Cozy Free Open-World RPG Lands On PC To Rave 87% Review Score

It’s shaping up to be a generous week when it comes to the arrival of new free-to-play games.

On PlayStation 5 and PC, gamers are diving into the open-world Neverness to Everness, a free title that’s been unofficially dubbed as ‘Anime GTA VI’.

Over on Steam, you can now also enjoy yet another free open-world RPG in the form of Farlight Games’ AFK Journey.

Set within the enchanted world of Esperia, AFK Journey is one for the cosy gamers as it sees you step into the shoes of Merlin.

Players will “explore a beautifully illustrated storybook world”. There’s exploration and “strategic card battles” in what looks to be a fairly comprehensive experience.

There are over 1,000 recruits that characters can add to their “deck” or team within AFK Journey with devs advising that “power isn’t everything”.

“It's possible to defeat stronger opponents with your wit and strategy.”

You’ll be able to form a team of heroes taken from across six classes, positioning them on the battlefield as you strategise your way to victory; faction buffs and making use of terrain are some factors that may help you.

AFK Journey Previously Launched on Mobile and PC, But Not Steam

Equipment and levels are shared across all of your heroes so you won't have to grind to upgrade all 1,000 characters.

That means that you can freely switch up your team to try something new.

Outside of battle, players will explore a charming fairytale world from a top-down perspective.

“Roam through forests and mountains, using vines and tree stumps to bridge waterfalls and rivers as you take in the stunning scenery,” the game teases.

“Along the way, enjoy a range of interactive experiences, such as petting stray cats on the streets, going ice-skating, and having snowball fights... Every moment is full of surprises!”

Farlight Games

As a live-service game, AFK Journey does feature microtransactions so that’s always worth keeping in mind before you dive in.

It doesn’t appear to have put players off, however, as AFK Journey is sitting at a ‘Very Positive’ score on Steam at 87%, correct at the time of writing.

“This is genuinely one of the only gacha games I ever play. Most of them are kind of boring to me but AFK Journey just has a certain charm that pulls me in. For me it's the art style and character design,” wrote one player.

“Amazing game. It’s a perfect choice if you’re after a relaxing game with an interesting story,” added another.

If the name AFK Journey rings a bell, that’s because the game has been out for some time but previously only on mobile and its own PC launcher.

This simply marks the game’s long-awaited arrival on Steam which should make it accessible to even more players.

A larger player base is always a good thing because it means that devs are far more likely to keep supporting the game with new content.

READ MORE: GTA 6 Free Alternative Lands on PS5 and PC To 5-Star Reviews