Tarisland has been out for a week, and I’ve been deep in its world, progressing multiple characters, completing content, and striving to become a top tank. The game offers a fun and progressive PvE endgame along with minimal but enjoyable PvP. But as I stepped back to reflect, I couldn’t help but ask: is Tarisland the best mobile MMORPG ever made? Let’s dive in.

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Tarisland had one of the smoothest MMORPG launches I’ve ever seen. No queues, no performance issues—seriously, it was like they hired a team of wizards to make this happen! Unlike other launches that feel like you’re trying to get into a nightclub on New Year’s Eve, Tarisland welcomed us all with open arms. And that’s just the beginning.

Day 1 queues reached up to 4,000 players, but the wait was only five minutes. Since then, there have been no queues or login issues at all. The overall feeling about the launch has been overwhelmingly positive, with praise for the seamless experience and smooth gameplay right from the start.

There’s so much to do at the start in Tarisland. From dungeons and crafting to PvP, fishing and zone exploration, the game keeps you busy. And let’s not forget the universal hall, raids, challenge modes and daily and weekly tasks. It feels like there’s always something new to dive into.

While the story starts off interesting, it loses momentum in the later stages, likely because it’s slowly released day by day. Additionally, the cutscenes and dialogue often don’t sync well—a problem that’s persisted since the closed beta over a year ago and still hasn’t been fixed. The voices get cut off by the cutscenes moving too quickly, and the dialogue doesn’t match the subtitles, which can be quite distracting.

The learning curve is gentle enough for new players to get the hang of things quickly, yet offers enough complexity to keep veterans interested. The game’s UI is intuitive and user-friendly, making navigation and management of tasks a breeze. Daily progress is designed to keep you from grinding through content too quickly, ensuring there’s always something new to do each day.

PvE is where Tarisland truly shines. The raids are intense, and the challenge modes will keep you on your toes. Each raid and dungeon comes with its own unique mechanics and bosses, providing fresh challenges and requiring strategic thinking. This gets scaled up with additional mechanics for each difficulty level.

Challenge modes for raids and dungeons significantly increase the difficulty, even though they are very close to the original content. The Library of Chaos, for example, is the easiest dungeon but becomes a real challenge in higher modes. The Arcane Realm reworks dungeons by adding new affixes, making them feel fresh even though it’s the same content.

The drip-fed approach to releasing content, especially raids, makes it exciting when new content is released. The anticipation is high, but on the flip side, it becomes clear that there’s minimal new content as you keep clearing it. It’s just the same few things rehashed with increased difficulty. The overland areas are fairly small and uninspiring. There are many things to collect, but it’s not that fun to do. The overland possesses no threat whatsoever, and there’s not much to do aside from the reputation events once you’ve picked everything up. However, having a rotating variety of activities like world bosses, dark invasion, and the amusement park helps to break things up and extend the journey.

Playing with a guild and friends is a blast, especially when you’re strategizing for those world-first clears or tackling the challenge dungeons. But solo players might find it a bit… slow. Especially when your AI NPC teammates move at the pace of a snail on vacation. Don’t let that discourage you! The variety in PvE activities—from standard dungeons, raids and universal hall to the unique effects of the Arcane Realm—keeps things interesting. The simplicity of the mechanics makes it accessible, yet challenging enough to keep veterans engaged.

I’ve joined a very serious guild, and in these early stages, pushing for clears, world firsts, and high scores is a prominent part of the game. This makes it exciting when new raids are released and delayed content keeps the anticipation high. The downside is, doing this content as a solo player can be quite painful. Even though much of the PvE content consists of simple mechanics, people still struggle to manage them. One good aspect of some of the easier PvE is that if you queue up and no one else joins, you’ll get NPCs to help you. However, these NPCs don’t sprint and sometimes the NPC tank tries to play group mechanics and moves the boss around, which can be frustrating.

PvP in Tarisland is surprisingly fun, even for someone like me who usually avoids it. The modes are fast-paced and engaging, offering a thrilling experience for all players. One of the coolest aspects is that your PvP skills are specifically tailored for these battles. Switching from tank to DPS and seeing how your ultimate skills adapt for PvP is a game-changer, making each battle fresh and exciting.

The battlegrounds offer various modes such as King of the Hill, Siege, and Convoy, each providing a unique twist to the gameplay. PvP in Tarisland feels competitive but not draining, allowing you to see progress based on your efforts. Additionally, the 3v3 arenas are incredibly fast-paced, and with no potions allowed, it becomes a straight fight to the death, adding to the intensity.

However, here’s the twist—PvP is only available at certain times. Want to PvP with your friends on a Saturday night? Too bad, the game has decided you need some ‘anticipation.’ This time-restricted availability creates a competitive rush during those windows but can be a bummer if you miss the timing.

One thing to constantly remember is that this is also a mobile game. If I played this exclusively on my phone, then it’s a whole different ballgame. The level of detail and content is actually pretty impressive for a mobile MMO. The combat is somewhat basic with very few ability options, but the details really lie in the stats, talents, and inscribe system where you gain a vast amount of your strength.

Combat does require some timing but it’s not complicated. You can even use the assist features, which will auto-cast skills by spamming the first skill. This removes some of the engaging elements of combat to accommodate mobile players. Auto-walking features are also a part of Tarisland, making it easier for mobile players to navigate the world without having to constantly control their character. While these aids are great for casual play, they do remove some of the depth and engagement hardcore players might seek.

Additionally, when you buy a season pass, cosmetic, or practically anything, it’s only available on one character. It’s as if your characters are on separate accounts since you can’t switch items between them. All drops, obtained skins, and items are individually character-owned, and some things can’t be obtained again on another character on the same account. This can be quite frustrating if you want to try different characters or playstyles.

Locking content at certain times can be both exciting and frustrating. Need to craft something but the market’s closed? Tough luck. This can be particularly annoying for players with unconventional schedules. Still, it does add a layer of strategy—planning your playtime around these windows can make the game feel more dynamic.

PvP is available at certain times each day. Market access is only available during the day, giving you some time to get those rare items but tough luck if you need stuff late at night. Maximizing your playtime involves completing other tasks during downtime, like gathering resources or completing solo quests. Locking content like PvP at night is a genius move to build anticipation, but it can be annoying if the timing doesn’t suit you. Similarly, having to wait for the market to open can be frustrating when you need something urgently.

Tarisland is visually very nice, especially for a mobile game. The graphics and performance are top-notch. The world feels alive, and the character build customization options are pretty solid, although character creation is extremely limited.

Performance-wise, the game runs smoothly, even in high-action scenes. Whether you’re battling in a raid or wandering through serene landscapes, the experience is seamless. The weather effects and lighting in Tarisland are particularly great, adding to the immersive experience. The game performs well on both mobile devices and PC, maintaining high frame rates and smooth transitions. Players can also customize graphical settings to optimize performance based on their device capabilities. Overall performance has been great, with minimal lag or technical issues.

One of the best parts of Tarisland is its community. Joining a guild and participating in social activities adds a whole new layer of fun. Whether it’s teaming up for a raid or just hanging out, the social features are a big plus. The camaraderie and teamwork in guilds make the game more enjoyable and engaging.

In-game events also keep things lively. These events are a great way to earn rewards and show off your skills. Guild activities range from weekly raids to social gatherings, creating a sense of belonging and teamwork. The overall tone of the Tarisland community is friendly and welcoming, making it easy for new players to find groups and make friends.

Tarisland is one of the best mobile MMORPGs out there. It’s free-to-play, so definitely give it a shot! But remember, its future success hinges on how the game continues to develop and how frequently new content is released. The game’s accessibility and variety of content make it perfect for casual players, but it might not satisfy hardcore MMO grinders for long. The developers will need to keep up with regular updates to retain the player base.

Should you play Tarisland? Absolutely! It’s free, not a huge time investment, and while it’s not overly complicated, it’s a fun MMORPG with a lot of potential.