Rend
Rend is a faction-driven survival MMO that drops you into a harsh fantasy wilderness where PvP conflict is only half the problem. Players swear allegiance to one of three rival groups, build and fortify a home base, and fight to stay alive while demonic forces repeatedly test the map with dangerous assaults. Between gathering, crafting, and progression, the game aims to blend Rust-style survival tension with realm warfare and boss-focused PvE.
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Publisher: Frostkeep Studios Playerbase: Shut Down Type: Survival MMO Release Date: July 31, 2018 (Early Access) Pros: +Three-way faction conflict. +Deep crafting and progression loops. +Build variety through talents and skills. Cons: -Hard to learn and punishing early hours. -Can feel grindy and repetitive over time. |
Rend Overview
Rend takes the familiar survival sandbox formula and anchors it around three-faction war. The moment-to-moment loop is built on gathering materials, crafting better gear, and upgrading a defensible base, but the real pressure comes from being squeezed between enemy players and recurring demon invasions. If you have played titles like Conan Exiles or Rust, the structure will feel recognizable, except Rend constantly nudges you toward faction objectives and coordinated group play.
At the start, you pledge yourself to one of the three sides, Revenant, Conclave, or Order. From there, the world becomes a mix of territory contention and PvE danger, where roaming monsters, harsh conditions, and rival groups all compete to slow your progress. Building matters because your stronghold is not just a storage spot, it is meant to endure attacks and serve as a staging point for raids and resource runs. Progression comes through better equipment and a talent and skill system that lets players specialize rather than feeling locked into a single role.
Exploration is also tied to power. Powerful artifacts and rare resources are scattered across the map, and securing them can tilt fights in your faction’s favor. On top of that, boss encounters encourage alliances within your faction, rewarding coordinated groups willing to travel into dangerous regions and take on high-risk targets for valuable loot.
Rend Key Features:
- Factional Warfare – pick a side from three competing factions and fight over resources, territory, and long-term advantage.
- Base Defense – build up a stronghold that must survive both PvP pressure and repeated demon attacks.
- Talents and Skills – shape your character with a range of abilities that support different combat and survival approaches.
- Extensive Crafting – convert gathered materials into weapons, tools, and upgrades that push progression forward.
- Boss Hunting – group up with allies to challenge dangerous bosses in the frozen wilds and claim rare treasures.
Rend Screenshots
Rend Featured Video
Rend Review
Rend’s best idea is the way it layers survival gameplay on top of a three-way conflict. Many survival games devolve into isolated clan drama or random skirmishes, but Rend tries to give PvP a larger context by making every fight part of a broader faction war. When servers are active, that structure can create memorable sessions, scouting enemy movements, escorting gatherers, and defending bases while the world itself pushes back with hostile creatures.
A survival loop with a clear PvP purpose
The core loop revolves around harvesting resources, crafting equipment, and constructing a defensible base. What stands out is how often those basics feed directly into faction competition. Resource routes and points of interest become contested not just because they are convenient, but because denying an enemy faction access can matter. This makes even routine runs tense, especially when you are carrying materials that represent real time investment.
Combat and character building
Combat leans toward practical, survival-style encounters rather than elaborate MMO rotations. Fights tend to be decided by positioning, preparation, and group coordination, particularly when multiple factions collide. The talents and skills system adds a welcome layer of identity, letting players lean into preferred playstyles. It is not purely cosmetic progression, it changes how you approach fights and how useful you are in a group, whether you focus on damage, utility, or survivability.
Demon assaults and PvE pressure
The demonic invasion element is more than background flavor. It gives the world a persistent PvE threat that can interrupt PvP plans and punish weak defenses. In practice, it creates a rhythm where factions need to manage both outward aggression and internal readiness. When it works, it prevents the game from becoming a purely player-driven deathmatch and reinforces the importance of building smart, not just building big.
Crafting depth and long-term grind
Crafting is one of Rend’s strongest pillars, with enough layers to keep dedicated players busy. The downside is that the same depth can become a barrier for newcomers. Understanding what to prioritize and how to progress efficiently takes time, and early mistakes can feel costly. Over longer play periods, the gameplay can also start to repeat, especially if your sessions become a cycle of gathering, defending, and re-gearing after setbacks.
Difficulty and learning curve
Rend is not gentle. The systems, the threats, and the PvP all demand attention, and it can feel unforgiving if you are playing solo or learning without experienced allies. Players who enjoy mastering complex survival games will appreciate the challenge, but anyone looking for a more relaxed sandbox may find the pace demanding.
Overall: Rend is an interesting blend of survival crafting and faction warfare with a strong PvE antagonist in the form of demon attacks. Its strengths are most visible when you have a group and a server population that supports meaningful faction conflict. Its weaknesses are the steep onboarding and a loop that can become repetitive once you have seen the main patterns.
Rend System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 7 / 8 / 10
CPU: 2 GHz Dual Core 64-bit
Video Card: DirectX10 Compatible GPU with 1 GB Video RAM
RAM: 4 GB
Hard Disk Space: 10 GB
Rend Music& Soundtrack
Coming Soon!
Rend Additional Information
Developer: Frostkeep Studios
Publisher: Snail Games
Announcement Date: March 14, 2017
Release Date: July 31, 2018 (Early Access)
Shut Down: January 31, 2020
Development History / Background:
Rend was created by Frostkeep Studios, a team formed by former World of Warcraft developers Jeremy Wood, Mat Milizia, and Solomon Lee. The studio later brought in additional talent from major multiplayer projects, including developers with League of Legends experience, plus Overwatch composer Neal Acree. Rend was officially revealed on March 14, 2017, positioning itself as a survival game built around faction warfare and large-scale conflict.
The game entered Steam Early Access on July 31, 2018, and servers ultimately went offline on January 31, 2020. While its lifespan was limited, Rend remains a notable attempt to merge open-world survival crafting with structured, three-sided PvP and recurring PvE threats.