Like Zelda, but an MMO? Here's why so many gamers are trying this free demo

The demo for ArcheAge Chronicles was released on September 19 and surpassed 20,000 concurrent players that same day, according to SteamDB. The new MMO temporarily climbed to third place on the SteamDB trending charts. Part of the reason the game is attracting so much attention is that it isn't actually all that new. ArcheAge Chronicles is based on the original ArcheAge, which launched in South Korea in 2013 and Europe in 2014.

However, that can hardly be the only reason for all the attention. After all, its predecessor never surpassed 7,000 concurrent players on Steam and had barely been played in recent times, as SteamDB data shows. In terms of gameplay, though, ArcheAge Chronicles aims to be fundamentally different from the original. In an interview with gaming publication Massively Overpowered, developer XLGAMES explained that Chronicles is intended to be a blend of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and the original ArcheAge – a combination that has likely caught the interest of many players. The timing is also favorable, with Steam Next Fest currently drawing plenty of attention to demos of upcoming games.

A traditional MMO with Zelda-style gameplay?

ArcheAge Chronicles takes players back to the fantasy world of Auroria, around 50 years after the events of the original ArcheAge. There, a new story awaits, with signs of an impending betrayal already emerging. The basic structure is that of a typical MMO: Players explore the world, complete quests, fight monsters and team up with others to venture into dungeons. Instead of sending players from one quest marker to the next, XLGAMES wants to create a fantasy world that encourages independent exploration and rewards curiosity – much like Zelda. The combat system isn't entirely typical of an MMO either. There's no tab-targeting like in World of Warcraft. Instead, combat revolves around direct attacks, combos and precisely timed dodges.

It's difficult to judge at this point whether ArcheAge Chronicles will live up to its promises. However, the game doesn't seem to be running entirely smoothly just yet. In the comments under the official demo trailer on YouTube, some players criticize sluggish movement, clunky controls and technical issues. There are positive reactions as well. Anyone who wants to form their own opinion can try the demo for free on Steam until October 26. It includes two to three hours of story content and four classes to choose from: Warrior, Ranger, Berserker and Mage. Unlike the network test in September, this version also includes PvP and a dungeon. According to Steam, the game is expected to enter Early Access "soon."

For more gameplay footage, the official trailer is worth checking out: