| Crystal of Atlan | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Register & Pre-Order | Review |
Crystal of Atlan is an Action MMORPG developed by Nuverse! Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
← Return to Crystal of Atlan main article
Crystal of Atlan Review Overview
What is Crystal of Atlan?
Crystal of Atlan is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online action role-playing game (MMO ARPG) developed and published by Nuverse. Following its initial release in China on July 14, 2023, the game launched globally on May 28, 2025, across PC, PlayStation 5, iOS, and Android platforms.
In a society where magic and machinery coexist, players become adventurers, confronting various factions such as the Magitech Institute, the Stavo Family, and Maxwell Industries. They must then uncover the secrets of Atlan’s fractured history and strive to restore harmony in a divided world.
Crystal of Atlan’s combat incorporates both ground and aerial moves that make use of a 3D XYZ axis for a more comprehensive range of attack angles. Players can choose from four main classes—Swordsman, Musketeer, Puppeteer, and Magister—each with two subclasses and over 20 skills. The game features cooperative multiplayer elements, including co-op dungeons and a guild fleet system, as well as competitive PvP modes such as 1v1 and 3v3 battles.
Crystal of Atlan features:
⚫︎ Multiple Classes with Deep Customization
⚫︎ Has a Magicpunk Setting
⚫︎ Smooth and Fluid Combat Controls
⚫︎ Challenging Team Battles and Social Features
⚫︎ Skill-Based PvP
⚫︎ Cross-Platform Play
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Crystal of Atlan’s gameplay and story.
 Dedicated Client |
 Epic |
||||
 App Store |
 Google Play |
||||
| Free-to-Play | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crystal of Atlan Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Smooth and Stylish Combat A Class System with a Lot of Variety PvP and PvE Content Will Have You Coming Back For More |
Restrictive Stamina System Severely Limits Daily Progression Story Pacing is Uneven F2Ps Can Expect to Look Like Everybody Else Early On |
Crystal of Atlan Overall Score - 80/100
Crystal of Atlan offers some of the most satisfying moment-to-moment action in a live-service game. Beneath its sleek surface, however, lies a fragmented narrative and a punishing stamina system that often cuts momentum short just as things get exciting. Its PvP systems and subclasses are certainly deep, but the game’s better moments are dimmed by the way the devs monetize the game. It’s an experience as exhilarating as it is exasperating, one that invites you to progress, but often makes you wait to do so.
Crystal of Atlan Story - 7/10
Your adventure begins with a really big promise, but in the current patch, it rarely capitalizes on the things its opening sets up. What unfolds instead is a sequence of seemingly disconnected arcs that are only tangentially connected to the overarching plot. Its cast is colorful and earnest, sure, but the story lacks urgency and often feels like a string of self-aware quest markers padding out playtime in an MMO. It’s still a rather decent story, but for a world on the brink, Atlan sure takes its sweet time getting anywhere.
Crystal of Atlan Gameplay - 9/10
If you’re like me, you’ll quickly fall in love with Crystal of Atlan’s smooth combat and class system, which makes every button press feel incredibly satisfying. Just don’t get your hopes up for the undercooked stealth and platforming sections. And fair warning, a restrictive energy system can put the brakes on your progression. The good news, however, is that there’s still plenty to do in the game; PvP and PvE content can tide you over until your energy refills.
Crystal of Atlan Visuals - 9/10
What immediately grabbed me about Crystal of Atlan's looks was its visual impact. Its environments and character designs aren't as visually appealing as, say, Wuthering Waves, but everything, from the characters to their abilities, at least bursts with flair. Yet, it's a little frustrating that the character customization options feel somewhat limited. There are outfits you can use to personalize your avatar, but even then, you're constantly confronted with generic subclass portraits throughout the interface. These portraits are nice to look at, sure, but they create a subtle visual disconnect that can, unfortunately, chip away at the overall immersion.
Crystal of Atlan Audio - 8/10
Crystal of Atlan delivers a decent audio experience. You'll especially notice it in combat, where sound effects give every attack and ability a sense of weight. Plus, the voice acting during those big cinematic cutscenes is really well done and pulls you into the key story points. The only real hitch is that these scenes are few and far between, so most of the time you're working in silence. It can feel a bit jarring at times, but hey, at least you can vibe to the game's music, especially the one in Rhine City's tavern.
Crystal of Atlan Value for Money - 7/10
For a free-to-play game, Crystal of Atlan is pretty neat, especially since it rewards patience and consistent play without demanding any cash. However, be warned: The stamina system is pretty aggressive, and there are a lot of pay-for-convenience options that can quickly frustrate anyone looking to progress quickly. You can ignore the optional cosmetic purchases, but there are some subtle paywalls baked into the core gameplay that might make you feel a bit constrained. Ultimately, how much value you get from Crystal of Atlan really comes down to how much you're willing to invest—both your time and your money—to see everything it has to offer.
You may also like...
|
Dune: Awakening Review | Just Needs A Bit More Spice Dune: Awakening will surely keep players preoccupied with its myriad of survival game content and gameplay encased in its vast open-world, allowing for freedom to explore the dangerous but charming world of Arrakis at your own pace. |
|
Wuthering Waves Review | Aged Liked the Finest Wine Despite a weak, clumsy prologue, Wuthering Waves quickly proves itself with a sharp, emotional story driven by an active, memorable protagonist. |
|
Lost Sword Review | Missing More Than It Says Lost Sword takes a familiar story and turns it into an unexpectedly entertaining ride through exaggerated writing and a cast full of charm. Meanwhile, the visuals and music are solid, but rough edges and shallow, practically non-existent gameplay keep it from reaching its full potential. |
|
Ex Astris Review | A Giant Leap For Console Quality Games on Mobile Ex Astris marks GRYPHLINE's debut into the realm of premium 3D gaming, and let me tell you, it's a breath of fresh air after Arknights, which, while not terrible, didn't exactly stand out visually. |
Crystal of Atlan Review: Genshin Killer? No, But It's Still Good
At first glance, Crystal of Atlan might appear to be just another fantasy action RPG in an oversaturated market. However, spending a little time within its world reveals that it’s a game distilled from the dreams of every MMORPG and mobile-action hybrid that preceded it. And it’s not shy about what it is, either. Crystal of Atlan is here to be beautiful, fast, and just convoluted enough to make you feel clever for keeping up.
Sure, its story sometimes stumbles over familiar beats, but watching characters dart through the air is fun. Each encounter is a light show of effects and combos, and it'd be a miracle to keep up with everything going on.
Crystal of Atlan was first teased to global players in 2023, a few months after its release in China. But by the time of its full global release in 2025, it had become a very different beast from the version originally announced, and in many ways, a much stronger one.
Early betas quickly gained attention from fans of the genre, especially those craving for games like Honkai Impact 3rd, Punishing: Gray Raven, or Tower of Fantasy. However, aside from its combat, it's quite different from the aforementioned games, and not just because those are gacha games while this is an MMO.
It's not quite a "Genshin Killer" either, as it lacks many of the features Tower of Fantasy or Wuthering Waves have to even be considered as one. It's more akin to RWBY fused with the monetization elements of Phantasy Star Online 2 and other East Asian MMOs. Although it looks and plays like the gacha games mentioned, in certain aspects, it feels very different.
Button-Mashing Never Felt So Right
It takes all of about ten seconds for Crystal of Atlan to flex what it does best: buttery-smooth combat that’s stylish as hell. Once you start gliding across the battlefield, chaining skills into combos, juggling enemies midair, it becomes clear that there’s a clear substance behind all the spectacle, and for all its bells and whistles, Crystal of Atlan is quite simply, a blast to play.
The moment-to-moment gameplay is where Atlan shines best. Every dodge, every combo string, every charged skill feels good, even if you're just pressing random buttons. Combat is snappy and reactive; there’s no lag between actions nor floaty inputs. Whether you’re knee-deep in PvE mob clears or locking horns in PvP, the game responds exactly how you want it to.
Part of the enjoyment comes from the distinct class system. You start with five main classes: the Puppeteer, who visually stands out by manipulating marionettes to attack; the Magister, capable of conjuring tornadoes and illusions; the Swordsman, your archetypal melee bruiser; the Musketeer, who fights from afar; and the Fighter, who delivers raw strength in close combat. Each class feels unique, and every move is full of flair.
Hitting level 15 unlocks subclasses, and suddenly your already capable character forks into two different paths. Fighters can become Cloudstriders or Starbreakers, while Puppeteers transform into Scythguards or Blademaidens. Generic Swordsmen evolve into Berserkers or Magiblades, and that's just the beginning. This pattern continues across other classes as well. Better yet, the game lets you freely swap between subclasses whenever you want within your primary class rather than locking you into a permanent path.
The possibilities with just one class are already enormous, and if the advanced content on the Chinese server is any indicator, we'll see even more classes and subclasses in the future.
Even with the content we have now, Crystal of Atlan starts to show its teeth pretty early on. Regardless of which class you choose, you’re given ten skill slots—eight for core skills and two for finishers—which means the permutations for playstyles and combo strings start to open fast.
You’ll start noticing the rhythm: a dash into a stun, a combo that pops enemies into the air, a finisher that crashes down with a thunderous visual cue. The combat’s visual language is easy to read, but it still manages to feel exciting every time you land a perfect string.
Nitpicks and More Nitpicks
I can’t say the same for the game’s stealth and platforming segments, though. These are sprinkled throughout the story mode and do little more than slow your pacing. The stealth sections in particular feel undercooked. You’ll find yourself awkwardly creeping through enemy patrols with basic AI patterns. The feedback is minimal, and the level design lacks the tension that makes stealth feel rewarding.
Platforming fares no better. It simply involves jumping from one moving block to the next. While landing feels quick during combat (which is by design), this doesn't translate well to platforming, where it often feels slippery.
These sections in the story mode are few and far between, so negligible, in fact, that it begs the question of why they were even included if they weren't going to be something more.
Now, this might also sound nitpicky, but in a title that gives you this much control over how you play, it’s a little disappointing to have so little say in how you appear, at least where it counts. The issue mainly lies with the character portraits. These portraits pop up during dialogue scenes and menus, but they’re not really personalized to your specific character. Instead, they’re default to the subclass archetype you’ve chosen.
So, if you’re playing as a Cloudstrider, for instance, you’ll get that specific portrait; switch to a Starbreaker, and the portrait swaps accordingly. And while these portraits are beautifully drawn, they’re locked to a predetermined look. The actual character you’ve created—the one you’ve dressed, styled, and dyed—essentially vanishes in any conversation.
The irony is that the in-game character models do have some individuality. After Chapter 1, you unlock options to tweak your hair, face, and outfit colors. Combine that with a wardrobe system that’s largely populated by gacha-based cosmetics and premium skins, and you can carve out a degree of personality different from other players. But unless you shell out for top-tier skins, though, most outfits will look fairly similar, and even the tweaks you can make tend to feel negligible.
Adding to the irony, classes are gender-locked, a restriction that also extends to their subclasses. For example, if you chose to be a Swordsman, you’re inherently tied to a male character model. Conversely, if you opt for the Fighter class, your character will be female. This pattern holds true across various other classes. Best be prepared to see a lot of similar looking people roaming the central hub.
A Fractured World in Decay
You’ll see these character portraits and models most during the game’s story. Crystal of Atlan presents itself as a steampunk fantasy game, one in which the fusion of arcane forces and technology has fractured the world. The titular artifact—the Crystal of Atlan—has vanished, and it became the spark that ignited conflicts between factions and an entire generation of adventurers vying for its rediscovery. It’s a setup rich with promise, but it rarely manages to rise to the heights its premise implies.
The early chapters, in particular, are slow-moving, bound tightly by the tutorialized structure of most live-service RPGs. You begin the story with a detour to Lumiville, where a father is helpless against his daughter succumbing to the Decay, a corruption that threatens the world. The emotional beats here are earnest, if familiar, and though the scenario is rather somber and provides a glimpse into the stakes of this world, it still leans heavily on the tried-and-tested formula of "new adventurer arrives, uncovers local crisis, beats up some monsters, moves on."
It’s competent, but also a bit formulaic.
Once you’re done in Lumiville, the story pivots toward Rhine City—the central hub of the game. Your character joins a guild, meets a colorful array of NPCs, and promptly begins helping… a group of orphans living in the sewers. It’s a sharp tonal shift that deflates much of the tension built up previously. Not that helping orphans is bad storytelling, but the game frequently loses sight of its central plot thread—the search for the Crystal—in favor of small, loosely connected side arcs.
The game tries to stitch these stories together under the guise of a wider journey, but the connective tissue between arcs is often thin. Plot beats arrive without momentum; transitions between major areas feel abrupt, and story missions lack the kind of escalating tension or pacing that should drive a narrative forward.
What makes this more noticeable is the way the world is presented. Crystal of Atlan wants to be sprawling, with towering cities and layered civilizations powered by magic-infused tech. Yet, the world feels strangely small. Hubs like Rhine City are aesthetically dense with players, but they’re functionally thin. There’s surprisingly little to interact with here. Many locations boil down to a few corridors and quest markers, and story missions themselves are often brief, hallway-like stages punctuated by a short burst of combat and a cutscene. Overtime, repetition sets in. Missions start to blur together, as you’re funneled through similar environments and similarly structured tasks.
Stamina System Sucks
Speaking of its story, let me get into my real gripe with Crystal of Atlan. I’ve been having a blast with the game’s core mechanics—its combat, its visuals, its world—but there’s a particular design choice that’s so intrusive that it essentially nudges you toward its in-game shop.
Admittedly, I have yet to finish the current patch’s story. I’ve only made it to the doorstep of the Chrome Military Factory, a couple of arcs in the game. It's a feat achieved after a bit of patience and some purchases. However, instead of gearing up for the next boss fight, I’ve encountered a significant roadblock: the stamina system. I can't continue without a certain amount of stamina. And unlike other live-service titles that refresh stamina in bite-sized increments throughout the day, Crystal of Atlan only refills your energy to full once per day.
Even then, if my gear isn't strong enough to proceed, I'd need to upgrade it. This, in turn, requires materials, which are obtained from dungeons—and entering dungeons demands more stamina. This wouldn’t be so bad if stamina was just used for side content, but it’s required for everything that involves progression—story, crafting materials, leveling up; just about every activity that feeds into your character’s growth. It’s either you wait, use up limited energy packs, or spend real money to keep playing.
To its credit, Crystal of Atlan doesn’t completely bury free-to-play players under the weight of paywalls. If you’re content with a slower pace, it’s possible to grind your way through most content without spending a dime. PvE content is mostly fair—albeit grind-heavy. The real issue lies in when the game chooses to press you for money.
There are some seemingly pay-to-win (P2W) elements such as titles, pets, and skins. These items confer stat advantages that augment your character’s stats; however, their impact is largely confined to PvE content and does not extend to PvP. During PvP, everyone’s stats are adjusted to ensure a level playing field. Consequently, any purchases made from the shop are primarily for convenience.
Keeping Busy When Your Energy’s Empty
But even when Crystal of Atlan tightens the leash with its maddening stamina system, you're not left twiddling your thumbs. The developers, to their credit, have ensured that even if you're locked out of story quests, the game still has other content for you to engage with. And while not all of it directly contributes to your character's growth, some of it certainly keeps the experience engaging.
For instance, one of the ways you can stay busy is by assisting other players with their quests. This sounds generous—and it certainly is—but you don’t earn any tangible progress for your account while doing this; you’re just lending a hand. Still, if you’re feeling altruistic (or like me a few hours ago before writing this review, just really bored), it’s an option.
More engaging, thankfully, are the combat-focused side activities like the Tempered Trials. These solo or co-op endurance gauntlets pit you against increasingly difficult waves of enemies. Similarly, Arena Battles let you team up with another player to take on challenging bosses. They’re great ways to sharpen your skills and blow off steam, even if rewards are rather modest.
But PvP mode is arguably one of Crystal of Atlan’s greatest strengths. These 1v1 or 3v3 bouts are ranked, and gameplay here is very different from PvE. Players lose energy when casting skills or taking damage, and once your health dips below the "Protective Line," you become immune to crowd control. The change in tempo from PvE to PvP is genuinely refreshing. Instead of coasting through mobs with combos, you need to think, adapt, and react to what the other player is doing.
Of course, no PvP system is safe from balance issues, and there’s already some chatter about class disparity. At the time of writing, Scytheguards seem to be top-tier, but even with some early imbalance, skill does, to an extent, trump raw power here.
Is Crystal of Atlan Worth It?
It’s F2P Until It’s Not
Any free-to-play game, in my book, is worth a try, but having it as a game you play every day really depends on what kind of player you are, and perhaps more importantly, how patient you're willing to be. On its own, Crystal of Atlan is already a compelling action MMORPG that gets a lot of things right. The combat is smooth, the class system has a lot of variety, and the PvP mode, while still in its early stages, shows real promise.
But like many free-to-play titles, the experience is tethered tightly to its monetization model. You won’t encounter paywalls in the traditional sense, but you will find your progress hamstrung by the game’s stamina system, which limits how much content you can do each day unless you’re willing to open your wallet to purchase some Energy Packs or the Battle Pass. What you’re essentially purchasing here is the convenience of getting more out of the game, and that’s a monetization philosophy that may feel fair to some and exploitative to others. Fortunately, cosmetic purchases, like outfits, are purely optional, though it must be said that unless you buy premium cosmetics, your character won’t stand out much visually.
For free-to-play players, the game is playable without spending, and quite enjoyable at that. If you’re willing to accept some restrictions and aren’t aiming to dominate PvP leaderboards, you’ll get hours upon hours of gameplay here without spending a dime. But if you’re the kind of player who wants to dive deep and progress quickly, you may eventually feel the squeeze.
| Dedicated Client |
Epic |
||||
| App Store |
Google Play |
||||
| Free-to-Play | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crystal of Atlan FAQ
What time is Crystal of Atlan’s daily reset?
Crystal of Atlan resets daily at 6:00 A.M. UTC+8 / 6:00 P.M. ET / 3:00 P.M. PT
| Region | Daily Reset Time |
|---|---|
| United States (ET) | 6:00 p.m. |
| United States (PT) | 3:00 p.m. |
| United Kingdom | 11:00 p.m. |
| Central Europe | 12:00 a.m. |
| New Zealand | 11:00 a.m. |
| Australian East Coast | 8:00 a.m. |
| Australian West Coast | 6:00 a.m. |
| Japan | 7:00 a.m. |
| Philippines | 6:00 a.m. |
| South Africa | 12:00 a.m. |
| Brazil | 7:00 p.m. |
| Universal Time (UTC) | 10:00 p.m. |
Are Crystal of Atlan’s classes gender-locked?
Yes, and there is currently no way to change your class’ gender.
Game8 Reviews
Crystal of Atlan Product Information
|
|
| Title | CRYSTAL OF ATLAN |
|---|---|
| Release Date | July 14, 2023 (CN) May 28, 2025 (Global) More Details |
| Developer | Nuverse |
| Publisher | Nuverse Skystone (US) |
| Supported Platforms | PC (Game Client, Epic Games Store) PlayStation 5 Mobile Devices (Android and iOS) |
| Genre | Action, MMORPG |
| Number of Players | 1v1, 3v3 (PvP) 1-4 Players (PvE) Up to 99 Players (Online) |
| ESRB Rating | ESRB Teen IARC 12+ |
| Official Website | Official Website for Crystal of Atlan |
