Free to play? No. It's free to walk around, aimlessly, for as long as you want. You can also; "track" an animal, however, unless you SPEND REAL MONEY on a monthly subscription, to obtain a licence for that SPECIFIC animal, you can not SHOOT it. This hunting simulator, has brilliant technology that is aware of whether or not you have a specific licence, and if you do not, your character simply aims the gun down when you try to click your mouse button. Very realism. For someone that has no real experience hunting, but does enjoy spending hours in hunting games, this is extremely disappointing. This game has potential, the multiplayer aspect of the game with friends is also fantastic, but if I have a friend who has given the devs money, he gets far cooler stuff than I do, and can hunt far more things than I can. I am aware a lot of developers do this, and I don't have an issue with paying members getting cooler stuff, but I disagree with the fact that I lack the technology to pull the trigger on a rifle to SHOOT an animal, whether I have a licence for it or not. I'd also rather a 1 off payment to own the game and have full access to everything it has to offer, than continue dishing out money per month to have access to certain features. So remember, this isn't free to SHOOT at animals, but it is free to run around aimlessly like a d*ckhead.

OK I cannot reply to anyone directly as Steam will not let me, so I can just continue editing this. Let's set some things straight:

@Mathia$ - Yes, it does give you a little taste. I became addicted and ended up paying for a 3 month subscription - so I guess their method of making addicts has worked. I've also paid again for a .300 rifle and a scope, another 10 Euros spent lol

@Dannj90 - Yup. Like I said, the game has potential and is addictively fun. I just prefer the method of buying a game outright and having everything it includes, instead of monthly this, and pay for that etc etc: completely my personal preference.

@HaddockA - When people review things, they're reviewing them from their own personal experience. I can't imagine reviewing something without experiencing it. I wrote this review after the 3 day trail had ended, and I couldn't shoot anything. THAT was my experience, hence this negative review. Game's great, if you're willing to pay a lot for it (when you're under the influence that it is free).. So yeah, good luck finding someone's review of something where they aren't referring to personal experience.

@darkfitz - lol I don't know where to begin. I'm not going to judge you on your computer terminology as that's uncalled for and unjustified. I don't know about real life hunting as I've not experienced it. The only killing of innocent animals I'll ever do, is in a game. Oh, and before anyone wants to educate me on the killing of innocent animals for the survival of mankind, and our lust for eating meat, yeah - I get it. No lecture required. I eat meat too. I'm aware of animals being slaughtered for that, it's just not something I would or could ever do.


So, are we all happy now? The game isn't "bad", I just personally dislike having to continue dishing out money for something I've become somewhat addicted to...... Yes, that's a drug reference. Goodnight.

pay to play

Okay, where do I start with this?? I am going to start out saying that this will be my first lengthy review about any game in my Library. Why?? Because I feel like this game is NOT getting fair feedback looking at the overall reviews. Even when you read the Posotive Reviews of this game, NO ONE sheds light into what this game is AND why they rated it a Positive. And I hope that this review will ease your mind into actually giving this game a try, and finding out for yourself that the reviews either consist of .....

1. People who does not have a job as of yet, want to play the best hunting game around, but can not afford this.
2. Trolls just hating on the game because of the Free to Play aspect of this game and NOT the overall game itself
3. People that has a COMPLETE wrong mindset of the Pay to Play factor and NEVER even tried to pay to play the game

and that I will go into bigger detail about those factors and why the review score is Mostly Negative because of those 3 points. In the process, I will also clarify a few things for anyone reading this review, and I hope you stick around to read it all. I promise it will be worth while, and that it will change your mind towards things to actually give this game a shot. Because, I was just like you (The Reader) at the start of it all, and also just like you (The Reader) my reaction to this game, the reviews and the Pay to Play factor just drove me away from this game COMPLETELY. When in the end, all that was needed to enjoy this game to full, was $49.99. How is that for Pay to Play??

Okay, now for the actuall review.

I will go as far as to say that this is the best hunting sim I have ever played, even though I was sceptical at the start because of the whole Pay to Play aspect of the game. At the time I HATED this game because it was Free to Play, but I cant even shoot anything in the game, because everytime I want to shoot, it tells me I need a license for this and license for that. I just got mad, and at the moment I felt like this game is the biggest pile of crap I have EVER played. Who even plays a crap game like this AND pours money into it?? What is this, another World of Warcraft??

Till one day, I just felt like wasting money, and decided to waste money onto this game, because why not?? I went to the store page of this game's Launcher, and I went to purchase a Membership. Looking at the options I had, I decided to go with the Trailrunner Subscription ($49.99), which gives me a 12 month (Year) Membership to shoot what I want, where I want AND to ease me into the game, I got 9 extra Weapons to start off my game AND 35 other items to accompany me. Ranging from scopes for my 9 Weapons, Cammo, Lures, Backpack and much more usefull items.

Eager to start out the game AND still keeping in mind that there is still MUCH MORE to purchase in the game store than what I got with my Subscription, I started a new game, and made due with what I had for the time being. The game started up and the hunt was on. With my lure at hand and my trusty .300 (Gotten from Trailrunner Subscription) I was determine to shoot some Deer.

I set out with my trusty HunterMate, and I started learning the game and what goes for what. My first encounter was a Turkey. I went to the location of the Turkey call, and saw the tracks. My HunterMate told me in which direction the Turkey has fled, and I just follow along the path. The path led me through the Forest and Swampland areas, and I was soon greated with a Deer Grunt Call in the distance. It was at that moment I paused in my tracks. I took a crouching position, I got my Lure ready, and I called the Deer in. Sitting in the bush, looking left and right past the trees, through the bushes I am trying to find the Deer AND be as quite and low profile as I can get .... at the same time worrying about a stupid Turkey ....

I saw the Deer peeking he's head over the scrubs infront of me, I bring up my .300 to scope .... I line up my shot and I just let it go. The Deer fell on the spot and I jumped with joy. I went to collect the Deer and I was happy with what I got. I went back to the tracks of the Turkey, and continued my journey.

Its been a year later, and what was once a piece of crap game to waste money on, is now the best game I ever wasted money on. Funny how that works right?? Its also been a year later, and I only spend $49.99 on this game since then. Yes, you read that right. After one whole year, the Trailrunner Subscription for $49.99 was AND is all you need to enjoy this game to the fullest. I now renewed my Subscription for another year which is now $34.99. I used the other $15 and I bought myself more Lures to use on for the other animals, and I still only use my weapons and equipment I got from my Trailrunner pack. NEVER bought anything extra than what I got for spending $49.99 on this game.

If you have sticked with me up until now in my review, I am sure you are now more convinced to actually try this game out INSTEAD of just looking at the Pay to Play factor and relying on the Review System of Steam.

In general, all you EVER need to play this game is the Trailrunner Subscription. NOTHING more and NOTHING less. The other items you can purchase is just for better convinience and a better overall gameplay to make your life easier. In truth, the Weapons and Items you get in the Trailrunner Subsciption is MORE than enough to play this game to fullest of experience.

Pros.

1. Great Gameplay
2. Great Hunting Sim
3. A lot of Game Reserves to choose from
4. Each Game Reserve has its own Game and Hunting tactics to adapt
5. Overall very good hunting experience
6. New Game Reserves was added (with Game) and is still being added (with Game)
7. The game offers a level up system for each Weapon and Animal the more you use your Weapon and Track an Animal
8. The game offers multiplayer where you can hunt with your friends

Cons.

1. Game engine is a bit out dated
2. Devs does not seem to listen to its already small community to improve on overall user experience
3. The controlls are kind of clunky and stiff, but you get use to it

Putting it all together to sum it up. Purchase the Trailrunner Subscription ($49.99) and try this game out for yourself. Do NOT purchase the other subscriptions as you will not enjoy the game to the fullest, and they dont offer you as much gain as the Trailrunner Subscription does. Thats all you will EVER spend on this game in your life, and as you play the game, you will soon relise that you gave the game a unnecessary hard time BECAUSE of the overall Steam Review AND the fact that it is Pay to Play.

Thank you for sticking with me the whole time through my review, if I helped you out, dont forget to click "YES" on "Was this review helpfull". And put your own positive review on this page.

This game is very relaxing and immersive, the reason there are so many negative reviews is because you need to be patient, and most people like fast pace entertainment these days.

I'd rather pay once and be able to hunt everything then be constantly told to buy an annual membership. The actual game is stunning but the bloody "ads" do my head in

Great game. Have enjoyed many hours on this one.

ONe of the best huntin games out there, i have plenty of hours of just me and a friend or two goin around and hunting elk, moose, ducks, and just whitetail.... you do have to pay to hunt ALL the animals, but there are free ones, it changes all the time, used to be Mule deer, then went to whitetail, no clue what's free now, but. it's worth the time and even 10 usd to play fully

Awsome game. They are working on the free to play features with the new free rotation so you get 5 species over one like the old version and it rotates so you can hunt new stuff every week. Tons of rifles, bows, handguns, sents, lures, ect. So you always have something to play with. There is like a 5$ average on new weapons but I think thats fair just wait for sales and get bundles. They got to make money on a free game somehow. There is aton of reserves and the upcomeing Rockies reserve comeing out which I can't wait for. Also you can have 8 people on a reserve at a time which is awsome to host little compititions and stuff. The grahics are not bad when you crank them up all the way. Try it out see for yourself.

I absouloutly love this game,however you do need to be very patient and you may need to put some money into this game.

Awesome game play, amazing game BUT they expect you to pay with real money for EVERYTHING.. MEMBERSHIP and GUNS like this game is money hungry i rather pay $30 and earn the money in the game so stupid! 3/10. This game would be amazing if you didnt have to buy everything with real money..