Secret World Legends is a free-to-play fantasy action MMORPG for Windows PC, extending the acclaimed The Secret World as a relaunch. It features revamped combat, updated visuals, and newly designed progression systems, all completely free to play. The game plunges players into a shadowy war against the supernatural, where ancient myths and legends cross over into the modern day. Players are armed with both weapons and superhuman abilities, tasked with building their powers, solving deep mysteries, and destroying terrifying evils to uncover a dark and captivating storyline that traverses the globe.
The game’s free-to-play model is a core feature. Anyone can download and play Secret World Legends without spending any money to purchase the game. All content—current, past, and future—is available to everyone and does not require a subscription or purchase to play. This includes the entire narrative, which brings storytelling to a new level by dropping players into the heart of a dramatic and chill-inducing narrative filled with unique missions, emotional punches, and mysterious Legends, brought to life by high-quality voice-acting throughout the adventure. The game explores a secret world, travelling from London to Seoul to New York and beyond, including dark forests of Transylvania, the scorched deserts of Egypt, and a small coastal town in New England filled with horror and mystery. Locations are inspired by the real world, now invaded by creatures of myth and legend.
Players can earn everything in the game, except special cosmetics, without spending any money. This is primarily facilitated through an in-game currency called Marks of Favour, which are earned for free through completing daily challenges. Marks of Favour are used for many things, including unlocking weapon pages, extra Sprint speed upgrades, empowerment and fusion, and more. An exchange system allows players to trade Marks of Favour with Aurum—and vice-versa. Aurum is used to purchase a variety of in-game items and services, which include but are not limited to: additional weapon pages, extra inventory space, additional characters, exclusive vanity items, and much more. It is important to note that the Aurum and the Patron Benefit system will require a valid form of payment at the time of purchase, but a credit card is not needed to play the game itself; it is free for everyone.
The game features a redesigned combat system to make action feel more natural, more intuitive systems to interact with, enhanced visuals, an improved flow of quests, and an improved structure of the early game for new players. A key feature is the inclusion of Investigation Missions, where players' wits are as important as their skills. These missions involve solving mysteries while battling evil in unique missions and quests never before seen in a game of its kind. Players can go at it alone and enjoy over 100 hours of story at their own pace, or team up with others as they explore the world and unravel its mysteries.
Secret World Legends launched on June 26th, with availability on Steam on July 31st. When the game launched on Steam on July 31st, players were able to download the Steam version of the client (game) and start playing from there. It is important to be aware that the Steam version of the client is separate from the Funcom client and are downloaded separately. However, both versions of the game connect to the same servers, so players can still play with friends even if they are on Steam and they are not. For purchases made through Steam, players use the Steam Wallet.
Regarding the original game, The Secret World (TSW), a service for reserving character names from TSW is no longer available. Players that used the original TSW Legacy Transfer service on or before September 4th, 2017, will have three total character slots. The Legacy Transfer service no longer grants additional character slots. In the near future, players will be allowed to convert their Funcom Points to Aurum, with more details to be released soon. Bonus points will remain in TSW and can be used on the old server.
The game is described as a shared-world action RPG where players plunge into a shadowy war against the supernatural in an adventure that crosses our world with the realms of ancient myth and legend. As players traverse the globe unraveling complex investigations into the unknown, they’ll need to uncover clues and use their own wits as much as their characters’ abilities. A highly extensive and customizable arsenal of firearms, weapons, gear, and otherworldly powers gives players the strength to battle the forces of darkness as they dig deeper into these vast and mysterious lands.
Game Features and Mechanics
The core gameplay revolves around a secret war between good and evil, where supernatural forces threaten the modern-day world. Players use a wide range of weapons and superhuman abilities to destroy the sinister evils that are threatening humanity’s existence. The game’s structure is designed to be accessible, with the early game improved for new players. The relaunch of The Secret World as Secret World Legends was done to remove the hurdles of a pay-upfront structure, allowing more players to experience the depth and extent of its storytelling. It also brought the vibrant universe up to date with modern action RPGs, with ambitious adjustments to gameplay, progression, and structure.
The game’s free-to-play model is comprehensive. The "free to play" or F2P designation means that anyone can download and play Secret World Legends without spending any money to purchase the game. All content is available to everyone and does NOT require a subscription or purchase to play. The developers state that you will be able to earn everything in the game without spending money, with the exception of special cosmetics.
For account management, each account has access to one character slot. Additional character slots may be purchased in the game. The game is available via the Steam client or the desktop game client available from their website. The desktop client can be downloaded from the official game website.
Player Progression and Economy
Progression in Secret World Legends is tied to both combat and exploration. The game encourages players to build their powers through a wide range of weapons and superhuman abilities. The redesigned combat system is intended to feel more natural and intuitive. Players can also engage in unique Investigation Missions that test their problem-solving skills alongside their combat abilities.
The in-game economy is based on two primary currencies: Marks of Favour and Aurum. Marks of Favour are earned for free by completing daily challenges. These marks are essential for progression, as they are used to unlock weapon pages, upgrade Sprint speed, and for empowerment and fusion processes. The exchange system between Marks of Favour and Aurum provides flexibility, allowing players to trade earned currency for premium currency and vice-versa. Aurum, as mentioned, is used for a variety of purchases including additional weapon pages, extra inventory space, additional characters, and exclusive vanity items.
It is explicitly stated that players do not need a credit card to play, as the game is free for everyone. However, any purchase involving Aurum or the Patron Benefit system will require a valid form of payment at the time of the transaction. This distinction is crucial for understanding the free-to-play model: the base game and all its content are free, but optional purchases exist for convenience and cosmetic items.
Technical and Platform Details
Secret World Legends is a Windows PC exclusive. The game launched on June 26th and became available on Steam on July 31st. The Steam client is a separate download from the Funcom client, but both connect to the same servers, ensuring cross-platform play within the community. This means players using the Steam version can play with those using the standalone client. For Steam users, any purchases are handled through the Steam Wallet.
The game is a relaunch of The Secret World (TSW), and some legacy services have been discontinued. The service to reserve character names from the original TSW is no longer available. Players who participated in the TSW Legacy Transfer service by September 4th, 2017, were granted three character slots. This service is no longer active for granting additional slots. A future update will allow for the conversion of Funcom Points from the original game to Aurum in Secret World Legends, with details to follow. Bonus points from TSW remain usable on the old server.
Narrative and World Design
The game’s narrative is a significant draw, described as a dark, mature storyline. It drops players into a dramatic and chill-inducing narrative filled with unique missions and emotional punches. The voice-acting throughout the adventure is of high quality, enhancing the immersive experience. The world design spans multiple real-world locations, each invaded by creatures of myth and legend. Players can explore the dark forests of Transylvania, the scorched deserts of Egypt, and a small coastal town in New England filled with horror and mystery. The journey takes players from London to Seoul to New York and beyond, creating a globally diverse setting for the secret war.
The missions in Secret World Legends are designed to be innovative. The Investigation Missions are highlighted as a key feature, where solving mysteries is as important as combat. These missions require players to use their wits to uncover clues and progress the story. The game offers over 100 hours of story content, which can be enjoyed solo or with a group. The ability to team up with others to explore the world and unravel its mysteries adds a social dimension to the gameplay.
Community and Developer Communication
The development team, Funcom, communicated the reasons behind the relaunch through a producer's letter to the community. This letter detailed the ambitions behind the updates to gameplay, progression, and structure, aiming for a more satisfying player experience. The game is marketed as the "best shared-world RPG on the market for free," emphasizing the value proposition of its free-to-play model.
For players seeking information, there are community resources such as a wiki and forums. The Secret World Legends Wiki, maintained by fans, covers game mechanics, abilities, combat, and missions. It is noted that some later missions, starting from late Transylvania and more in Kaidan, as well as missions in South Africa / New Dawn, may be missing from the wiki, presenting an opportunity for community contribution. A consolidated list of gameplay guides is also available on the Funcom forum.
Conclusion
Secret World Legends presents a comprehensive free-to-play MMORPG experience, offering all its narrative and gameplay content without an upfront cost. The model is built around earning in-game currency (Marks of Favour) through daily challenges, which can be used for progression, while optional purchases (Aurum) provide convenience and cosmetic items. The game is accessible via Steam or a standalone client, with cross-platform play enabled. Its dark, mature storyline, global settings, and unique investigation missions provide a rich experience for players seeking a story-driven RPG. The relaunch aimed to modernise the original game's systems and remove financial barriers to entry, making it a viable option for players in the UK and beyond looking for a deep, free-to-play fantasy adventure.