Software:AFK Journey

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Short description: 2024 video game

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AFK Journey
Developer(s)Lilith Games
Publisher(s)Farlight Games
Platform(s)
Release
  • EU/NA: March 27, 2024
  • AS: August 8, 2024
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Multiplayer

AFK Journey is a fantasy role-playing video game developed by Lilith Games. Released on March 27, 2024, for Windows, Android, and iOS, it serves as the sequel to the idle role-playing game AFK Arena. The game adopts a free-to-play model, complemented by a gacha system that allows players to collect and upgrade characters.

Set in the land of Esperia, the story revolves around Merlin, a powerful mage who has lost their memories. Embarking on a journey with an assembled team of heroes, they'll uncover the secrets of Esperia while restoring Merlin's forgotten past.

Gameplay

AFK Journey retains the idle mechanics from AFK Arena, allowing players to earn resources over time depending on their current AFK progress level, which is increased by completing battle stages.[1] The hero and equipment levels are both shared across the entire roster.[2]

The combat unfolds automatically on a tile board, where the heroes are strategically positioned before the start.[3] With six distinct classes — Tank, Warrior, Marksman, Mage, Rogue, and Support — each hero brings different skills and abilities.[4] The players can manually cast each hero's Ultimate ability, slowing down the action until the move is made.[5] During battles, the players can utilize environmental mechanisms like flamethrowers and landmines, as well as the terrain itself, to gain a tactical edge over the enemies.[6]

All heroes can be strengthened either by increasing their resonance or by ascending them to higher tiers, such as Supreme+ or Paragon. Depending on the ascension requirements of their number of copies, heroes can be A-level or S-level. They are obtained through a gacha system, which utilizes in-game currencies. These currencies can be earned by participating in events or purchased directly within the game.[7]

AFK Journey features an open world with several regions to explore.[8] Various puzzles scattered across the map give rewards upon completion, while teleportation points allow for fast travel.[9]

In addition to main and side quests, the game has several separate modes, including: Dream Realm (daily boss challenges with varying difficulty levels), Arena (PvP battles against other players to climb the ranks), Legend Trial: (ascending a tower using heroes from a specific faction, with difficulty increasing on each floor), Honor Duel (PvP mode with a randomized artifact and initial formation), Arcane Labyrinth (roguelike mode with the goal of clearing the stages) and Battle Drills (following a route along with guild members to defeat the final boss). The players can also form or join guilds, collaborating with others to tackle guild events.[9][10]

A new season in AFK Journey begins every four months, each introducing a new storyline and themed events. The first narrative story, known as the Starter Story, is followed by three distinct seasons: Song of Strife, Waves of Intrigue and Chains of Eternity.[11][12][13]

Plot

AFK Journey is set in Esperia, a continent full of magic. Long ago, the seed of life drifted from the stars and took root, giving birth to a land of wonder. However, as gods fell during a chaotic war, six great factions (Lightbearers, Wilders, Maulers, Graveborns, Celestials and Hypogeans) emerged, each vying for power and dominance. The players assume the role of Merlin, a legendary mage who has temporarily lost their memories, who will uncover Esperia's secrets by guiding a band of heroes on a quest to pull "the sword from the stone".

Development

The project began in May 2021, with much of the development team transitioning from AFK Arena. Their vision was to "redefine the card-based genre by creating a vast world that offers new and immersive experiences for players,"[14] envisioning a game that could last 10 years.[15] The art style draws inspiration from the intricate look of church stained-glass, characterized by bold color blocks, striking contrasts, and distinct outlines.[16]

After 16 months of development, the team ran several small closed tests in the UK, Canada, Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. In April 2023, AFK Journey entered open beta.[17] The game was officially launched outside of Asia in March 2024.[18] In August 2024, it was released worldwide.

Reception

Pocket Gamer described it as "an engaging mobile RPG that boasts enthralling storybook-style graphics and a simplistic yet fulfilling combat system."[9] Meanwhile, Noah Cochrane at GameTyrant lauded "the attention to detail in each character's appearance" as "remarkable," adding that "the environments are beautifully crafted, with vibrant colors and stunning visual effects that bring the game world to life."[19]

By September 2024, about six months after release, AFK Journey reached $158.3 million in revenue. After debuting in Asia on August 8, 2024, daily revenue peaked at $3.36 million on August 11.[20] By December 2024, the game exceeded 15 million total downloads.[21]

Accolades

Year Awards Category Result Ref.
2024 The Game Awards 2024 Best Mobile Game Nominated [22]
Google Play Best of 2024 iPhone Game of the Year Won [23][24]
App Store Awards Best Game Won [25]
2025 16th Hollywood Music in Media Awards Song/Score – Mobile Video Game Won [26]

References

  1. ↑ Mathen Victor, Mark (2024-04-29). "A game that plays itself" (in en). https://thesun.my/style-life/a-game-that-plays-itself-OJ12393692. 
  2. ↑ Hashimoto, Kazuma (2024-04-07). "AFK Journey Is a Pleasant and Manageable Mobile Experience" (in en). https://www.siliconera.com/afk-journey-is-a-pleasant-and-manageable-mobile-experience/. 
  3. ↑ Melani, Giorgio (2024-04-26). "AFK Journey, la recensione di un RPG mobile che punta in alto" (in it). https://multiplayer.it/recensioni/afk-journey-recensione.html. 
  4. ↑ Höger, Jonas (2024-04-07). "AFK Journey: Was verbirgt sich hinter dem penetrant promoteten Spiel?" (in de). https://www.4p.de/news/afk_journey-alle_infos_zum_penetrant_promoteten_spiel_was_steckt_dahinter/2207429. 
  5. ↑ Morris, Iwan (2024-01-30). "AFK Journey: Release date, beta and everything else we know so far" (in en). https://www.pocketgamer.com/afk-journey/everything-we-know-so-far/. 
  6. ↑ "AFK Journey is a fantastical delight with a balanced gacha system" (in en-US). 2024-02-07. https://www.pockettactics.com/afk-journey/review. 
  7. ↑ Zirkler, Dennis (2024-04-12). "AFK Journey sieht man überall, aber was ist das eigentlich? Ich hab's zwei Wochen ausprobiert" (in de). https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/afk-journey-ausprobiert,3411712.html. 
  8. ↑ Whitson, Hank (2024-05-10). "AFK Journey Preview: Song of Strife Brings New Battles, Characters, and More" (in en). https://gamerant.com/afk-journey-song-strife-update-features-preview/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "AFK Journey Review - "An enchanting idle RPG"" (in en). 2024-04-15. https://www.pocketgamer.com/afk-journey/review/. 
  10. ↑ Stechman, Sjaak (2024-04-22). "AFK Journey - Review" (in nl). https://nl.ign.com/afk-journey/150462/review/afk-journey-review-een-mobile-game-van-hoge-kwaliteit. 
  11. ↑ "The Five Biggest Things in AFK Journey's New Update" (in en-sg). 2024-05-10. https://sea.ign.com/guide/215522/the-five-biggest-things-in-afk-journeys-new-update. 
  12. ↑ Morris, Iwan (2024-09-19). "AFK Journey takes to the sea with the new Waves of Intrigue update, launching today!" (in en). https://www.pocketgamer.com/afk-journey/waves-of-intrigue/. 
  13. ↑ Neah (2024-12-30). "AFK Journey: "Chains of Eternity" Season Arrives with Lorsan and More" (in en-US). https://gachago.com/en/news/afk-journey-chains-of-eternity-season-arrives-with-lorsan-and-more. 
  14. ↑ "Player feedback is "key" to AFK Journey's monumental success, says lead designer" (in en-US). 2024-12-23. https://www.pockettactics.com/afk-journey/interview. 
  15. ↑ Johnson, Gemma (2024-05-30). "AFK Journey Devs Envision a 10-Year Lifecycle for the Game" (in en). https://gamerant.com/afk-journey-10-years-game-lifecycle-content-how-long/. 
  16. ↑ 巴哈姆特. "《劍與遠征：啟程》美術團隊專訪公開 玻璃彩繪風融合東西風展現童話般的大陸" (in zh-Hant-TW). https://gnn.gamer.com.tw/detail.php?sn=271744. 
  17. ↑ Chapple, Craig (2024-07-19). "Inside mobile hitmaker Lilith Games" (in en). https://www.pocketgamer.biz/inside-mobile-hitmaker-lilith-games/. 
  18. ↑ Brassell, Jack (2024-03-28). "AFK Journey, the sequel to mobile RPG AFK Arena, launches on mobile and PC" (in en). https://www.pocketgamer.com/afk-journey/out-now/. 
  19. ↑ "AFK JOURNEY Review: A Little More Than Just Idle" (in en-US). 2024-04-04. https://gametyrant.com/news/afk-journey-review-a-little-more-than-just-idle. 
  20. ↑ Astle, Aaron (2024-09-23). "AFK Journey surpasses $150 million with Asian market dominance" (in en). https://www.pocketgamer.biz/afk-journey-surpasses-150-million-with-asian-market-dominance/. 
  21. ↑ "莉莉丝游戏斩获2024年度优秀游戏运营企业，六项提名引热议_玩家_远征_角色". https://www.sohu.com/a/840872231_121798711. 
  22. ↑ Moore, Bo (December 12, 2024). "The Game Award 2024 Winners: The Full List". Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241213054532/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-game-awards-2024-winners-the-full-list. Retrieved December 13, 2024. 
  23. ↑ Astle, Aaron (2024-11-20). "AFK Journey, Eggy Party and Squad Busters win big at the Google Play Awards 2024" (in en). https://www.pocketgamer.biz/afk-journey-eggy-party-and-squad-busters-win-big-at-the-google-play-awards-2024/. 
  24. ↑ "《剑与远征:启程》获Google Play年度游戏奖，星铁,蛋仔,腾讯获分类奖 | 游戏大观 | GameLook.com.cn". http://www.gamelook.com.cn/2024/11/558551/. 
  25. ↑ Muhammad, Isa (2024-12-12). "Apple unveils 2024 App Store Awards winners" (in en). https://www.pocketgamer.biz/apple-unveils-2024-app-store-awards-winners/. 
  26. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (November 19, 2025). "‘Sinners’ Swings With Three Wins At Hollywood Music In Media Awards; “Golden” Night For ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ – Full List" (in en-US). https://deadline.com/2025/11/hollywood-music-in-media-awards-2025-winners-list-golden-sinners-1236623914/. 



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