Arknights: Endfield Review: A Sci-Fi Factory Adventure

Arknights: Endfield has arrived in the fierce attention economy of the gacha genre, offering a distinct blend of sci-fi exploration and mechanical automation. The game places players in the role of the Endministrator, a protagonist returning to the world after a ten-year absence and a bout of amnesia. The setting is the planet Talos-II, a wild frontier that requires taming.

Unlike titles that rely solely on lore expansion or high-octane combat, this entry introduces a mechanically moreish addition: base building. After approximately twenty hours of Endministrating, the game reveals a sticky login loop, but also a promising depth that encourages players to seek out character motives and upgrades.

The premise of Arknights: Endfield is intriguing, though its delivery is initially cumbersome. The opening narrative is exposition-heavy, characterized by awkward, stop-and-start pacing. Players must brave this dialogue-dense beginning to access the game's true potential. Once the story opens up, it delivers a captivating atmosphere that helps compensate for the rocky start.

Gameplay primarily involves adventuring with a team to hunt for resources and clear areas. The environment presents simple environmental platforming puzzles, often requiring players to find and press buttons on a small map. While not the most imaginative gameplay loop, it is set against a striking cyberpunk backdrop that makes the experience immersive.

Combat encounters feature a variety of enemies, including:

• Leather-clad marauders
• Shifting zoomorphic creatures
• Violent blobs of possessed water
• Sword-wielding bandits

These enemies display level indicators, allowing players to strategize before engaging. The visual design of the world helps sink hours into the experience despite the simplicity of the exploration mechanics.

The flashy combat quickly becomes the favorite aspect of Arknights: Endfield. Hits are delivered with vibrant visual payoff, making even mistakes look intentional. Players control a team of up to four Operators, switching between them during battle to apply button-mashing combos. The combat feels engaging in motion, with each character possessing a dodge, a light attack, and a special attack that string together nicely.

Once an enemy is knocked back, players can call in compatriots to deliver electrifying blows. The Endministrator attacks with golden sword slashes, while other characters, like Da Pan, utilize unique animations such as belly bounds and butt slams. This system creates well-choreographed combos that feel slick and responsive.

Hits are delivered with vibrant visual payoff, so much so that even my silly mistakes looked like intentional moves.

Initially, the pool of story-specific characters is limited, featuring the masked Endmin, the empathetic Perlica, and the spirited Chen Qianyu. However, players eventually earn a gacha currency to pull new characters, expanding the roster.

Outside of combat, a significant portion of time is invested in the infrastructure of the base. The game introduces a factory automation twist, allowing players to clear areas in the metagame to build and automate machinery. Unlike complex simulators such as Factorio or Satisfactory, Arknights: Endfield’s base building is much more tame, at least in the early game. Lengthy explanations from NPCs guide players through these systems.

The game features an eye-watering array of currencies to consider, a staple of the genre. Beyond the standard gacha pulling for unique characters and weapons, there is a paid Battle Pass. This pass rewards resources that can be filtered into systems to speed up progression.

Key economic elements include:

• Gacha currency for character acquisition
• Paid Battle Pass rewards
• Resources for base automation
• Progression speed-up mechanics

While the balance of these systems is hard to judge in a short timeframe, early play has not presented significant roadblocks that would necessitate spending real money.

A substantial effort has been invested in worldbuilding and character design. The character lottery system is effective in hooking players, as evidenced by the attachment to specific Operators. For instance, drawing Estella—an adorable, beanie-wearing warrior with a nonchalant attitude and stylish techwear—shifted the player's perspective on the gacha system.

Another notable character is Da Pan, a hungry panda with a leather jacket and belt combo, described as having the aura of a dad navigating a midlife crisis. The range of unique designs, combined with quippy one-liners, proves effective at tugging on heartstrings. A character's personality often shapes their movement in battle, further deepening the connection.

Alas, the range of unique designs, alongside their quippy one-liners, was effective enough to tug on my heartstrings.

While the temptation to purchase currency exists, the organic earning method allows for a satisfying experience without immediate financial investment. Developer Hypergryph has ensured that the visual and personality appeal of the characters is a primary driver of engagement.

Arknights: Endfield presents a compelling package for fans of the genre, blending familiar gacha mechanics with a fresh factory automation layer. The game's sci-fi open world offers a visually enticing backdrop for combat, which remains the standout feature due to its vibrant payoff and fluid team switching.

However, the experience is not without hurdles. The narrative starts slowly, burdened by exposition, and the sheer volume of currencies and systems can be daunting. Despite these issues, the character designs and the addictive nature of the base-building loop provide enough depth to warrant continued investment. As the game develops, the balance between free progression and paid acceleration will be the ultimate test of its longevity.