Many games have tried to emulate the formula ofMonster Hunterin recent years, butDauntlesswas one of the first to do it. Developed by Vancouver-based studio Phoenix Labs,Dauntlessis a free-to-play action RPG that takes a lot of cues from Capcom’s wildly successful series. The game, which takes place in a colorful fantasy realm torn to shreds by an apocalyptic event, tasks players with the insurmountable goal of defeating the dangerous monsters, or Behemoths, that terrorize the world.Dauntlesswas originally released as an early access title in May 2018, only a few months after the debut ofMonster Hunter: World. It was then launched across all eighth-generation platforms, including PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, in 2019.
AlthoughDauntlesshas been available on PC since its initial release, it was originally an Epic Games Store exclusive, since Epic had funded and published the game on most systems. On July 20, 2025, it was finally brought to Steam alongside the newDauntless:Awakeningupdate, which overhauled many of the game’s systems. Its launch on Valve’s PC storefront, however, has been anything but successful. Currently, the game has a dismal Overwhelmingly Negative rating on Steam, denoting that only 15% of users have left positive reviews. On top of all this,Dauntless’s recent update has been lambasted by playersacross other platforms, due to what many claim are changes that have actively made the game worse.
Dauntless’s New Awakening Update is Being Heavily Criticized by Players
The New Monetization in Dauntless: Awakening Has Been Called Predatory
Perhaps the biggest issue that many fans have expressed their frustrations about isDauntless’s new monetization method. Being a free-to-play title, Phoenix Labs' action RPG has always had a sizable number of microtransactions in it, butitsAwakeningupdatemade the game far more predatory. The major patch in question increased the amount of limited-time cosmetics in the game’s battle passes, thus making them more FOMO-inducing. To make matters worse, it also added loot boxes, which players can purchase to get unique weapons from.
Loot boxes were originally present in early versions ofDauntlessas a way for players to obtain in-game cosmetics, but after feedback from fans andindustry-wide condemnation of the monetization method, they were removed in a post-launch patch sometime in 2017. At the time, John Houston, a lead developer on the RPG and a co-founder of Phoenix Labs, saidin an interview with Glixelthat the decision to get rid of loot boxes was made to give players a “clearer relationship to the content that [they’re] purchasing.” The fact that Houston was critical of loot boxes a few years ago makes their re-introduction inDauntless’s new update all the more confusing.
Fans Are Not Happy With the Removal of Various Features in Dauntless: Awakening
The questionable monetization methods inDauntless: Awakeningare just some of the many issues that players have with the game. Most users on Steam have routinely critiqued Phoenix Labs' decision to roll backDauntlessplayers' progression in the new update. The weapons that gamers acquired and the progress they made inDauntless’s main questline have largely been wiped from the game. Players have to start from scratch and spend dozens upon dozens of hours grinding for loot inthe monster-slaying RPGin order to get back what they’ve lost. Either that, or they must spend real-life cash to get the weapons they want.
The reworked weapon crafting system inDauntless: Awakeninghas also been a point of criticism. Cells, items that players could previously use to add perks to their armor sets, have been heavily nerfed. No longer can gamers mix-and-match abilitiesin order to create unique builds. Instead, they can only receive +1 bonuses when equipping additional Cells. The fact that this mechanic, along with several other systems inDauntless, have been gutted, has led many to jokingly claim that itsAwakeningupdate removed more features than it added.
Dauntless
WHERE TO PLAY
Live for the Hunt: Slay boss-size Behemoths in gripping encounters with a variety of weapons.Forge Your Legacy, Your Way: Craft unique weapons, armour, and gear and customize your Slayer to suit your playstyle. Slay Together: Team up with millions of players worldwide to topple monumental challenges. Wild Lands Above a Ruined World: Explore vibrant lands teeming with life, mystery, and danger above a long lost civilization.Evolving Gameplay: Join an exciting adventure with regular updates, diverse activities, seasonal events, and new Behemoths in a rich, ever-evolving universe.Dynamic Events: Celebrate each passing season with in-game festivities, cosmetics, and activities in a living world.
