As the mighty FF14 and World of Warcraft continue to duke it out, lots of other MMORPGs are stepping up to the plate, and South Korea is one of the leading players, bringing us the likes of NCSoft’s Throne and Liberty and Smilegate’s Lost Ark. Now, Norse mythology MMO Odin: Valhalla Rising is preparing to join the global lineup, as Kakao Games confirms its worldwide launch date for April. You won’t have long to wait, then, and you can even pre-register right now to secure your character name and server ahead of release.
Developed by Lionheart Studios, Odin: Valhalla Rising adapts the iconic expanse of Norse mythology into a vast open-world MMORPG. Until now, it’s only been available to play in Korea and select Asian regions, but it’ll soon be making its way to a global audience. The full release is scheduled for Tuesday April 29, but if you pre-register now you can claim a range of early rewards, while also ensuring you get the character name you want on day one.
The free PC game features seamless open-world exploration, promising “no loading screens outside of dungeons,” and also supports crossplay with mobile devices so you can take your game on the go. It’s already racked up more than 17 million players in Asia, but the global launch will include upgraded character and environment assets, as well as UI improvements.
At launch, there are four classes to choose from. Warriors are melee fighters that protect their allies and control the battlefield, with the option to advance into a more defensively focused Defender tank or opt for a hybrid Berserker blending offense and defense. Rogues offer raw DPS, and can become either ranged Snipers or close-combat Assassins.
Sorceresses bring magic to the table with the ability to specialize in the likes of burst damage, crowd control, or summoning as Archmages or Dark Wizards. Rounding out the list are Priests, who can go all-in on healing as a Saint or become versatile defensive tanks themselves with the Paladin specialization. Lionheart also notes that it plans to introduce more classes after the global launch.
Odin’s biggest-spectacle encounters come via its 30-on-30 Battle of Valhalla fights, but there’s plenty more besides. From all the standard MMO staples such as group dungeons and raids to large-scale co-op encounters, expect a wide range of activities to choose from.
Lionheart has also included an ‘autoplay’ that functions as a convenient tool to help with some more basic activities, although it’s quick to note that success in Odin will still require you to be hands-on. Every class has unique skills that must be manually activated, many quests will require you to manually navigate to find your objectives without the use of autopathing, and boss battles will unleash dangerous attacks that you’ll need to dodge.
Odin: Valhalla Rising will launch globally Tuesday April 29 on PC and mobile devices. You can pre-register now to claim your preferred name and a server spot, along with some bonus rewards including a limited-edition, Viking-themed avatar and mount.
If you’re always on the lookout for new MMOs, we’ve picked out the ones you’ll want to try first, along with a broader look at the best multiplayer games on PC in 2025.
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