Paladins
IGDB
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About Paladins
Paladins is a free-to-play fantasy shooter released by Hi-Rez Studios in May 2017. The title launched on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Mac after a long development cycle that began with Evil Mojo Games creating the core vision. Players take control of legendary Champions who wield both firearms and magic spells in team-based combat. The game features over 50 unique characters ranging from sharpshooting humans to mech-riding goblins and jetpack-clad dragons. You customize your loadout by choosing specific abilities and cards that define your playstyle. This setup allows for deep strategic planning before every match begins. It remains a popular choice for groups looking for accessible but skill-heavy multiplayer action without an upfront cost.
Gameplay
Each session drops you into 5v5 matches where the goal is to push through lanes to destroy enemy fortresses or capture points. You pick a Champion and then build your loadout by equipping four active abilities, a passive trait, and six cards that grant bonuses like extra health or damage reduction. The combat feels fast because you combine shooting mechanics with magical dashes, shields, and area-of-effect spells. Matches typically last between 15 and 20 minutes as teams trade kills and rotate through objectives. You might play as a healer keeping teammates alive while sniping from range or dive in as a fighter to disrupt enemy lines. Co-op modes let you practice against bots to test new builds before jumping into ranked queues. The controls are tight, requiring precise timing when dodging incoming fire while landing your own shots.
What Players Think
The PlayPile community has logged over 25 million players for this title since launch. Critics and users alike seem split on the final product, with IGDB listing a score of 75.3 out of 100 based on 271 ratings. Average playtime sits around 45 hours per user, suggesting many stick with it despite the competitive nature. Community mood data shows mixed feelings, with 60% of recent reviews highlighting the variety of Champions as a major plus. However, 35% of users express frustration regarding balance changes and the free-to-play monetization system. Review snippets often praise the gunplay mechanics but complain about long queue times for lower skill brackets. The sheer number of active players keeps matchmaking fast, yet retention rates drop slightly after the first month as players chase specific rewards.
PlayPile's Take
This game is worth your time if you enjoy shooters that require building custom loadouts and working with a team. The price is zero dollars, which removes barriers to entry for testing different Champions. You will need patience to unlock new characters and cards through gameplay or microtransactions. There are 120+ achievements tied to specific playstyles that reward consistent use of each Champion. I would not recommend this for solo players who dislike coordination or those frustrated by frequent meta shifts. The gunplay is solid, but the progression system feels grindy compared to other titles in the genre. Stick with it if you want a deep tactical shooter without buying the base game.
Game Modes
Multiplayer, Co-operative
IGDB Rating
75.3
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