For a free to play title it ranks pretty high. Hard to complain about Free, sometimes.

I personally want to continue to like and enjoy this game but its becoming harder and harder to enjoy.

Update: 2024

Season 22 First split:
I personally can't really recommend the game anymore, if I'm honest. Match making is probably the worst part of this game and as the skill gap increases between the player base its always going to be a problem. I really don't think their are any new Apex players. Everyone is just playing on alternate accounts.

So Whats new? Whats good?

New map is pretty cool I love Crypto and its about time he really got some attention in this game after 4 years. Game modes are what you would expect some reworks have made less picked Legends more viable again which is great to see so some attention to the balance of the Legends has been welcome. While I enjoy the over arching narratives in the comic book style events I'm confused by where the story is going for all the legends. TitanFall 3 ? (LOL) optimistic.

Now the bad news.......
1.
Match Making is still hot garbage in this game. Solo Queues still feels like your getting matched with bots or less skilled players. Frankly if your not playing with any friends you will have a hard time sure you can still over perform to make up for the gap but playing 8 out of 10 games with players with no situational awareness is pretty rough. It's no ones fault but it really seems like your always just playing against 3 stack Diamonds and up, in Casuals Modes.

2.
Server stability seems very inconsistent. Latency, Server Lag, Packet Loss seems so frequent it's unplayable at certain times of the day. Part of the problem is also match making again. You're clearly playing against higher ping players at times. I will 1 v 1 a player with high ping and all I get is screen shutter and dropped frames under fire. ( It's not my PC Respawn, I have a 7800x3D with a 7900 XTX. I max frame limits)Its not my ISP.

3.
We have read that Repawn has apparently dealt with some cheaters but I can honestly say it still doesn't feel like it. They're aren't any obvious signs of cheaters but it does seem to still feel like some players know exactly where to go and where to nade and where to shoot in blind corners and hiding spaces. I honestly don't know. They're are no new players just smurfs "imo". So everyone is skilled even when they pretend they aren't.

4.
The New Battle Pass system. While I'm happy to be able to use my Coins again I'm still divided. Players like me put in countless hours after a hard days work to relax and grind out challenges to reap the benefits of our time and our grind. Having those options being taken away once left a really bad taste in my mouth. The new system is clearly made for pushing you to play more often to complete the battle pass and now your doubling the workload or paying money. It is what it is at the end of the day.

5.
It's a tale as old as time and I think its gotten so much worse 5 years later. So what is it I speak of. No Audio No Audio No Audio !! People will walk up right next to you under fire or if there is shooting around you, and you just don't hear it until you see the damage indicator.

So, we're left with the same questions. Should you play this game. It's Free sure of course and the gun play and style is still unmatched. With a good group of friends its still a good time but if your solo you will feel the grind and it will hit you hard.

If you're a honest to god new player I don't know what your going to expect from the game 5 years later has a very steep learning curve and a very high skill ceiling. Considering the game is still essentially free, you have nothing to lose trying it out.

For a free to play title it ranks pretty high. Hard to complain about Free, sometimes. I personally want to continue to like and enjoy this game but its becoming harder and harder to enjoy. Update: 2024 Season 22 First split: I personally can't really recommend the game anymore, if I'm honest. Match making is probably the worst part of this game and as the skill gap increases between the player base its always going to be a problem. I really don't think their are any new Apex players. Everyone is just playing on alternate accounts. So Whats new? Whats good? New map is pretty cool I love Crypto and its about time he really got some attention in this game after 4 years. Game modes are what you would expect some reworks have made less picked Legends more viable again which is great to see so some attention to the balance of the Legends has been welcome. While I enjoy the over arching narratives in the comic book style events I'm confused by where the story is going for all the legends. TitanFall 3 ? (LOL) optimistic. Now the bad news....... 1. Match Making is still hot garbage in this game. Solo Queues still feels like your getting matched with bots or less skilled players. Frankly if your not playing with any friends you will have a hard time sure you can still over perform to make up for the gap but playing 8 out of 10 games with players with no situational awareness is pretty rough. It's no ones fault but it really seems like your always just playing against 3 stack Diamonds and up, in Casuals Modes. 2. Server stability seems very inconsistent. Latency, Server Lag, Packet Loss seems so frequent it's unplayable at certain times of the day. Part of the problem is also match making again. You're clearly playing against higher ping players at times. I will 1 v 1 a player with high ping and all I get is screen shutter and dropped frames under fire. ( It's not my PC Respawn, I have a 7800x3D with a 7900 XTX. I max frame limits)Its not my ISP. 3. We have read that Repawn has apparently dealt with some cheaters but I can honestly say it still doesn't feel like it. They're aren't any obvious signs of cheaters but it does seem to still feel like some players know exactly where to go and where to nade and where to shoot in blind corners and hiding spaces. I honestly don't know. They're are no new players just smurfs "imo". So everyone is skilled even when they pretend they aren't. 4. The New Battle Pass system. While I'm happy to be able to use my Coins again I'm still divided. Players like me put in countless hours after a hard days work to relax and grind out challenges to reap the benefits of our time and our grind. Having those options being taken away once left a really bad taste in my mouth. The new system is clearly made for pushing you to play more often to complete the battle pass and now your doubling the workload or paying money. It is what it is at the end of the day. 5. It's a tale as old as time and I think its gotten so much worse 5 years later. So what is it I speak of. No Audio No Audio No Audio !! People will walk up right next to you under fire or if there is shooting around you, and you just don't hear it until you see the damage indicator. So, we're left with the same questions. Should you play this game. It's Free sure of course and the gun play and style is still unmatched. With a good group of friends its still a good time but if your solo you will feel the grind and it will hit you hard. If you're a honest to god new player I don't know what your going to expect from the game 5 years later has a very steep learning curve and a very high skill ceiling. Considering the game is still essentially free, you have nothing to lose trying it out.