If you think the best defense is a good offense, this one’s going to have you shredding your enemies with style – as long as you can time your parries and use its varied move set as effectively as possible. It gives off some serious Sekiro vibes, enabling a lot of moves that give it a distinct flavor.

It’s looking quite handy against a few enemies and bosses that will be debuting in Chapter 2. Players traverse across Liangzhou in the upcoming updae, which is touted as a “refreshing frontier landscape” with a lot of new things to explore, including some snow-capped landscapes. We’re going to be trying out the Heng Blade as soon as it drops on April 2, 2026, and hope to be sheathing it with a flourish after taking down formidable enemies with deft precision.

Where Winds Meet is available for PS5, iOS, Android, and PC. You can learn more the Hexi Expansion’s second chapter here, including new activities, quests, bosses, and much more.

Headlining chapter 2 will be the new zone, Liangzhou, which players can access on completion of the Hexi Campaign – Whitecrown Fortress quest. The area has been described as “a refreshing frontier landscape” thanks to its snow and a “city shaped like a jade cup”. The atmosphere of the area is also noted as being “entirely different” when compared to Jade Gate Pass.

On wrapping up pre-requisites, players can access the Lost Chapter: Ten Through the Pass to unlock Liangzhou. There are also new collectibles to find—Liangzhou poems—which can be used to gain rewards from the Gilt-Fin Collection, including things like Echo Jade, and Recipe – Snowy Stone Lantern, among other things.

The introduction of a new zone also brings with it a new chapter to the main story. Players can access the new chapter, dubbed Hexi Main Chapter – A Lonely Moon Over Chang’an, after having reached level 14 and completing Hexi Main Chapter: The Burlap Sack. The story will revolve around a young musician who, after being on a poignant journey, finds his home of Chang’an feels unfamiliar.

The update will also bring Chapter 3 of the main story, dubbed Paper Moon, which will revolve around a shared longing for Chang’an. Rewards include Accessory – Paper Moon and Inscription – Observe Freedom, among other things.

There are also plenty of side quests to take on, like volumes 4 and 5 of the Jianghu Legacy series, and Death of the Governor, which revolves around an old mansion “shrouded in wind and snow”, complete with a mysterious conspiracy surrounding it. A brand new World Boss will be roaming the realm of Liangzhou—the Moongazing Maiden—which rewards Helm – Swaying Jade Osmanthus, and Accessory – Verdant Sonata as rewards for the first time you beat it. Subsequent attempts through the Sword Forge Challenges in the Trial interface will offer even more rewards.

Two more world bosses—the Everdeer and the Pocketrupt Circus—will join the Moongazing Maiden in offering players intense challenges. Much like other world bosses, these two will also offer unique rewards on your first victory against them, along with cosmetic rewards on subsequent attempts. As for end-game content, hitting level 86 and having a group ready will allow you to take on Bloodstained Sands.

For players looking forward to expanding their wardrobe, the new Raging Tides sect can be joined at level 10 and gives you access to new appearance sets and decorations, among other things. A new martial art—Stonesplit – Strength—can be learned, giving players access to the Phalanxbane Blade and Snowparting Blade moves.

Those looking for non-combat challenges can partake in the Landlords mode of Wandering Paths—a new three-player card game. The only requirements are reaching level 32 and completing the Kaifeng Main Chapter: New Arrival in Kaifeng – Begin the Journey quest.

Where Winds Meet is a free-to-play game available on PC, PS5, Android and iOS. For more details, check out our thoughts on its Hexi expansion so far.

The trailer, clocking in at over a minute and a half in length, first gives us a glimpse at some fantastical-looking areas, which the trailer’s title implies will be Liangzhou. After the protagonist spends some time exploring the new area, we get thrown into what appears to be a boss fight. The encounter is an intense one, with the boss capable of summoning lightning strikes that players can deal with by either dodging or parrying.

Everstone Studio revealed the April 2nd release date for chapter 2 just last week. Its story picks up where the first chapter left off, with the player having experienced the complex political landscape in the Jade Gate Pass desert. While details about the upcoming chapter’s story haven’t yet been revealed, a previous trailer gave us a look at some of its new characters.

The Hexi expansion for Where Winds Meet was released earlier this month, and was made available to all players across PC, PS5, iOS and Android through a free update titled Home Afar. Along with giving players an entirely new region to explore, the expansion also brought gameplay additions, like new Mystic Skills, Taichi and Moonleap Morph. The former is a combat-oriented skill, while the latter aids the player in traversing the vast desert’s sands.

The Hexi expansion can be accessed by players quite simply, by completing the Qinghe Campaign – Still Shore quest and picking up the Hexi Main Chapter – By Lamplight quest. Doing so unlocks the entire new region, giving players plenty of new things to do, like finding appearance sets and other cosmetic items. Players who enjoy exploration can also set out to get their hands on Hexi poems, which can be used to open the Gilt-Fin Collection that includes recipes and enhancement items.

The first chapter of the expansion also brought with it a new World Boss—the Wandering Ark—which roams around in the sandstorms of Straying Steed Sands. Beating it for the first time offers rewards like the Withered Twig hair ornament, along with a host of other things, including Echo Jades, Medicinal Tales, and Inner Way Note: Custom Chests. More rewards are available through Sword Forge Challenges, accessible through the Trials interface.

We found the Hexi expansion to be a great addition to Where Winds Meet, referring to its first chapter as a solid start. The story also left us eagerly awaiting Chapter 2, as well as other future content, like the Heng Blade. Generally speaking, we recommended the expansion to anyone who already enjoyed the base game.

Following the first chapter’s foray into the sprawling desert of the Jade Gate Pass, you’re going to be thrust headfirst into a complex political landscape this time around, with interesting characters bookmarking a journey that pits you against some fearsome opponents. There’s a sycophant who seems to live on every word his emperor tells him, and a massive snake that’s looking quite nasty even though it only shows up for a couple of seconds.

Overall, it seems that Liangzhou could follow in the footsteps of the chapter that preceded it, which we found to be an enjoyable addition to an already solid title. The latest additions to the Hexi expansion continue to bring more sub-regions and bosses to the game, and are sure to help it sustain some astounding player counts that its managed since launching in 2025.

The trailer is below if this one has caught your eye, and you’re going to enjoy the glimpse of Liangzhou that it has to offer.

The expansion brings with it several new things, including new Mystic Skills like Tai Chi and Moonleap Morph. While the former is a combat-oriented skill, the latter revolves around traversal, allowing players to transform into a fish that can glide across the new area’s sands.

To access the expansion, players will have to complete Qinghe Campaign – Still Shore, after which they can start the quest Hexi Main Chapter – By Lamplight, and unlock the entire region in the process. There are plenty of things to find, including entire appearance sets, and other cosmetics like nameplates. Players can also collect Hexi poems, which will allow the opening of the Gilt-Fin Collection to claim enhancement items and recipes.

The Whitecrown Fortress campaign will also be opened up, which players can re-challenge to get their hands on the Iron Domination accessory. Players can also trade for the accessory through the Season Shop.

As for high-end content, the Wandering Ark is a new World Boss that can be found roaming in the great sandstorms of Straying Steed Sands in the Hexi region. Beating it for the first time rewards players with the Withered Twig hair ornament, 5 Inner Way Note: Custom Chests, 3 Medicinal Tales, and 20 Echo Jades, among other drops. Players can get more rewards by starting Sword Forge Challenges through the Trials interface to get their hands on the Wandering Ark avatar, the Trial: Anchor the Ark badge, and additional Echo Jade.

Other new content includes the new Bamboocut – Dust martial art path, which will give players access to the corresponding Umbrella Martial Art, Everspring Umbrella, and the Rope Dart Martial Art, Unfettered Rope Dart. A new Mystic Skill, Flute of the Tides, can be unlocked after completing Hexi Main Chapter: By Lamplight and hitting level 14.

Those interested in multiplayer campaigns can check out the new 10-player Hero’s Realm campaign dubbed Yama’s Seal. The level 81 version of the campaign is available right now, while the Supreme version, designed for level 86 players, will open up on March 20th.

Looking to the future, the studio has also confirmed that it will be kicking off a “Mid-Season Sprint” from March 13th to 19th. As long as players have completed Qinghe Main Chapter: A Horse Neighs in the Forest – Still Shore, they can try and complete their weekly quest to earn rewards like Saver and Bonus Talismans, Echo Jades, and more.

March 20th will see character development continue with new caps for Solo Mode Level, Character Level, and Gear Tier. A new Development System will also be introduced, with more details to be revealed at a later date. The same update will bring with it a new 5-player Sword Trial campaign for level 86 players, and phase 2 of the Taiping Mausoleum Path Trial.

For our thoughts on Where Winds Meet’s Hexi expansion, check out our hands-on impressions. The title is available on PC, PS5, iOS and Android.

If you’ve not been paying attention to Everstone’s wuxia-based action-RPG since its release last year, or perhaps dropped off after spending a few dozen hours in it, you might find that now is a great time to dive back in. The Jade Gate Pass, the expansion’s first major area, is going to keep you entertained for a while, and might even have you playing more of the base game if you found yourself moving on to other titles last year.

But what makes it so compelling as a new addition to a game that was already quite large to begin with? How did it manage to grab my attention and hold it for the entirety of my time with it, well, most of it anyway? What do I think about all of the new stuff that’s been brought to the table in what the developers are calling the biggest expansion since the game’s launch?

I’m here to give you answers to all of that and more, and help you decide if you’re going to be tracing a path through the first region’s expansive deserts in the hope of experiencing the Tang Dynasty, the period of time that the expansion takes you back to. Let’s dive in.

Let’s start with the new map and what exploring it entails. The base game had this specific focus on cinematic presentation thanks to its rich colors and great art style, and this continues in the expansion. The desert brings a sort of ethereal beauty to its sand dunes and expansive vistas. Crumbling ruins pepper the landscapes, acting as melancholic indicators of a once thriving land, whilst also doubling as landmarks for you as you explore it.

And explore it you will, as there’s quite a bit to do and discover among the sands that sweep across your feet, the winds gently guiding them along their path just as you resolutely take one of your own while trying not to get distracted. I’d say that there’s quite a bit of density as far as the things you get to do in the desert are concerned, but it’s not on the level of the base game, where it often felt impossible to go from point A to B without getting distracted frequently. If you find that overwhelming, the Jade Gate Pass might appeal to you, but if you like those distractions, the new map might leave you wanting for more.

"I’d say that there’s quite a bit of density as far as the things you get to do in the desert are concerned, but it’s not on the level of the base game."

But irrespective of your approach to exploring it, you’re going to find yourself stopping to admire the sights quite often. Its soundscapes, its moon-themed motif, and the day-night effects are all so immersive they border on spellbinding. I can’t help but wonder what the next two maps have in store on the visual front, and if the developers have deliberately made this one marginally less dense owing to the desert theme, preferring to ease you into what the expansion is trying to do before laying it all down in the next two chapters.

It’s a feeling that kept gnawing at me as I experienced the story on offer in this one. It starts off quite slowly to the point of feeling like it was dragging its feet a little before it picked up the pace as I reached new places. The tone feels a little too serious compared to the base game, but perhaps that’s intentional, given that you’re looking at the Tang Dynasty through the eyes of the people who witnessed its rise and decline.

I couldn’t help but feel like the writing and voice acting have taken a hit when I compare them to what was on offer in the base game, but it’s still quite serviceable and didn’t deter me from trying to explore almost every nook and cranny of the desert. Thankfully, getting to those places was a whole lot of fun thanks to the new traversal mechanics that the game has introduced.

The Sand Chaser mechanic is the first new way to get around, and I found it to be a lot of fun. It’s a really cool way of just tearing across the vast sands of the Jade Gate Pass while it controls very well, making me feel like my newfound speed didn’t come at the cost of precision in my movements.

"Both Sand Chaser and Cosmic Reversal are great additions to the game, but I’d say that they don’t necessarily make exploration smarter as much as I’d have liked them to"

There’s also the new Cosmic Reversal mechanic, which allows you to reverse time to repair pathways in ruins, or interact with specific items, to create opportunities to reach new areas. I found it to be a decent way to introduce puzzles into the mix, and some of them were well designed and enough to have me reaching for my thinking cap as I stared at my screen trying to piece together a solution. You might find a few of them a tad repetitive, but I’d say it comes with the territory in an expansion that’s as large as this one.

Both Sand Chaser and Cosmic Reversal are great additions to the game, but I’d say that they don’t necessarily make exploration smarter as much as I’d have liked them to. I found them to be decent mechanics instead of something that can drastically change the gameplay experience. However, they do make getting around the world a lot flashier in a way that feels true to Where Winds Meet’s wuxia-induced inspirations, allowing for some very stylish moves once you get the hang of using them in tandem.

Of course, exploring such a vast swathe of the desert is bound to come with a lot of danger in your path, and you’re given two new martial arts to use. The Umbrella gets the new Spring Dreamscape style, and believe me when I tell you that it feels like poetry in motion. Your combos almost feel endless, limited only by how creatively you use all of the new moves at your disposal in a blend of agility and crown control that saw me through most of the expansion.

Of course, the Rope Dart’s Fleeting Clouds style is not far behind, with its AoE and DPS potential making it perfect for both crowds of enemies and one-on-one encounters. I did find its targeting to be a little off, but I’d recommend checking it out in the final release build once those issues are properly addressed.

Minor issues aside, both new styles were quite effective at dealing with all the new enemies I encountered as I explored the new maps. They come at you with varying approaches, each requiring that you take the time to familiarize yourself with any new moves you unlock, while paying attention to their animations to figure out when you need to attack or defend.

"The Wandering Ark deserves a special mention as it’s among the coolest boss designs I’ve seen in a while."

That’s especially true of the bosses, with Guo Xin being an absolute monster to deal with when I first took him on. I’d recommend brushing up on your deflections to get through phase one of your battle against him, as you’re going to want to preserve your healing supplies for the second half of the fight, where he begins to truly showcase why his reputation is as fearsome as it is.

The Wandering Ark deserves a special mention as it’s among the coolest boss designs I’ve seen in a while. It wanders the desert, sustaining a brutal offensive against any that dare try and get too close. You’re challenged with picking the best places to take it on so you can get some damage into its weak spots, whilst having enough cover at hand to get defensive when it tries to hit back. It’s a fight where your brains matter as much as your brawn.

Aside from the main story and bosses, there are side quests that are as good as they were in the base game. You’re going to have a great time chasing down the little stories they take you through, and the quality is top-notch. I wish I could say the same about the expansion’s stability, but that sadly isn’t the case. It’s way more buggy than the base game when it was first launched, and I even encountered a game-breaking bug that halted my story progression. Yes, it does have its problems, but they seem solvable with a good patch or two.

"Hexi gets a lot of things right, and they’re ones that matter to an entertaining gameplay loop."

Overall, I think Hexi is off to a solid start with its first chapter, marking the beginning of a slew of content coming to Where Winds Meet over the next few months. It has me eager to see what the next two chapters are bringing to the table, the Heng Blade being an addition that I’m itching to try out.

Would I recommend you jump right in? I’d say yes, for the most part. If you enjoyed the base game, quirks and all, this one’s going to be a treat. But if you found yourself dropping off after a few hours or days, this one might have you feeling exactly the same. However, it’s still worth checking out if only to see what’s changed if you belong to that camp. Hexi gets a lot of things right, and they’re ones that matter to an entertaining gameplay loop. It’s more Where Winds Meet with enough to set it apart from the base game to make it an engaging experience all on its own.

This game was experienced on PC.

There are 11 new bosses to fight and dozens of side quests, but perhaps the most interesting part is that you’re effectively traveling back in time to the Tang Dynasty. As you venture through a massive desert in Jade Gate Pass, you’ll unlock two new skills – Sand Race for some sand surfing and Cosmic Reversal to rebuild ruins by rewinding time. Upon reaching Whitecrown City, you’ll face off against Guo Xin, but there’s also the Wandering Ark to contend with, which continuously drifts through the desert.

You’ll unlock two new martial arts – Spring Dreamscape for Umbrella weapons and Fleeting Clouds for the Rope Dart, the former enabling “endless combos” in “tight spaces or group skirmishes,” and the latter dealing extensive area damage. In April, a new weapon, the Heng Blade, will become available, offering a more defensive playstyle.

It’s also when the next chapter, Liangzhou, goes live with a new wintry mountain to explore. Chapter 3 ventures to Qinchuan within the Painting Realm scroll. You can check out a good chunk of this content below in the latest trailer. Head here for more details on all the hostile bosses as well.

That dual blade-wielding lamia who also channels lightning is the Moongazing Maiden, while the fiery, aged banner-wielder is Guo Xin. The admittedly creepy-looking giant is Wucan, while the towering lion-like beast is the Sentinel Howlion.

Perhaps most intriguing is Snowplum Requiem. Remember the previous trailer, where the player was hoisted with strings, like a puppet? It’s the work of this dual boss, one playing what seems to be a Guzheng while the other is on a flute. They’re also blindfolded, adding even more to the mystery. As cool as they all look, you’ll have to bring your best to defeat them.

Where Winds Meet’s Hexi Expansion will launch across three chapters – the first, Jade Pass, goes live on March 5th and adds a massive desert. Everstone Studio is hosting a livestream on February 26th, 6 PM to reveal more details, so stay tuned to learn more about all the new activities.

Of course, they also bring several new threats to the fore, including hulking warriors with cannons, a mystical deer, a giant tengu-like being, and even a lamia who calls down lightning. Each new boss looks pretty intense, and one can only hope that the rewards are worth the fight.

Stay tuned for more details on Hexi in the coming weeks. Where Winds Meet is available on PS5, PC, iOS and Android, having first launched worldwide in November 2025 and crossing 15 million players within its first month. Subsequent updates have added new locations like the Roaring Sands and Nine Mortal Ways Base, new World Bosses, limited-time events, Hero’s Realms, and much more.

You can check out our review for the free-to-play action RPG here. At launch, we gave it a nine out of ten, praising the visuals, combat, and overall world design.

It sees the protagonist confronting a singular individual against the backdrop of a moonlit lake. Suddenly, the world turns all painterly, and they’re forced to confront a shapeshifting Phantom, which takes on the forms of other bosses like River Master, Dao Lord, Murong Yuan, and Zheng E. Suffice it to say that you’d better remember their patterns.

On the bright side, each attack splashes like ink strokes, creating this pool on the “canvas” that resembles paint and adding to the surrealism. Don’t worry about where the story goes next, as a new region, the Nine Mortal Ways Base, drops on January 22nd. Players can also look forward to the Mistveil Prison Puzzle Cave and Guild Battle Preseason Event on January 16th.

A new story, Whispers Beneath the Moon, goes live on January 25th, followed by the Year of Abundance and Season-End Dash events on January 29th.