Highguard, the Co-op Shooter for Horse Lovers. Tired of the same generic shooters where only the fastest reflex matters?

Imagine a battlefield where your best ally is not just a weapon, but a war steed. What if the next big innovation in shooters came galloping?

Highguard is not just another title of the bunch; It is a risky and brave bet that fuses the freneticism of a shooter with the strategy and bond of horseback mounts.

We unravel why this game, despite its flaws, has captured the attention of players looking for something genuinely different, and why lovers of horses, video games, and tactics should give it a try.

A Different War Cry: Highguard co-op shooter for horse lovers

The world of shooter video games is at a crossroads. The saturation of nearly identical titles has created a collective yearning for fresh experiences.

In this context, Highguard emerges not with a whisper, but with the rumble of hooves against the earth.

This game represents a fascinating fusion of genres: it takes the precise aim of a competitive shooter, the base strategy of a siege game and, in a bold move, incorporates a layer of tactical-emotional depth through the mounts.

They are not just a cosmetic vehicle; are the beating heart of its gameplay.

This article is aimed at you, a player who values cooperation, strategy over brute force and, above all, you, enthusiasts of worlds where bonding with a martial animal can change the course of battle.

What’s Highguard, the co-op shooter for horse lovers, about?

Highguard is a free-to-play first-person shooter (FPS) video game, with a strong focus on cooperative and competitive team mode (PvP).

Developed by Wildlight Entertainment, it transports us to “Cumbrescarcha”, a mysterious fantasy continent where players take on the role of “Guardians”.

These warriors not only master firearms and assault tools, but also arcane powers inherited from a magical era.

The central premise revolves around three-player squads that must fortify their base, venture across a vast map to collect resources, and eventually assault and destroy the opposing team’s fortress.

It’s a constant cycle of defense and attack, where planning and tactical execution are just as vital as having good aim.

The Mechanics of Frames: The Heart of Innovation

This is where Highguard splits waters and directly attracts the eye of horse lovers. The mounts (which in its universe include creatures such as bears and, of course, battle steeds) are the innovative element that completely redefines the shooter experience. It’s not a button to “transport” faster; They are a comprehensive tactical tool:

• Strategic Mobility: Controlling the map is key. Galloping allows you to respond quickly to threats, outflank enemy positions, or escape with valuable loot. Territory is won with speed and presence.
• Dynamic Combat: As some reviews point out, the image of “shooting an AK-47 from the back of a bear” captures the essence of the fun and unique mayhem it offers. The mounted combat adds a layer of skill and spectacularity.
• Gameplay Core: The mount is indispensable in the gathering phase and, crucially, in the transport of the “Shield Breaker”, the sacred item that allows the final assault to begin. Protecting the wearer and their mount becomes the main tactical objective.

For the player who appreciates horses, this mechanic transcends the utilitarian. Introduce a tactical link with your mode of transportation, where its survival and positioning can mean victory or defeat.

Key Features and Details of Highguard, the co-op shooter about horses

To understand the full Highguard co-op shooter proposition, it’s essential to look beyond horse:

• Pure Cooperative (3v3): It is designed from the ground up for teamwork. Communication to coordinate assaults, defenses, and the use of skills is not only recommended, but mandatory to succeed.
• Progression and Customization: During the game, resources are sought to upgrade weapons, armor and, significantly, mounts (better harness, armor for the steed). Outside of it, a seasonal system with free Battle Passes promises new Guardians, maps, and equipment.
• Dynamic Bases: You do not defend a generic point. You must repair walls, set traps, and prepare your fortress for the inevitable siege, adding an almost strategic “player versus environment” (PvE) layer in the build-up.
• Skills and Classes: Each Guardian has a unique skill kit (support, assault, defense) that complement each other, furthering the strategic composition of the squad.

The Main Game Cycle (Step by Step)

The magic of Highguard comes from how it assembles all its pieces into a clear and addictive game cycle. We can break it down into specific phases:

1. Phase 1 – Preparation and Gathering: Your squad chooses a base and quickly reinforces it. Then, you mount and go out to the open map. Here, galloping, you loot resources, open chests, and upgrade your gear. It’s a race against the other team to get the best advantages.
2. Phase 2 – The Storm and the Shield Breaker: A Mamaphic event triggers a magical storm. At its center, the key to victory appears: the “Shield Breaker” sword. Both teams fight fiercely for it in a central and chaotic clash.
3. Phase 3 – Transport and Pursuit: The team that obtains the sword must carry it, on horseback or on foot, to the enemy base. It is a phase of maximum tension, where the carrying team defends and the attacker tries to knock it down to steal it.
4. Phase 4 – Assault and Victory: Upon reaching the opposing base, the sword is used to knock down their protective shield and summon an assault tower. Then begins the final assault to plant bombs in the generators or destroy the core (“Anchor Stone”). The defense becomes desperate. Destroying all targets grants victory.

Receiving the Game as a Shooter: What Do the Critics Say?

Highguard’s critical reception has been mixed at best with flashes of genuine enthusiasm. Sites like Metacritic reflect an average (Metascore around 65/100) where praise and warnings are balanced.

On the one hand, its innovation and creativity are unreservedly praised, describing it as a “unique proposition” and a “highly creative game concept” that moves away from the derivative. The gunplay base (the shooting feel) is frequently praised as “sharp” and satisfying, with a solid base. However…

Innovation vs. Innovation Areas for Improvement: A Detailed Contrast

Critical analysis is a perfect mirror of the two sides of the Highguard coin. For a potential player, understanding this contrast is vital:}

Innovation (The strengths):

• Mounts as a tactical core, not as an ornament.
• 3-phase game cycle that avoids monotony.
• Bold fusion of genres (shooter + strategy + fantasy).

Areas of Critical Improvement (Weakness):

• Optimization and performance on PC, with frame drops and poor textures.
• Lack of content at launch (few maps, modes).
• Uneven rhythm, with phases of “preparation” that may feel slow.
• Systems (shooting, construction, mounts) that sometimes feel disconnected from each other.

The consensus is that it’s a diamond in the rough or a “solid foundation for something bigger,” but that it needs polishing work and more content to reach its potential.

What played against it? Marketing, Gender and Identity

The launch of Highguard did not happen in a vacuum, and several external factors influenced its initial reception:

• Announcement and Expectations: Its reveal at the Game Awards, a high-profile event, generated great expectations that a new studio game in an “early” state could hardly meet immediately.
• Genre Saturation: The free-to-play PvP shooter market is fiercely competitive (Apex Legends, Valorant, Overwatch 2). Standing out requires not only being good, but being exceptional and polished from day one.
• Lack of Clarity of Identity: For the general public, the mixture of shooting, mounted construction and fantasy could be confusing. Is it a hardcore shooter? A strategy game? This lack of a clear marketing “hook” made it difficult to engage a massive audience from the start. In addition, the generic designs of the characters played against developing their own identity, within the sea of cooperative shooters on the market.

A Journey That Is Just Beginning at a Gallop

Highguard isn’t the perfect shooter. It suffers from the typical problems of a “game as a service” at launch: limited content, technical problems and an identity to polish. However, for a specific niche of gamers. Especially those who love horses, cooperative strategy and experiences that prioritize tactics over pure reflection.

Highguard stands for something extraordinarily valuable: genuine innovation. The mechanics of the mounts are not a gimmick; It’s the backbone of a fresh and exciting way to play.

If the studio, Wildlight Entertainment, remains committed to updates, listens to constructive criticism, and expands on content, Highguard has the potential to evolve from a promising curiosity to a cult title and go-to for those looking for something different in the crowded world of shooters. The adventure in Highguard, for those who dare to ride, has just begun.