03/04/2024 This guide is updated to reflect the addition of Shayol Wei to the Naraka: Bladepoint character roster, who was first made available at the end of January 2024.
Naraka: Bladepoint is an intriguing take on the battle royale genre. While there is plenty of familiarity and similar features between it and the likes of Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, or Apex Legends, it takes many of its rivals’ best features and merges them into a BR where melee combat and movement are at the center of the gameplay.
Though it does not have quite the widespread appeal of the competition, its unique gameplay does make it one of the best battle royale games if you’re looking for a change of pace. If you’re curious about what’s in store for you, here’s everything you should know about Naraka Bladepoint.
Naraka: Bladepoint release date
Naraka: Bladepoint was released on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, for PC players. However, it was later released on Xbox Series X|S on Thursday, June 23, 2022, and also available through Xbox Game Pass. Lastly, it launched on PS5 on Thursday, July 13, 2023.
When it was finally released on PlayStation, Naraka: Bladepoint also went free-to-play on all platforms, letting even more players enjoy its unique battle royale action.
Naraka: Bladepoint gameplay
The gameplay revolves around a melee-focused combat system, but players can go into battle with one of an ever-growing roster of individual characters that each have specific sets of abilities. While melee weapons like swords are common, there are some ranged weapons in the form of guns or bows. With your blade drawn, you have your standard attacks but you can also dodge and counter your enemy to make for a surprisingly slick melee combat system that sets Naraka: Bladepoint apart from the competition.
Unlike a lot of battle royales, you do not drop into the Naraka: Bladepoint map (more on the map in a bit), but you instead pick a grid slot before the game begins and spawn in on that point. Interestingly, you can also see which grid squares other teams are planning to spawn in on too, which adds another strategic layer.
The movement on offer is also a big factor. You can climb and hang from pretty much any surface or structure, and there’s also a grappling hook to help you get around quicker. Movement is fast and fluid, so you don’t have to worry about slow slogs across the map hunting out action.
Naraka: Bladepoint characters
These are all the characters currently available in Naraka: Bladepoint:
- Viper Ning
- Temulch
- Matari
- Tarka Ji
- Kurumi
- Tianhai
- Yoto Hime
- Valda Cui
- Yueshan
- Wuchen
- Justina Gu
- Takeda Nobutada
- Ziping Yin
- Feria Shen
- Akos Hu
- Zai Ji
- Tessa
All heroes are customisable with cosmetic items, have individual Heroic Tales (lore entries), and also have Hero Expertise, which is obtainable by completing certain challenges called Mastery Quests.
Well, that’s all you need to know to get up to speed on Naraka: Bladepoint, an incredibly unique battle royale that’s worth your time. Be warned though, there is quite a steep learning curve to get around.