Winds of Valen is a free role-playing game developed and published by Head Coach Games. It is designed to be an old-school MMORPG where progression, items, equipment, and skills are all earned through investing time in grinding and putting in the work. The whole journey is slow, yet very rewarding.

Winds of Valen follows the same sandbox formula as Old School Runescape. There is a vast open world that you can freely explore, filled with mysteries and monsters to slay. It also has skills and professions that you must level up to unlock new equipment and become even more powerful.

Forge your own path

Winds of Valen is a mechanically rich sandbox MMO where your progress feels earned rather than handed to you. Right from the beginning, you are free to choose your own path and set your own goals. The game plunges you into a huge, mysterious world that you can travel without any restrictions. Every landmark can be explored at your own pace.

For most players, they usually begin training up their skills, most notably professions like Mining and Smithing, which are both important for crafting and upgrading gear. Resources to train these professions are also obtained from the world. Unlike other MMO games, there are no classes here; rather, there are individual Combat Skills to train, such as Attack, Defence, and Evasion.

Fighting monsters in the world also yields special, rare drops. Monsters have unique items, and the chances to obtain them change dynamically to make it fair. Bosses in this game are no pushovers. They each have mechanics that you have to anticipate and be familiar with to take them down. These fights reward skill rather than just showing up with powerful gear.

Great if you love exploring and grinding

Overall, Winds of Valen truly respects MMO games from the past, where exploration is rewarding, and progress is earned through grinding. However, the appeal of it is only to a select few, as the grinding portion of the game is too much of a time investment for some. It’s a game for those who love discovering things on their own, not for those who need hand-holding.