Wild deal: Atmospheric hunting sim with story just $4 instead of $40 on Epic
In Way of the Hunter, players step into the shoes of a hunter, stalking prey through untouched wilderness. The focus is firmly on realism, requiring not just the right gear, but also patience and keen observation. Players follow tracks, analyze wind direction and animal behavior, and place their shots as precisely as possible. A detailed ballistics system with realistic physics and hit analysis shows exactly where your bullet landed and which organs were affected. The cleaner your shot, the better the trophies you'll earn, which can then be sold for profit or proudly displayed in your lodge. Earnings can be reinvested in better gear like camouflage or a wide range of licensed hunting weapons from brands such as Remington and Steyr Arms.
Despite its strong focus on simulation, Way of the Hunter features a surprisingly rich and emotional storyline. At the heart of the narrative is River Knox, a young man returning to his childhood home to take over his grandfather’s hunting lodge. Once a legendary figure among local hunters, his grandfather now struggles with memory loss. The campaign explores themes like family, tradition and grief, while also touching on the ethical questions surrounding hunting as a sport. The game features two expansive hunting regions, each covering roughly 55 square miles of wilderness. The Pacific Northwest offers dense pine forests, wide river valleys and rugged mountains, while Transylvania features misty swamps, open meadows and ancient deciduous woods. Way of the Hunter has been widely praised for its authentic atmosphere, with detailed visuals and immersive sound design that bring the wilderness to life.
Authentic hunting experience with uninspired rewards
Way of the Hunter was developed by Nine Rocks Games in partnership with publisher THQ Nordic and released in August 2022. At launch, the German gaming site Spielpunkt.de reviewed the hunting simulation, highlighting its realistic gameplay, immersive environments and user-friendly interface. However, the review also pointed out some drawbacks, including the limited features of the hunting lodge and a lackluster reward system. Trophies are rated on a scale from 0 to 4 stars, which feels underwhelming compared to titles like theHunter: Call of the Wild. Although no final score was given, Spielpunkt.de came to a largely positive verdict.
Since its release, over 6,000 players have shared their thoughts on Way of the Hunter on Steam, with around 80% giving it a positive review. On Metacritic, the reception has been more mixed, with a Metascore of 65 and a user score of 6.4. Much of the early criticism stemmed from technical issues at launch. However, thanks to a series of updates, the game’s performance and stability have improved significantly.
90% discount in the Epic Games Store
Way of the Hunter is usually priced at $30 on Steam and $40 in the Epic Games Store. Right now, though, it’s available in the Epic Store for just $4 thanks to a 90% discount running until April 9. The Elite Edition, which includes the Season Pass with two DLCs – featuring new weapons, animals and regions – as well as cosmetic extras, is also 90% off and costs about $5. According to SteamDB, the last time the game was offered at such a steep discount was during the recent Steam Spring Sale. At that time, the base price was still $40, meaning the 90% discount brought it down to around $4. Only afterward, on March 31, was the base price on Steam reduced permanently to $30.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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Image source: Steam
