HoYo's Nodusfall: Co-op Monster Hunter rival

HoYo's upcoming free-to-play co-op action game Nodusfall pits squads against mythical beasts. The dark fantasy title, lacking a release date but speculated for 2028, breaks from the developer's anime and gacha traditions.

HoYo, the developer behind Genshin Impact, has revealed Nodusfall, a free-to-play co-op action game. The title, which currently has no solid release date or even a release year, tasks players with hunting corrupted legendary creatures across a dark fantasy continent.

The game represents a significant stylistic pivot for the studio. The reveal trailer showcases a world of golden hills, fiery skies, dreary moors, misty forests, dusty deserts, and gargantuan canyons, drawing inevitable comparisons to Elden Ring and Monster Hunter.

Release date and beta speculation

Nodusfall does not have a confirmed release window. HoYo typically announces dates only before a final round of beta testing. Based on the developer's pattern of three open betas before launch, speculation points to a potential 2028 release. This timeline considers the upcoming release of Petit Planet this winter and Honkai: Nexus Anima, which seems set for 2027 after its second open beta.

Prospective players can currently pre-register on the official Nodusfall site and answer a questionnaire for possible future beta selection. The site confirms this is for upcoming tests, not one currently active.

Gameplay and setting

Breaking from HoYo's single-player teambuilding formula, Nodusfall is a squad-based game. Players take the role of a "Weaver," a divinely enlightened being fighting to restore order to a continent corrupted by the "Dreadnodi." Gameplay involves picking a character, building a loadout, and cooperating with up to three other players to defeat difficult bosses for resources.

PC Gamer's Fraser Brown, who played the game, stated it is "not remotely a soulslike" but a closer relative to Monster Hunter. He described "lengthy, elaborate fights with multiple phases" and praised a "clash mechanic" for countering monster attacks.

The game's official site claims players can "switch roles and loadouts at will," suggesting flexibility not locked to one character per account. Key reported gameplay differences from similar titles include powerful "Divine Skills" collected from bosses, finishing blow cinematics when an enemy weakness is revealed, an emphasis on squad variety akin to an MMO, and a PvP mode where players can control a boss.

Monetization and gacha

HoYo has confirmed there is no character gacha in Nodusfall. All characters are obtained by playing the story. The developer stated that cosmetic monetization is "an important avenue" it will consider for the game. While it may incorporate RNG pulls for exclusive cosmetics or special gear, the report clarifies Nodusfall is not a gacha game in the traditional sense.

The source indicates the story aims for a mature tone, a departure from HoYo's frequent shifts to wisecracking anime moments. The world draws inspiration from various real-life cultures and mythologies, with more regions planned for post-release updates.

Source: PC Gamer