Shards of War

Shards of War was an online multiplayer game in the ARTS/MOBA genre. It ran between 13th October 2014 and 30th June 2016. Most likely it never left its beta status.

The game is played between two teams of five players. True to the core concept of the genre players each control a hero, here called a Sentinel, and fight on a map with different lanes. There is a constant tug-of-war to put pressure in the lanes through drones, turrets and warriors controlled through the AI with the ultimate goal to destroy the enemy headquarters pushing back the opposing team far enough and dominating lanes. The environments contain mobs (robots) that can be defeated to gain support in the combat, usually through minions that fight along.

Compared to other games in the genre matches are generally shorter (about twenty minutes), with shorter lanes and there is direct control of the Sentinels instead of point-and-click actions. The game has a futuristic theme as a clash between parallel Earths and sentinels can define loadouts before starting a game. During matches additional missions can be completed for currency or special chests. These chests contain items used to craft materials and items that can be used in the loadouts. Players do not level up individually in a game, but as a team. When a team reaches a certain level specific items tied to that level become available. Gear is also tied to team levels.