Paladins

Wow they really just killed this game with those damn layoffs. Farewell, you were actually one of the most fun fps games ever.

Paladins – A Hero Shooter with Depth and Customization
Paladins offers a fresh take on the hero shooter genre, combining elements from MOBAs and traditional FPS games. Developed by Hi-Rez Studios, it provides a free-to-play experience with a focus on team-based combat and strategic depth.
Gameplay & Mechanics
The game features a diverse roster of champions, each divided into four roles: Frontline, Damage, Support, and Flanker. This classification helps players understand their role in team composition and strategy. Each champion has unique abilities and an ultimate skill, adding variety to gameplay. The card-based loadout system allows players to customize their champions' abilities, offering a layer of strategic depth. Players can equip up to five cards, each providing specific enhancements like cooldown reductions or increased damage output .
Game Modes & Progression
Paladins offers several game modes, with the primary mode being Siege. In Siege, teams compete to capture objectives and push a payload to the enemy base. Other modes include Onslaught, Team Deathmatch, and various limited-time modes. The progression system includes leveling up champions, unlocking talents, and customizing loadouts. Players can also earn in-game currency to unlock cosmetic items and additional champions.
Community & Longevity
The game has a dedicated player base and an active esports scene, with tournaments and competitions held regularly. The community is generally welcoming, and the developers continue to support the game with updates, new content, and balance changes.
Final Verdict
Paladins stands out in the crowded hero shooter market by offering deep customization options and a variety of gameplay modes. Its free-to-play model, combined with regular updates and a dedicated community, makes it a compelling choice for fans of team-based shooters.
Rating: 8/10

I dont quite know how play this game but when people call me retarded in the chat it help me understand how to play. Thanks

Paladins is often compared to Overwatch, but it brings its own unique twists to the hero shooter genre. With a deep card-based loadout system, diverse champions, and fast-paced action, it offers strategic depth and customization that many shooters lack. But does it still hold up today?
The Good:
✅ Diverse Champion Roster: Over 50 champions, each with distinct abilities and playstyles.
✅ Customization Through Loadouts: The card system allows for unique builds and strategies.
✅ Free-to-Play & Fair Progression: You can unlock champions without spending money.
✅ Fast-Paced & Strategic Gameplay: A mix of shooting, teamwork, and abilities keeps it exciting.
The Bad:
❌ Matchmaking Can Be Inconsistent: New players may struggle against experienced ones.
❌ Balance Issues: Some champions feel overpowered, while others feel underwhelming.
❌ Content Updates Have Slowed: While still supported, updates are not as frequent as before.
❌ Occasional Bugs & Server Issues: Some technical hiccups can affect the experience.
Final
Paladins remains a fun, customizable, and strategic hero shooter that deserves more recognition. If you’re looking for a free-to-play alternative to Overwatch with deeper customization, this is worth a shot—just be ready for some balancing issues and slower updates.
⭐⭐⭐ 8/10 – A great hero shooter with unique depth, but in need of more polish.⭐⭐⭐

Honestly, i'm writing more from my heart here.
Paladins meant the world to me.
I'm writing from my alt account so this would be bumped, i'm formerly a pro player, achieved GM multiple seasons from beta - S3. Continued playing ranked with old legends like Saadhak and Fisheko. I poured thousands of hours into this game across four accounts, back when it stood strong—f2p, fun, and honestly full of potential—while Overwatch still had a price tag and Marvel Rivals hadn’t even entered the ring. A lot of the 5v5 shooters weren't as fleshed out as this mechanics-wise. And the card system - amazing.
It had soul. The mechanics were simple but clever, the community vibrant (even if NA was toxic as hell), and it felt like the game could go anywhere. Even after the PPL fell apart, I stuck around—because despite everything, I genuinely loved it.
But over time, the game lost what made it special. The characters got bloated with gimmicks. The devs got greedy. Player feedback was ignored again and again. And now, its being shut down.
I haven't touched the game in nearly five years, but hearing the servers are going offline still hit me hard. It's not just a game—it’s memories, friendships, and a chapter of my life.
Paladins won’t survive in today’s landscape—not with Marvel Rivals and everything else. But for those who knew it in its prime, you understand why this hurts.
To all the friends I made in this journey: I wish you well.
To the devs: thank you for what you built—and shame on you for how you let it die. I wish the best for you, and truly hope at least your next game would be more successful. I hope this is a learning experience for an even greater game in the future.
Paladins is going. And when it's gone, it’ll always be a part of me.

A game with a lot of promise and potential, absolutely buried by a publishing company that does not care.
Paladins, despite being known as the "Poor Man's Overwatch", or an "Overwatch clone", is a hero shooter with a surprising amount of depth, one that hooked me in in the way no other hero shooter has before or since. With a roster of over 50 characters, all with their own unique kits and playstyles, there really is something for everyone. To add to this, the game implements some MOBA-like progression elements, allowing you to customise your character's playstyle to suit your needs, through a system of talents (which are usually fundamental augmentations to abilities) and card decks, which allow you to tweak elements of the kit as you see fit, such as allowing certain abilities to reduce or cancel the cooldown on others, provide healing or lifesteal, etc. Every match also has an item store, where you can buy items to adapt to the enemy's (or your own) playstyle via credits you earn during the match. If the enemy uses a heavy crowd-control build, you can counter that with anti-CC abilities. Need more healing? You can buy an item that heals you and any allies who assisted upon a kill. Paladins' systems had a surprising amount of depth, and whilst they can be intimidating to new players, the payoff for mastering them is highly rewarding.
Be aware, though, this game is now dead. Whilst servers remain up, active development has ended and the game remains in maintenance mode. All but a few of the team were fired or redeployed onto other projects. Evil Mojo, the dev team behind this game, were perhaps some of the most dedicated developers I have ever seen. Responsive, friendly, and really cared for the game despite their publisher only really caring about SMITE 2. They were in the process of a string of QoL changes and system revamps when Hi-Rez killed the game.
This game means a lot to me (if you cannot tell by my play time), and I have not been able to find anything to fill the void it left when Hi-Rez announced the end of its active development. As someone who usually only plays casually, this was the only game that encouraged me not only to play ranked, but to ladder my way up into Diamond. I was no Master or Grandmaster, but Paladins' systems hooked me to the point I wanted to test myself and actively attempt to improve my level of skill. I've had a lot of good times with my friends, found out ways to make low-tier characters into gods of the battlefield (Yagorath, my beloved), and had many a good match.
This game deserved better.

Such a massive shame this game had to go down the way it did. Was tons of fun and I already miss it despite only playing it occasionally now due to its stagnant state.
Somebody pick up the rights to this game at give it the love it deserves. Playerbase is very nice and they deserve better.