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Lost Ark

Lost Ark

Smilegate RPG · released Feb 11, 2022

ActionAdventureMassively MultiplayerRPGFree To Play

Embark on an odyssey for the Lost Ark in a vast, vibrant world: explore new lands, seek out lost treasures, and test yourself in thrilling action combat in this action-packed free-to-play RPG.

Steam page ↗OpenCritic ↗
64
VGC Score
■Stablehigh confidence

anchored at patch: “June Team Update” (2mo ago)

69%
At launch
70%
Steam all-time
82%
Press
45%
Player sentiment
50%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

What players say

Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 300 sampled Steam reviews (137 positive / 163 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.

What positive reviews talk about

  • Story & writing20% mention it
  • Combat15% mention it
  • Progression & loot12% mention it
  • Grind & repetition11% mention it
  • Monetization9% mention it

What negative reviews complain about

  • Story & writing23% mention it
  • Combat14% mention it
  • Progression & loot14% mention it
  • Grind & repetition11% mention it
  • Monetization10% mention it

Satisfaction by hours played

Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.

Under 5h

22%

50 reviews

5-15h

38%

34 reviews

15-40h

54%

41 reviews

40-100h

67%

27 reviews

100h+

49%

148 reviews

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)–8239
All-time Steam reviews70%671308
Metacritic user ratings––0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)50%52453
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jun 26, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 453 total reviews in window · weighted 132.4 up / 133.1 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (43)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 85
    GRYOnline.plGRYOnline.pl
    trust 75Feb 8, 2022

    “Lost Ark is a good game that gets better over time. There should be enough content for everyone, but it all comes down to how Amazon will manage this game in the future. I’m sure that Lost Ark will be popular, and its very accessible gameplay model should attract new players to join the fight.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    Gamer EscapeGamer Escape
    trust 72Feb 8, 2022

    “Visible effort went into nearly every avenue of the game, making it an easy recommendation even if it doesn’t bring much innovation to the space. The quality of the combat and the variety of content on offer elevates this ARPG experience to be a cut above the rest. The only thing you can stand to lose in trying out Lost Ark is time, and even in a gaming landscape defined by competition for said time, it’s absolutely worth giving a gander.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    PC InvasionPC Invasion
    trust 69Feb 8, 2022

    “If you want an MMORPG that respects the time of casual players, while also giving hardcore players plenty of content to keep them busy, then Lost Ark is worth considering. It's combat is wonderfully fun. The story is entertaining and packed with epic moments. Plus, there is a wide variety to the endgame content, including equalized arena PvP.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    LevelUpLevelUp
    trust 69Feb 24, 2022

    “Dragged down by a dated and boring campaign, Lost Ark is saved by an engaging and visually attractive combat system. Although it has payed elements, it's a good choice for an MMO with tons of content.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    GameWatcherGameWatcher
    trust 69Feb 8, 2022

    “With so many studios trying to hit the coveted MMO market, one thing is clear if you want to succeed - your game has to be unique. You can make up for tonnes of mistakes if you can just carve out a market for it. Although it has its own issues of identity - with a Diablo-like fighting system and enough extra activities to feel full - Lost Ark is a game that I'm looking forward to seeing grow.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    PCMagPCMag
    trust 68Feb 8, 2022

    “Lost Ark is a fantastic, free-to-play MMORPG that features exciting combat, attractive visuals, and a seemingly endless endgame.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    Tom's GuideTom's Guide
    trust 68Feb 8, 2022

    “Lost Ark is a Korean MMO action RPG, in the vein of Diablo or Path of Exile. It features a beautiful world and engaging gameplay, but it's held back by clunky animations, mediocre voice acting and an unoriginal story.”

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    EurogamerEurogamer
    trust 66Feb 28, 2022

    “Action-packed dungeons make Lost Ark's early stages a real romp, but without a convincing hook beyond the combat, things get a little stale.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    GameSpotGameSpot
    trust 66Feb 24, 2022

    “Excellent combat and an engaging endgame are undercut by Lost Ark's archaic MMO quest design and emphasis on microtransactions.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    GameGrinGameGrin
    trust 65Feb 8, 2022

    “A massive time sink which needs an entire rainforest of sticks to shake at. Just grab it and jump in.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    Niche GamerNiche Gamer
    trust 64Feb 13, 2022

    “Lost Ark tries to be an MMO however and features a shared world (with multiple “channels”, similar to WoW's controversial “shards”). But with a limited amount of NPCs and resources at any given time this is probably for the best. For a free to play game, the graphics are fairly good for an action RPG.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    We Got This CoveredWe Got This Covered
    trust 64Feb 8, 2022

    “As with any MMO, Lost Ark is tricky to review on release. The most I can say is I enjoyed the mindless questing, beautiful locales, and great game feel. I can't speak on the endgame, but the fact that I'm excited to jump back in on launch day to do it all again with friends is a pretty good sign for now.”

    read full review ↗

…and 31 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. An Update on Lost Ark in the West
    Aug 12, 2026
  2. The Bitter Cold — August Update
    Aug 11, 2026
  3. June Team Update
    Jun 26, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  4. March Team Update - Part 2
    Mar 12, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  5. March Team Update
    Mar 2, 2026
  6. Team Update - Heading Toward March
    Feb 13, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  7. Hell Key Team Update
    Feb 6, 2026
  8. Team Update - Heading Toward February
    Jan 23, 2026
  9. Team Update - Balance Patches
    Dec 24, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  10. Kazeros The First After Race Update
    Dec 17, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  11. Kazeros The First Update
    Dec 2, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  12. Team Update - Progression Events
    Nov 11, 2025
  13. Team Update - 10/28
    Oct 28, 2025
  14. Region Merge Update
    Oct 21, 2025
  15. Team Update - Kazeros Release Plans
    Oct 17, 2025
  16. October Team Update
    Oct 8, 2025
  17. Team Update - Account Related Adjustments
    Sep 23, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  18. Team Update - September 2025
    Sep 15, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  19. Team Update - August 2025
    Aug 11, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  20. Team Update - July Update Commentary
    Jul 22, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  21. Team Update - Awaiting Paradise
    Jul 18, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  22. Team Update - July 2025
    Jul 10, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  23. June Update Release Notes
    Jun 24, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  24. Team Update - Summer LOA ON & Roadmap News
    Jun 21, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  25. Team Update - June 2025
    Jun 2, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  26. Abyssal Assault Update Arrives May 21
    May 20, 2025
  27. Team Update - May 2025
    May 17, 2025
  28. April 2025 Update
    Apr 22, 2025
  29. Team Update - Recent Ban Waves
    Mar 24, 2025
  30. Call of the Wildsoul — The February Update
    Feb 25, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  31. Team Update - Upcoming Events & Policies
    Feb 17, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  32. January 2025 Update - Frosty Fate
    Jan 21, 2025
  33. Patch Notes With Henry: Frosty Fate
    Jan 21, 2025
  34. December Winter Soloist Patch Notes
    Dec 18, 2024
  35. Lost Ark 2025 Roadmap - Part 1
    Dec 15, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  36. Eye on Arkesia - December 2024
    Dec 10, 2024