Pantheon Rise of the Fallen is an MMORPG that was imagined by Brad McQuaid, the mastermind behind Vanguard. Unfortunately, McQuaid died in 2019, aged just 51, and so the game dragged on and almost seemed to have failed. But from 2023, the production team suddenly put its foot down, banking on new graphics, a seasonal model and pushing for an early access release.
Pantheon launches with 80% positive reviews on Steam
The MMORPG appeared in early access on Steam in mid-December 2024 and anyone could then buy it for around 39 euros. The game had 4,200 players connected simultaneously on December 29, 2024 (the highest peak yet). The first days of release, the game struggled, but the number of players is still increasing.
On Steam, we find some reviews:
- Don’t expect “modern WoW” from Pantheon – it’s more of a game for people who prefer Classic WoW.
- The MMORPG plays like a modern Everquest, but it’s still in Early Access, but it’s enjoyable to play. This is often the limitation: “For an indie game in early access, it’s not bad.”
- Fans of the game point out how well Pantheon “captures the feeling of Everquest circa the year 2000” – a lot depends on a good group. They keep emphasizing that it’s a “classic MMORPG”.
An old-fashioned MMO?
“Old MMORPG” also means that there are some penalty mechanisms: a player explains, for example, that what annoys him the most is thatyou lose your inventory when you die. The game invites you to explore, but then punishes you if you take the wrong turn, with a high-level mob.
- Another Steam user said: “The game is too grindy and you spend a lot of time looking for a group.”
In fact, you have to approach the game with the right expectations: it is a heart project of a small team who wants to make an “old school MMORPG” which is aimed at a certain group of players. Those expecting the next WoW will certainly be disappointed. For those who have old friends, know what they’re getting into, and are true old-school “MMORPG fans”, we can perhaps recommend Pantheon with some reservations.
It should be noted, however, that the entire project has certainly not developed as optimally over the last ten years as its founder, now deceased, wished. Over the past few years and months, the team has made the most of a difficult situation. And the results on Steam are now encouraging.
