Stunning open-world RPG Where Winds Meet locks launch date, and it's not far off

I'll be real with you, I love a good gacha game. Maybe it's the gameplay, maybe it's my dopamine-deprived brain clamoring for a morsel of the good stuff one pull at a time. Whether it's delving into HoYo's expansive library, flying around Renascita in Wuthering Waves, or impatiently waiting for Bokuto's banner to arrive in Haikyu Fly High, I'm never far from one. When Where Winds Meet was announced, I knew I was in trouble. It's very much a new-age Chinese RPG in the same vein as WuWa, with Wuxia flair to boot. Even though parts of it felt quite busy in the playtest, the overall package has the substance to match the big hitters. As Gamescom kicks off, developer Everstone Studio has announced that we won't have to wait much longer, as Where Winds Meet is launching this November.

Set during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of Chinese history, Where Winds Meet has already proved popular beyond its homeland. Last month, its final closed playtest was expanded to 30,000 players due to high demand for a spot. It could very well be one of the year's best free games, and my time with the beta only reaffirmed that belief. Its combat has a slick flow to it, while its scale is incredibly impressive; the urban region of Kaifeng alone is home to over 10,000 NPCs.

That being said, Where Winds Meet won't be for everyone. PK took the playtest for a spin and had his grumbles, including on-screen clutter and an overabundance of currencies that are poorly explained. I agree, there is a lot going on, which will likely make it unapproachable for those new to these kinds of games. PK isn't a gacha connoisseur like yours truly, but he did sign off his Where Winds Meet preview with an acknowledgement that it is "a capable, beautiful action soulslike with the standard free-to-play weights attached."

In the new trailer above, we see our customized hero utilize various weapon styles, taking on a giant koi fish and a scythe-wielding boss that would absolutely love Linkin Park if they got reverse-isekai'd. Most importantly, there's that all-important Where Winds Meet release date stamped onto the end.

Where Winds Meet will launch on November 17, 2025. You can wishlist it on Steam ahead of time here.

In the meantime, check out more of the best gacha games and best open-world games you can play right now. And if you're super excited about WWM, hop into our community Discord server and let us know.