Astellia
Astellia is a fantasy MMORPG that mixes traditional questing and instanced content with a collectible companion system. Players pick one of five classes and fight alongside summonable creatures called Astels, which function like card-based pets that can be swapped to suit different encounters.
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Publisher: Barunson E&A Type: Buy to Play MMORPG Release Date: September 28, 2019 Shut Down: October 29, 2021 Pros: +Five classes with advancement paths. +Large selection of Astels to earn and manage. Cons: -Optimization and stability problems. -Core loop can feel familiar and formulaic. |
Astellia Shut Down on October 29, 2021
Astellia Overview
Astellia is a fantasy MMORPG from Barunson E&A that was brought to the Western market with localization aimed at English-speaking players. At character creation you choose one of five classes, Archer, Warrior, Mage, Scholar, or Assassin, and then progress through the usual MMO arc of story quests, dungeons, and larger-scale activities.
What sets Astellia apart is its Astel system. Astels are mythical companions represented as collectible cards that you summon to fight alongside you. They are organized into four broad roles (Savior, Guardian, Servant, and Aide) and further divided into many sub-classes, such as Warrior, Knight, and Fairy. Building a loadout becomes part of your preparation, since different Astels bring different skills and utilities, and you can rotate them depending on whether you are soloing, running group content, or stepping into PvP.
The end game leans on a mix of PvE and PvP offerings. Expect content that blends large field battles where PvE and PvP overlap, structured PvP in a Colosseum format, PvE challenges like a Tower, and guild-focused warfare that emphasizes coordination and roster strength.
Astellia Key Features:
- Five Character Classes – select from five distinct archetypes with their own combat styles and weapons. The available classes are Warrior, Assassin, Mage, Scholar, and Archer
- Collect Cards – obtain and collect Astels, companion creatures presented through a card system.
- Take Astels into Combat – summon Astels to battle beside your character, providing skills that can swing tough fights.
- Enhance Astels – improve Astels by leveling and strengthening their abilities to raise overall effectiveness.
- Lots of End-Game Content – participate in late-game activities including mixed PvE/PvP fields, raids, a PvP Colosseum, guild wars, and PvE challenge modes.
Astellia Screenshots
Astellia Featured Video
Astellia Review
Astellia arrived with a clear identity: a conventional theme park MMORPG foundation supported by a collectible companion layer. In practice, the game feels like a familiar quest-and-dungeon structure, with the Astel deck acting as the primary differentiator, and for many players it becomes the main reason to engage with the progression treadmill.
A classic MMO framework, with a twist
Moment to moment, Astellia plays like many PC MMORPGs from its era. You move between hubs and zones, complete story and side quests, and graduate into instanced group content. Combat is readable and class-driven, and while the base loop is not radically different from genre peers, it is generally easy to understand and comfortable for players who enjoy structured PvE advancement.
The most interesting decisions often happen before you pull a boss, because your Astel selection can fill gaps your class does not naturally cover. If your build lacks survivability, you can lean on defensive or support-oriented Astels. If you are trying to speed up solo grinding, you can favor companions that add damage or crowd control.
The Astel system is the heart of the game
Astels are more than cosmetic pets, they are a parallel progression track. Collecting them, testing combinations, and upgrading their skills is a significant part of your long-term power. The four Astel types (Savior, Guardian, Servant, and Aide) help communicate their general purpose, and the additional class-like categories hint at how they behave in combat.
This system gives Astellia a deck-building flavor without turning it into a full card battler. You are still piloting your main character, but the companions add a layer of planning that can make routine content feel more tactical, especially when you start swapping Astels based on mechanics rather than raw stats.
End game: variety on paper, mixed results in feel
On the content list, Astellia checks many boxes: open-field activities that blend PvE and PvP, a dedicated PvP Colosseum, PvE progression in a Tower format, and guild wars that reward organization. Players who like rotating between modes will find multiple avenues to spend time, even if the overall gameplay structure stays within the standard MMO template.
That said, the experience is heavily influenced by technical performance. When stability or frame pacing falters, it is harder to appreciate the strengths of the combat and the companion system, and it can make larger-scale battles less satisfying than they should be.
Who Astellia was best for
Astellia made the most sense for MMORPG players who enjoy collecting and managing companions, and who like building flexible setups rather than locking into a single rigid role. If you wanted a traditional fantasy MMO with an added collection metagame, the Astel system provided a clear hook. If you were looking for cutting-edge visuals, exceptional optimization, or a radically new design, it was less likely to impress.
Astellia System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 7 or Higher (64 bit)
CPU: Intel i3 Series, AMD Phenom Series
RAM: 4 GB Ram
Video Card: Nvidia: GTS450, GTX650 / AMD: HD 6770
Hard Disk Space: 60 GB available space
Recommended Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 7 or Higher (64 bit)
CPU: Intel i7 or or AMD Equivalent
RAM: 8 GB Ram
Video Card: Nvidia: GTX 770, GTX 960 / AMD R9 / 280X
Hard Disk Space: 60 GB available space
Astellia Music & Soundtrack
Coming soon!
Astellia Additional Information
Korean Title: 아스텔리아
Developer(s): Studio 8 & Barunson Games
Publisher(s): Nexon
Platform(s): PC
Game Engine: Unreal Engine 3
Closed Beta Release Date: 2016 (China only)
Closed Beta 1: June 25, 2019
Official Release: September, 2019
Shut Down: October 29, 2021
Development History / Background:
Astellia is a fantasy TCG MMORPG created by Studio 8, an affiliate under Barunson Games, with publishing handled by Nexon. It originally appeared publicly under the working name Project A in 2014 before adopting the Astellia title. The PC version runs on Unreal Engine 3. Although testing was initially targeted earlier, closed beta plans shifted, and the first half of 2016 became the expected window for early testing phases. In South Korea the game operated as free to play, while the English release for Western audiences was positioned as a buy to play product. The first English closed beta started on June 25, 2019.
The Western version officially launched through Barunson E&A on September 28, 2019