Highguard review: Wildlight’s debut shooter feels like wasted potential

Polygon’s review of Highguard, published Jan. 30, 2026, finds Wildlight Entertainment’s debut shooter a misfire that feels like wasted potential. The game is out now on PlayStation 5, Windows PC and Xbox Series X; Polygon’s review was based on the Windows PC version. The review says Highguard is a mashup of too many ideas: a MOBA-style objective where two teams of three try to destroy each other’s base, Rainbow Six Siege-style fortifications, Overwatch-like hero abilities, and survival game elements such as resource mining and vendor trading.

That mix, Polygon writes, creates awkward pacing even when the core FPS shooting sometimes shines, with combat the review describes as clearly inspired by Apex Legends. Polygon outlines a typical match: players pick loadouts and can reinforce up to five walls at their base, then spend time exploring a large map for weapon and armor chests and mining “vesper” to trade with a vendor.

The Shieldbreaker — an enormous sword — eventually spawns and lets a team break the enemy’s shield and begin a raid. The review notes there can be up to five minutes of what it calls "dead air" before the action peaks, and raids can end quickly if the opposing side is coordinated.

The review is blunt about solo play, saying "playing Highguard solo absolutely sucks." Polygon reports the game is far more enjoyable with teammates who communicate, and criticizes the map size and two-teams-of-three setup as mismatched to the design.

highguard review, wildlight entertainment, shieldbreaker sword, vesper mining, moba-style objectives, rainbow six siege-style fortifications, overwatch-style abilities, apex legends inspiration, solo play, large map size, team communication, no ranked play