Wuthering Waves (Chinese: 鸣潮; pinyin: Míng Cháo; meaning "Sound Tide") is a free-to-play open world game released in 2024. It was created and published by Kuro Games. The game was first announced on March 23, 2022. It was inspired by Death Stranding and aims to show a post-apocalyptic world where players can explore the mix of old and new civilizations. The game's combat system was influenced by Punishing: Gray Raven, and its echo system was inspired by the Pokémon games. Wuthering Waves is similar to games like Genshin Impact but focuses more on its combat features. It was released for Android, iOS, and Windows devices on May 23, 2024 (May 22 in the United States). Later, it became available for PlayStation 5 in January 2025, macOS in March 2025, and Xbox Series X/S in July 2026.

Gameplay

Wuthering Waves takes place in a large, open world. The player controls the main character, Rover, and teams up with allies called Resonators. These allies are divided into two categories based on rarity: 4-star and 5-star. The final challenges in the game include combat modes where players use characters to complete difficult tasks.

The game uses a gacha system with special banners called Convenes. These banners let players obtain Resonators and weapons. There are three types of Convenes: novice, event, and standard. Event Convenes are temporary and offer exclusive characters or weapons that are only available for a limited time. They rotate with each game update. A pity system ensures players will receive a 5-star item after a set number of attempts.

The game’s world, called Solaris-3, allows players to explore freely. Movement mechanics let players sprint across open areas without using stamina, though stamina is used during combat, wall-running, or climbing. Other movement options include climbing walls with a grappling hook, dodging or parrying mid-air, and gliding from high places.

Major updates added region-specific movement features. In Version 2.0, the Rinascita region introduced a flight module with a stamina system for aerial movement, such as flying upward, diving, and using Ultra Flight Boost. This feature was later added to parts of Huanglong, including Jinzhou and the Black Shores. In Version 3.0, the Lahai-Roi region received the Expedition Motorbike, a vehicle that allows fast travel, obstacle-jumping with an energy system, adaptive grappling, and limited autopilot on specific routes.

The combat system includes Intro and Outro skills. Intro skills activate when characters enter combat, and Outro skills activate when characters leave combat. Both skills also trigger when switching characters. In December 2025, a new combat feature was added. After attacking enemies multiple times, they enter a special state. During this state, players can use Tune Break to deal damage and stop the enemy’s attack.

Resonators can collect and equip Echoes by defeating enemies in the open world or in areas called Tacet Fields, completing quests, or joining events. Echoes give temporary abilities that transform characters into monsters or boost their health and damage.

Characters

• Youhu ( 釉瑚 ; Yòuhú )
• Baizhi ( 白芷 ; Báizhǐ )
• Changli ( 长离 ; Chánglí )
• Chixia ( 炽霞 ; Chìxiá ) / Ma Xiaofang ( 马小芳 ; Mǎ Xiǎofāng )
• Danjin ( 丹瑾 ; Dānjǐn )
• Geshu Lin ( 哥舒临 ; Gēshūlín )
• Jianxin ( 鉴心 ; Jiànxīn )
• Jinhsi ( 今汐 ; Jīnxī )
• Jiyan ( 忌炎 ; Jìyán )
• Lingyang ( 凌阳 ; Língyáng )
• Sanhua ( 散华 ; Sǎnhuá )
• Taoqi ( 桃祈 ; Táoqí )
• Xiangli Yao ( 相里要 ; Xiànglǐ Yào )
• Yangyang ( 秧秧 ; Yāngyāng )
• Yinlin ( 吟霖 ; Yínlín )
• Yuanwu ( 渊武 ; Yuānwǔ )
• Zhezhi ( 折枝 ; Zhézhī )
• Qiuyuan ( 仇远 ; Chóuyuǎn )
• Lumi ( 灯灯 ; Dēngdēng )
• Calcharo ( 卡卡罗 ; Kǎkǎluó )
• Cantarella Fisalia ( 坎特蕾拉·翡萨烈 ; Kǎntèlěilā Fěisàliè )
• Carlotta Montelli ( 珂莱塔·莫塔里 ; Kēláitǎ Mòtǎlǐ )
• Cartethyia ( 卡提希娅 ; Kǎtíxīyà ) also known as Fleurdelys ( 芙露德莉斯 ; Fúlùdélìsī )
• Ciaccona Toccata ( 夏空 ; Xiàkōng )
• Phoebe Marino ( 菲比 ; Fēibǐ )
• Roccia ( 洛可可 ; Luòkěkě )
• Tern Brant ( 布兰特 ; Bùlántè )
• Zani ( 赞妮 ; Zànnī )
• Augusta ( 奥古斯塔 ; Àogǔsītǎ )
• Iuno ( 尤诺 ; Yóunuò )
• Lupa Silva ( 露帕 ; Lùpà )
• Aemeath ( 爱弥斯 ; Àimísī ) / Fleet Snowfluff ( 飞行雪绒 ; Fēixíng Xuě Róng )
• Luuk Herssen ( 陆•赫斯 ; Lù Hèsī )
• Lynae ( 琳奈 ; Línnài )
• Mornye ( 莫宁 ; Mòníng )
• Lucilla ( 洛瑟菈 ; Luòsèlā )
• Sigrika ( 西格莉卡 ; Xīgélìkǎ )
• Hiyuki ( 绯雪 ; Fēixuě )
• Rover ( 漂泊者 ; Piāobózhě )
• Aalto ( 秋水 ; Qiūshuǐ )
• Buling ( 卜灵 ; Bǔlíng )
• Camellya ( 椿 ; Chūn )
• Chisa Kuchiba ( 千咲 ; Qiānxiào )
• Encore ( 安可 ; Ānkě )
• Galbrena ( 嘉贝莉娜 ; Jiābèilìnà ) / Angel ( 安吉尔 ; Ānjí'ěr )
• The Shorekeeper ( 守岸人 ; Shǒuànrén )
• Schwarzloch ( 斯瓦茨洛 ; Sīwǎcíluò )
• Cristoforo ( 克里斯托弗 ; Kèlǐsītuōfú )
• Phrolo

Plot

The game is set in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world called Solaris-3. A major disaster known as the Lament destroyed most of humanity in Solaris-3 and caused strange creatures and monsters, called Tacet Discords, to appear. Over many years, Solaris-3 experienced several Laments, including smaller ones in different areas. People learned to survive and eventually rebuilt their society. Solaris-3 is divided into regions, with at least three nations in the game: Huanglong, which includes seven cities protected by supernatural beings called Sentinels; Rinascita, a group of cities with their own leaders; and Lahai-Roi, an underground tribal nation that is home to a highly advanced machine called Exostrider.

The story follows the Rover, a person who has forgotten their past and wakes up after a long sleep to explore this new world. The player controls the Rover, choosing either a male or female version as the main character. Soon after, the Rover is joined by a companion named Abby, a small, floating cat-like creature that communicates with others as they travel to learn about their past and origins. In the game, the Rover leads a group called Black Shores, which works to fight enemies known as Threnodians and Tacet Discords that threaten Solaris-3.

The main enemies in the game are the Fractsidus, a secret group that wants to cause the next and final Lament, called the True Lament. They believe the Lament is not a disaster but a necessary step to help humanity improve across Solaris-3. Because of their beliefs, the Fractsidus have carried out attacks of different sizes in many parts of Solaris-3.

The game’s story follows the Rover as they slowly uncover their past and origins while traveling across the world. Along the way, they meet allies and enemies, and their choices affect the story throughout the game.

The prologue of the game takes place near Jinzhou, an area outside the main part of the nation of Huanglong.

Chapter 1 of the game is set in Jinzhou, an area outside the main part of the nation of Huanglong.

Chapter 2 of the game takes place in the nation of Rinascita.

Chapter 3 of the game takes place in the nation of Lahai-Roi and the Roya Frostlands.

Development

Wuthering Waves is created by Kuro Games, a studio based in Guangzhou. The game is directed by Solon Lee. It was first shown to the public in May 2022 with movie-like trailers and short preview videos. The game was announced for iOS devices on March 25, 2024.

The game had two closed beta tests, with the second one ending in March 2024. After the first beta test, the story was changed significantly because players said it felt "uncomfortable."

On March 29, 2024, it was announced that Wuthering Waves would be released on iOS, Android, and PC through the Epic Games Store in late May. In May 2024, it was announced that the game would later be available on the Mac App Store. On March 21, 2025, it was announced that the game would be released on Steam on April 29, 2025.

The PlayStation 5 version of the game was released on January 2, 2025, with version 2.0. The Mac version was released on March 27, 2025. A version for Xbox Series X/S is planned for July 2026.

Reception

According to review website Metacritic, the game Wuthering Waves received "mixed or average" reviews for the iOS and Windows versions, and "generally favorable" reviews for the PlayStation 5 version. According to OpenCritic, 80% of critics recommended the game.

Wuthering Waves had over 30 million pre-registered users from more than 100 regions. It launched with mixed reactions, with some players giving positive feedback. Some players noted problems during the launch, while others praised the game for having "the best gameplay" among gacha games. In its first week, it became the most downloaded game in 100 regions. Some players accessed unreleased content by changing their device's clock settings. Other issues included animation errors, such as problems with character movement. Players who tried to launch the game through the Epic Games store saw a message that read "Fatal Error," and guides were later shared to help fix this.

At the same time, critics noted that the game’s generous rewards in Lustrous Tides currency helped balance these issues. On May 23, 2024, Kuro Games apologized to players and promised in-game rewards as compensation for the game’s problems. When patch 1.0.19 was released on May 29, a new bug caused the game’s audio to become delayed or disappear completely. Guides were later shared to address both bugs.

Despite the initial challenges, critics and players praised Wuthering Waves for its "refreshing" combat system, open world, movement mechanics, and "forgiving" gacha system.

Anniversary rewards are not meeting player expectations.

In a September 2025 interview at Gamescom, Tencent senior vice president Steven Ma highlighted the game’s continued success, stating that Wuthering Waves was one of only six new titles from the previous year to meet Tencent’s internal "Evergreen Game Revenue Line" benchmark. Ma listed the six games as Zenless Zone Zero, Wuthering Waves, Love and Deepspace, Helldivers 2, Black Myth: Wukong, and Delta Force.

Ma explained that Tencent tracks about 70 global games that meet strict criteria for long-term success. These criteria include meeting specific player and revenue goals (such as having more than 5 million mobile players or 2 million PC players each quarter, and earning over RMB 4 billion or about $550–600 million annually). About 5 to 6 games are removed from this list each year. This recognition from Tencent shows that Wuthering Waves has achieved long-term commercial success in a competitive market dominated by live-service and gacha games.