- Highguard has an average user score of just 2.0/10 on Metacritic.
- This score puts it below Code Violet’s score of 2.5/10, a major shock since Code Violet was a technical mess.
- Critic reviews also put Highguard and Code Violet next to each other, but the former pulls ahead when looking at the score.
Highguard’s launch reception is no secret at this point. Only days after its release, this 3v3 first-person shooter has become famous for its poor Steam reviews and dwindling player counts.
At the same time, reception on Metacritic paints a gloomy picture of the title. Highguard is now the worst-rated game of 2026 when looking at user reviews on the platform.
Why it matters: Earlier this year, Code Violet became the worst user-rated title, but Highguard has now managed to dethrone Code Violet, something very unexpected.
At the time of writing, Highguard has just 127 user reviews on Metacritic. The average score currently stands at 2.0/10, putting it below Code Violet’s score of 2.5/10.
Delving into the reviews, Highguard has received a bunch of scores in the 0/10 and 1/10 range from players. Reviews point out familiar issues within the game, including the optimization and the overall mismatch between the gameplay and map size.
Highguard has also received criticism for offering a mixture of gameplay elements taken from different first-person shooters while bringing little else to the table in the department of creativity.
Other points mentioned in these reviews point to lackluster graphical fidelity and art style, the anti-cheat requirements, boring gameplay, etc.
Compared to Code Violet, Highguard is still in a much more stable state, but both games stand side by side on Metacritic currently, even when looking at the critic reviews.
However, critics have been far kinder to Highguard, even if the overall Metascore is still standing at 65/100 after the first four reviews. In the aftermath, it remains to be seen whether Wildlight Entertainment will go through with the planned year-long support for the first-person shooter.
If things turn out terribly, the game might meet a similar fate as Concord, a release many had been comparing Highguard to since day one.
What do you think about the first-person shooter so far? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[Senior News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than 5 years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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