Whether someone prefers playing on PC via Steam or consoles like Xbox and PlayStation, there is always the hunt for your next game. Most Steam and console gamers all have one thing in common, in that regard, and that’s loving great games that stand out from the crowd. Especially n the world of live-service offerings, it’s extra hard to grab a gamer’s attention. Live-service fatigue is real, and a lot of games that fall under that umbrella fail to gain serious longevity.
However, there is one live-service title from the past few years that has managed to hold onto a solid following despite not being in as big of a spotlight as games like Destiny 2 and Fortnite. Off the Grid takes the cyber-fueled dystopia of Cyberpunk 2077, the action-packed gameplay of Apex Legends, and blends it together with some of ARC Raiders‘ extraction elements. It’s a unique balance that could easily feel like it’s a mere copy and paste, but Off the Grid stands on its own.
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Like many of the most popular live-service games of the past decade, Off the Grid is free-to-play. Gamers who want to give it a try really have nothing to lose by testing it out. Off the Grid takes place in a dystopian future where normal people are chosen for a televised battle royale contest where they are given cybernetic enhancements and have to fight to the death while citizens watch like it’s a major sporting event. The general premise centered around cyber upgrades and a dystopian world is bound to remind a lot of gamers of Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City, but all the action and violence is being broadcast to the masses this time around.
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Off the Grid Uses Apex Legends’ Fast-Paced Action to Tell a New Brutal Story
This extraction-fueled battle royale game takes note of Apex Legends‘ abilities and gives them a big twist. Instead of being locked in with one ability set during a match, Off the Grid allows players to change their abilities on the fly during a session. This is done through scavenging the cyberlimbs of dead opponents.
Fans of Apex Legends will also likely be drawn to Off the Grid‘s smooth combat. The fast-paced nature of the game combined with the focus on looting cyberlimbs on the battlefield make it a dynamic and grueling experience. Many live-service titles that have tried to recapture Apex Legends‘ gameplay have fallen flat, but Off the Grid might be the closest. You’ll no doubt see abilities that remind you of Apex‘s characters, like Caustic’s gas as one example.
Off the Grid is available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Fans of Dystopian Worlds Need to Add Off the Grid to Their Gaming Rotation
Off the Grid‘s world itself is one of the game’s biggest selling points. If games about corrupt megacorporations and the abuse of power are things that interest you, then Off the Grid definitely checks those boxes. Both Cyberpunk 2077 and ARC Raiders showcase different predictions for a dystopian future. Off the Grid‘s version of a corrupt, tech-ruled society is just as unique. In Off the Grid‘s world, a technology called Regen is invented. It allows people to regenerate limbs and be brought back from the dead. This technology immediately inspires a group of billion-dollar gaming companies to come together and purchase the rights to it and create a televised battle royale spectacle. Regen is a fun twist on Cyberpunk 2077‘s cyber upgrades, and the fight for survival will likely resonate with ARC Raiders players.
Gamers who love strong world building and narrative depth might also be interested in Off the Grid. The game is a satire about the rapidly evolving role that tech plays in our lives while also poking some fun at streamer culture. Off the Grid‘s world and overarching story were crafted by director Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium, Chappie). So, fans of Neill Blomkamp movies and how he examines technology will possibly get even more out of Off the Grid.
Each match is split between 60 players in 20 teams of three where the main goal is to collect Hexes and make it out with them alive. Hexes are in-game items that can be used to upgrade a player’s character. Cyberlimbs are considered Hexes, but that isn’t all. Other helpful tools like weapon upgrades are also considered Hexes. Off the Grid‘s take on extraction shooter games may be different than ARC Raiders, but the more intense nature of the former may be a fun change of pace for the latter’s players.
Developer Gunzilla Games Uses Crypto and NFTs
It’s important to note that this part of Off the Grid is completely optional. Crypto and NFTs definitely aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but gamers who are interested in the technology might be intrigued by how Gunzilla Games uses it to build a larger community. Off the Grid features an in-game marketplace that is fully run by the player base. Every item extracted in a match can be traded on the live market as an NFT. Using NFTs in video games has been controversial, but Off the Grid at least offers the choice to sidestep this part of the experience.
The live market’s in-game currency is called the GUN Token and is Gunzilla Games’ own crypto.
Off the Grid may not be the best live-service option for everyone, but it’s a solid addition to the constantly growing sea of titles in this space. While the age of battle royale games seems to be coming to an end, the rise of extraction shooters could keep Off the Grid going longer than it would have if it just stuck to a run-of-the-mill battle royale formula. Gamers who have been searching for a new free-to-play game that has compelling world building, fast-paced and intense action, cyber-focused elements, and strong extraction gameplay might want to take a leap and see what Off the Grid is all about.
- Released
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August 10, 2024
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Cash Rewards, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Developer(s)
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Gunzilla Games
- Publisher(s)
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Gunzilla Games
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5
