Tower of Fantasy has already made a meteoric impact since it launched on Steam in October (and mobile earlier in the year). As we write this, the beautiful free-to-play RPG, which melds a sci-fi anime visual flair with a post-apocalyptic world, is being explored by tens of thousands of players, who continue to unravel the mysteries of Aida.
Aida is a distant planet in a distant future, laid to ruin when humanity captured a passing comet and began extracting a powerful energy source from it called Omnium (typical resource-hogging humanity). Radiation from the extraction process spread across the planet, and much of its population was wiped out. Sad story, but it makes for a great setting, as Aida is filled with all kinds of mysteries and mechanised monstrosities for you to discover and battle. The game has a fast-paced and all-action combat system in which you not only have a great arsenal of explosive moves and weapons at your disposal, but can also summon Simulacra–battle-ready manifestations of people you meet in the world.
In the few short months since its release, Tower of Fantasy has already grown immeasurably. Previous patches essentially doubled as free expansion packs, first adding the vast region of Vera to the game, and more recently opening up the Confounding Labyrinth to those who are ready for it. New bosses were introduced, new areas uncovered, and even a battle royale mode was added, letting you pit yourself against fellow adventurers.
Now, the 2.2 Mirafleur Moonshade update brings the most sweeping improvements to Aida yet.
First up, the central city-hub of Mirroria is more than doubling in size, expanding to a bustling metropolis filled with new characters, racing games, and amusement arcades that let you kick back and dive into all manner of mini-games, either solo or with other players. Play cards, go bowling, or unwind after your adventures with some live music; Mirroria is no longer just a place to check off quest givers and sell your goods, but somewhere you won't want to leave once you settle in.
Inspired as Tower of Fantasy is by ancient Chinese architecture (as well as sci-fi manga), you'll now be able to wander in Mirroria's Suzhou gardens, and even go to shows of Suzhou performance art.
But once you've recuperated and taken in all the new sights and attractions of Mirroria, it's time to get back out there. With the 2.2 patch, you'll have two new Simulacra to call upon in battle–the botanically obsessed Executor of District 7, Tian Ling, as well as the cold and mysterious Lyra, director of the Maidelin Foundation.
And high-level players will need all the help they can get, because those who have hit Level 80 can now test their mettle in the new Abyss Mode. Here, you are thrown into the Confounding Abyss, where you fight monthly instances of powerful enemies as you pursue equally powerful rewards.
A lot of MMOs are defined by their scale, cramming as many people into a shared world while still trying to maintain immersion. Tower of Fantasy defines itself as a 'shared world action-RPG,' so while there are still plenty of fellow players you can adventure with, the focus is far more around your individual experience. The world is designed for you and your Simulacra to explore–whether you wish to do that alone or alongside other people is up to you.
So brace yourselves, because the Mirafleur Moonshine update lands on December 22 (just in time for Christmas!). Tower of Fantasy is available for free on Steam, Google Play, and the App Store–with crossplay between all the platforms–and you can find download links and all other info at the official Tower of Fantasy site.
