I Fell In Love With Highguard And Now It's Gone Forever - Kotaku

"The things that turned some players off about the game were precisely what kept me sticking around. Highguard is slow to play, confusing to understand, and, broadly speaking, pretty devoid of swagger. But that lack of spark, that zestless-ness, ended up making Highguard my perfect late-night chillout with bros."

"I've taken to thinking of it as the gaming equivalent of my go-to light/cheap beer (Yuengling, PRB, Narragansett). It's familiar. There's no big investment. It takes the edge off and I can play a couple of extra rounds without feeling hungover the next day from overly sweaty defeats."

"It's weird to love a game that ends up disappearing so quickly and under such messy and toxic circumstances. The vibes surrounding Highguard were rancid from the jump. But the vibes in the PS5 party chat where I played with two close friends were terrific as we enjoyed some of my favorite multiplayer moments of the last year."

Highguard, Wildlight Entertainment's multiplayer shooter, closed permanently after just three months, earning comparisons to Concord as a failed live-service game. Despite initial skepticism and toxic community vibes, the game became a favorite for late-night casual play with friends. Its slow pace, confusing mechanics, and lack of flashiness—qualities that deterred many players—created the perfect low-stakes environment for relaxed multiplayer sessions. The game featured distinctive elements including a looting phase, hero characters like Condor and Una, and mounted movement options. The author found Highguard comparable to a casual light beer: familiar, unpretentious, and ideal for extended play without competitive stress.

Read at Kotaku