Hunter’s Arena: Legends

Hunter’s Arena: Legends is a fantasy-themed online action game developed and published by Mantisco Co., Ltd., blending MMORPG, action RPG, and Battle Royale elements in both solo and party-based modes. Set in a mythic world filled with warriors, spirits, and divine beings, players take on the role of hunters vying for supremacy across various competitive arenas. Featuring a third-person perspective with direct control, the game launched on PC and PlayStation platforms in 2020 and 2021, offering intense combat, unique character classes, and dynamic environments. Despite its short commercial lifespan—with service ending in 2022—the title laid the groundwork for a future entry in the franchise set to explore the extraction genre.

Hunter’s Arena: Legends: Review

Introduction

Hunter’s Arena: Legends was a bold attempt to fuse the battle royale genre with MMORPG and action RPG elements. Launched in 2021, it promised fast-paced melee combat, a rich Eastern mythological setting, and unique game modes. However, it quickly became a cautionary tale of genre-blending gone awry, ultimately being shut down in October 2025. This review delves into the game’s complex history, exploring what went right and the many things that didn’t.

Development History & Context

Developed by Mantisco, the studio behind earlier hunting games like Hunter’s Trophy (2011), Legends aimed to build upon their experience with action combat and multiplayer dynamics. The game entered early access in July 2020, with the full release following in August 2021. Built using Unreal Engine 4, it faced the daunting task of distinguishing itself in an overcrowded market dominated by established titles like Fortnite and Apex Legends.

The technological constraints of the era, includingCross-Platform development for PC, PS4, and PS5, posed significant challenges. Performance issues were evident in early builds, particularly on older hardware. The team worked tirelessly to patch and optimize, but some players still experienced transcation rendering problems.

The gaming landscape in 2021 was saturated with battle royale experiences, making it hard for Legends to stand out. Its attempt to merge MOBA strategy, RPG progression, and action combat was ahead of its time, but ultimately didn’t execute well enough to attract a dedicated player base.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Set in an ancient Asian realm haunted by demons, the story of Legends revolved around competing hunters vying to become the last one standing. Characters like Wukong (inspired by the Monkey King) and Yoongeon (dual-wielder) blended mythological elements with fantasy tropes. The Shinto, Chinese, and Korean influences created a rich visual tapestry.

The narrative was thin, serving as a backdrop rather than a driving force. Overlaying the genre conventions of survival in a chaotic world, themes of greed, survival, and honor were subtly present. However, the lack of a deep storyline meant that players were more focused on the mechanics than the lore.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

At the core of Legends was a blend of exploration, combat, and character progression. The game modes included Solo (30 players), Trio (teams of three), and Tag Match (one-on-one duels). Players started by dropping into a vast map, which then began to shrink over time.

Key gameplay mechanics included:
– Aerial combos and fluid movement for dynamic engagements
– Skill-based abilities with cooldowns and energy requirements
– Equipment looting from chests, vendors, and defeated enemies
– Character leveling through experience points
– Microtransactions for cosmetics, characters, and currency

The combat system, while visually impressive, suffered from several flaws. Camera controls could be finicky, making it hard to track targets in a frenzied melee. Lock-on targeting was inconsistent, often allowing opponents to break it easily. The balance between ranged and melee fighters was never fully resolved, with ranged characters often dominating in 1v1 scenarios.

The user interface displayed essential information like health, stamina, and equipment status. However, it could feel cluttered, especially during heated battles. The progression was primarily through in-match leveling and gear collection, but the long-term meta revolved around character unlocks and cosmetics.

World-Building, Art & Sound

The game’s world was a mix of frozen tundras, lush forests, and sandy ruins, each offering distinct environments. The design included vertical elements like cliffs and buildings, but sometimes lacked interactive objects. The Eastern-inspired landscapes evoked ancient mythologies, but the map’s structure didn’t encourage varied tactics as intended.

Character art was a highlight, with detailed designs and animations. Each hunter had unique skins and weapons, though they were often tied to premium microtransactions. Visual effects during combat, like particle effects and screen shakes, added to the intensity but could be taxing on lower-end hardware.

The audio design featured voice acting for all characters, but lines were often repetitive and lacking personality. The background music was generic, failing to enhance the tense atmosphere. Environmental sounds like wind and battle cries occasionally broke the monotony but weren’t enough to fully immerse players.

Reception & Legacy

Hunter’s Arena: Legends received mixed to negative reviews. On Metacritic, it had a user score of 2.3/10, while OpenCritic reported an average of 57% from critics. Common complaints included:
-Technical issues (crashes, frame rate drops)
-Shallow gameplay with repetitive mechanics
-Overwhelming microtransactions affecting character availability
-Unbalanced character kit power
-Poor endgame experience with non-existent strategy in final circles

Despite initial support through patches and a battle pass, the player base dwindled, and the servers were shut down in October 2025. Its legacy is mixed—while it innovated in genre fusion, its execution wasn’t sufficient to overcome market competition. It influenced other battle royale games to explore melee combat more deeply, but its own failings along the way left it as a cautionary tale.

Conclusion

Hunter’s Arena: Legends was a bold but flawed attempt at reinventing the battle royale genre. Its blend of action and RPG elements created a unique vision that failed to captivate audiences. Technical shortcomings, unbalanced gameplay, and aggressive microtransactions combined to tarnish its reputation. While it has a niche place in video game history for its experimentation, it stands as a reminder of the dangers of trying to merge disparate genres without refining the experience.