Arcane set the bar high for a video game adaptation with its compelling take on League of Legends' lore, specifically focusing on Zaun and Piltover. The only downside of getting deep into Arcane's lore is that fans can't experience the same adventure in League of Legends, which is primarily a MOBA and not an immersive RPG or MMO.
It's been proven that Arcane's massive success didn't attract new League of Legends players. It's likely that fans aren't interested in investing time on the MOBA format, especially if they have to either grind a battle pass or spend real money to obtain Arcane-related skins for Champions. It also doesn't help that League of Legends has a reputation for being a toxic game due to its highly competitive nature. If Arcane fans are still looking for a game that could replicate the magicpunk vibe, though, developer Nuverse Games has a new MMO for them: Crystal of Atlan.
Arcane Season 2 Will Be a Farewell, But League of Legends Can Make it Less Definitive
Although Riot Games and Fortiche Production have declared Arcane Season 2 the final season, this statement doesn't have to be set in stone.
Crystal of Atlan Brings Together Magic and Technology
Arcane's major plot point is how magic intertwines with technology and science, and the effects of it on the citizens and leaders of Piltover and Zaun. Throughout the series, the struggle for this power is evident, usually seen in how Jayce attempts to use magic to modernize Piltover's technology; and how Viktor wields the Arcane to create an ideal world. The exciting story paired with the heart-pumping action, which was masterfully animated by Fortiche, makes Arcane an unforgettable show that both League of Legends fans and people who've never played the game should experience at least once.
But, as mentioned, League of Legends is far from what Arcane is because it's not a story-based RPG. This is what the new free-to-play game Crystal of Atlan brings as a magicpunk MMO action RPG that, like Arcane, combines magic and machinery in its gameplay and story. Players start by choosing from Crystal of Atlan's five core classes, which branch out to other subclasses as they level up their character. Whether players prefer close-range melee attacks, long-range damage, or magic spells, there's a class for every play style.
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Class |
Subclasses |
|---|---|
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Swordsman |
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Musketeer |
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Fighter |
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Magister |
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Puppeteer |
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Set in the floating world of Atlan, Crystal of Atlan revolves around various factions that are vying to obtain a mysterious artifact with boundless magical energy. With powerful weapons and technologies at their disposal, select heroes have to work together to confront these powerful factions, as well as monsters, and uncover the secrets of Atlan in order to restore peace to the world. This is very similar to Arcane in that many characters benefit from and want a piece of Hextech magic to achieve their goals.
In terms of gameplay, Crystal of Atlan doesn't limit players to dungeon-crawling in order to gather materials to upgrade their character and craft better gear. Instead, they jump into stages to complete individual and cooperative challenges, promising a rewarding progression system that allows players to tailor-fit their builds based on various strategies.
Crystal of Atlan's combat is reminiscent of games like Tales of Arise and Persona 5 Strikers, which are party-based slashers featuring characters with different abilities that can target enemies' weaknesses. In some ways, Genshin Impact fans can also feel a sense of familiarity with the gameplay thanks to its dynamic attacks and vibrant graphics while on the battlefield. Crystal of Atlan is also a gacha game, but instead of playable characters, players can pull for skins, pets, and titles to help make their unit stronger.
In a world that's saturated with all kinds of gacha games, Crystal of Atlan stands out with its magicpunk themes and MMO mechanics that allow players to build their characters however they want. Nuverse Games is expected to release more content in the future, so players will have even more ground to cover when they explore Atlan.
- Released
- October 30, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Nuverse
- Publisher(s)
- Nuverse
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- PC Release Date
- October 30, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, MMO
