Content Early". Siliconera. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  39. ↑ Gose, Lance (May 24, 2024). "Wuthering Waves Trick Lets You Unlock New Characters Early". Game Rant. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  40. ↑ Makar, Connor (May 24, 2024). "Wuthering Waves players have been testing an unreleased character by changing the date on their devices". VG247. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  41. ↑ Black, Grace (May 31, 2024). "Wuthering Waves: How to Fix Lag & Framerate Issues". Game Rant. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  42. ↑ Constable, Tyler (May 23, 2024). "Wuthering Waves: How to fix Fatal Error bug". Dexerto. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  43. ↑ Nightingale, Ed (May 24, 2024). "Wuthering Waves developer apologises for launch issues". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  44. ↑ Borges, Franklin Bellone (May 29, 2024). "How to fix delayed audio in Wuthering Waves cutscenes: Audio delay solution". Destructoid. Archived from the original on December 26, 2024.
  45. ↑ Zhu, Shelby (September 16, 2025). "Interview with Tencent Senior Vice President Steven Ma : 'My understanding of the gaming industry cycle is getting longer.'". CGames. Archived from the original on December 12, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Tencent 2024 Annual Report" (PDF). Tencent. 2025. page 5, Chairman's Statement, footnote 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 4, 2026. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards 2024 winners revealed". Pocket Gamer. August 20, 2024. Archived from the original on January 8, 2026. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  48. ↑ "《鸣潮》获"银河奖最佳科幻游戏奖", "科不科幻"国内外玩家吵翻天" [Wuthering Waves won the Galaxy Award for Best Sci-Fi Game, and gamers at home and abroad are up in arms about whether it's sci-fi or not]. GameLook (in Chinese). September 30, 2024. Archived from the original on November 21, 2025. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  49. ↑ Moore, Bo (December 12, 2024). "The Game Award 2024 Winners: The Full List". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  50. ↑ "TapTap Game Awards 2024 ― Winners". GameLook (in Chinese). September 30, 2024. Archived from the original on November 29, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  51. ↑ "Sensor Tower APAC Awards 2024 ― Winners". SensorTower. February 18, 2025. Archived from the original on November 26, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  52. ↑ Welsh, Oli (January 10, 2025). "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a GOTY front-runner at the DICE Awards". Polygon. Archived from the original on February 6, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  53. ↑ "28th Annual DICE Awards Results". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on February 15, 2025. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  54. ↑ Weber, Rachel (December 12, 2025). "The Game Awards 2025 Winners: The Full List". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 12, 2025. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  55. ↑ "Google Play's best apps, books and games of 2025". Google Blog. Archived from the original on December 28, 2025. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  56. ↑ "2025 HMMA Nominations". Hollywood Music In Media Awards. Archived from the original on December 30, 2025. Retrieved November 22, 2025.
  57. ↑ Kobari, Sachie (December 3, 2025). "PlayStation Partner Awards 2025 Japan/Asia winners announced". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  58. ↑ 巴哈姆特 (January 29, 2026). "【TpGS 26】GAME STAR 遊戲之星得獎名單揭曉 《鳴潮》包辦三大金獎" [【TpGS 26】GAME STAR Award Winners Announced – 'Wuthering Waves' Sweeps Three Gold Awards]. 巴哈姆特電玩資訊站 (in Chinese). Retrieved February 1, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  59. ↑ Franzese, Tomas (July 18, 2026). "Wuthering Waves is getting an anime as its developer enters the animation space". Polygon.
[edit]
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