Dauntless

September 26, 2019RPGESRB E10+Metacritic 78

Available on

PlayStation 4 PC Nintendo Switch PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X/S Xbox One

Genres

The Verdict

Best if you want accessible Monster Hunter-style boss fights with friends across any platform—short, focused hunts that respect your time without sacrificing the thrill of learning monster patterns and upgrading gear.

Henk-Jan Uijterlinde

·September 9, 2026

Software architect and father of two based in the Netherlands. Been gaming since MS-DOS Mario. Writes honest recommendations for people with limited evenings and too many games left to play.

What It's Like to Play

Dauntless distills the monster-hunting formula into quick, digestible sessions perfect for casual co-op. Each hunt drops you and up to three teammates into an arena with a single massive Behemoth, and your goal is simple: learn its attack patterns, break its parts, and craft better gear from the spoils. Hunts typically last 10-15 minutes, making this ideal for squeezing in a session between other commitments or chaining several runs in an evening. The learning curve is deliberately gentle. Weapon types have clear identities—hammer for staggering, axe for charged damage, sword for mobility—and the onboarding explains combos and mechanics without overwhelming new players. Behemoths telegraph their attacks more clearly than Monster Hunter's elder dragons, giving you time to learn dodge windows and positioning. You'll still cart occasionally, but deaths feel like teaching moments rather than punishments. Progression follows a satisfying loop: hunt Behemoths, harvest materials, craft weapons and armor with specific perks, then tackle tougher variants. The game respects free players; all hunts and weapons are accessible without paying, with monetization limited to cosmetics and battle pass progression boosts. The battle pass does accelerate your reward track, but patient players can unlock everything through regular play. Crossplay is Dauntless's secret weapon. Whether your friends are on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, or Switch, everyone hunts together seamlessly. Matchmaking fills squads quickly, and the game handles cross-platform parties without friction. This convenience makes organizing sessions effortless compared to platform-locked alternatives. The main limitation is depth. Veterans of Monster Hunter's intricate systems might find Dauntless's streamlined mechanics shallow after 40-50 hours. Update cadence has slowed since launch, and the playerbase has stabilized at a smaller but dedicated core. Seasonal content keeps things fresh, but don't expect the endless endgame of live-service giants. Still, for the price of free and the convenience of drop-in co-op, Dauntless delivers exactly what it promises: approachable boss fights with friends, no strings attached.

Best For

Monster Hunter newcomers who want simpler mechanics and clearer feedback
Cross-platform friend groups needing hassle-free co-op
Players seeking quick 10-15 minute sessions that feel complete

Not For

Monster Hunter veterans seeking deep crafting and complex systems
Solo players—hunts are balanced for groups and feel tedious alone
Those expecting constant content updates and massive active communities

Overview

About Dauntless

Dauntless takes place in a fantasy setting, where a cataclysmic event has torn the world apart, releasing monster-like Behemoths that prey on the surviving humans. As a Slayer of Ramsgate, you are all that stands between your world and the Behemoths that seek to devour it. Hunt huge monsters, alongside other Slayers on any platform, and craft awesome gear in this stylish free-to-play co-op action RPG.

Reference

At a glance

Released: September 26, 2019
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
Genres: RPG, Adventure, Action
Play modes: Single Player, Multiplayer, Co-op, Online Multiplayer, MMO
Age rating: ESRB E10+
Time to beat: 1 hours
Multiplayer: By platform
Metacritic: 78
Player rating: 3.5

Media

Screenshots

Click any screenshot to view it full size.

Playtime

How long to beat

Player-reported completion times for Dauntless.

Typical: 1hoursStory plus some extras

Playing together

Multiplayer by platform

How Dauntless supports playing with other people, broken down per platform.

Multiplayer capabilities for Dauntless by platform. Capabilities with no published information are marked "not documented".
Platform	Local	Online	LAN	Split-screen	Co-op campaign	Drop-in/out
PC	No	Yes, up to 4 players	No	No	Yes	No
PlayStation 4	No	Yes, up to 4 players	No	No	Yes	No
Xbox One	No	Yes, up to 4 players	No	No	No	No

Supported (a number is the player cap)
Not supported
Not documented for this platform

CrossplayFull Crossplay

Team sizes · Co-op parties up to 4 players

Online-only co-op action RPG with hunts for up to 4 players in a shared online world. No local, LAN, split-screen, or PvP. Full cross-play and cross-progression across PC (Epic Games), PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch via Dauntless/Epic account. Typical hunts are 1–4 players in a party; public city hubs host many more players. Requires internet connection; console online subscriptions (PS Plus, Xbox online) may be needed for multiplayer.

Content

Age ratings

How rating boards around the world have classified Dauntless. Open a board for its content descriptors.

CEROC

Violence

ESRBE10+

Fantasy Violence
Alcohol Reference

PEGI12

Violence

Action role play game in which your character completes quests and joins in online co-operative missions to hunt behemoths.

Buying it

Edition and platform notes

Which version to buy, and what differs between platforms.

Platform Recommendations

Full crossplay across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch means you can play with anyone regardless of platform. Progression syncs across devices, so you can hunt on PC at home and continue on Switch during travel.

Coverage

Featured in our articles

This game appears in 2 articles on this site.

Best Free-to-Play Co-Op Games on PS5 (2026)

#12

Dauntless has always been a clean concept for this list — free monster-hunting co-op for four players with fast matchmaking and a readable loop. The problem is its current state. A major Awakening relaunch in late 2023 and 2024 reset player progression and changed the monetization structure, generating significant community frustration. Development activity and update cadence through 2025 showed signs of reduced investment from Phoenix Labs. If you verify it's actively supported at the time you're reading this and community sentiment has stabilized, it's a worthwhile accessible co-op pick. But recommending it without that verification would be irresponsible, which is why it stays here rather than in the main ten.

Read article →

Best Free Co-Op Steam Games to Play in 2026

Streamlined Monster Hunter

#11

Dauntless earns its spot as an accessible Monster Hunter alternative that prioritizes quick 10-15 minute hunts over grind. Crossplay support means Steam players can squad up with friends on any platform, while readable monster telegraphs and clear weapon roles make co-op coordination instant. Fair cosmetic-only monetization keeps hunts balanced, though the battle pass accelerates progression for impatient players.

Read article →

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about this game, answered by our team.

How hard is it for beginners?

Very approachable. Clear tutorials, telegraphed attacks, and forgiving early hunts let you learn at your own pace. Weapon combos are simpler than Monster Hunter, and you can practice against easier Behemoths before tackling endgame challenges.

How long does a typical hunt take?

Most hunts last 10-15 minutes with a competent group. Early Behemoths fall faster (5-8 minutes), while endgame variants might push 20 minutes. Perfect for quick sessions without long-term commitment per run.

Can I play solo or do I need a group?

Technically soloable, but hunts are balanced for 2-4 players and feel sluggish alone. Matchmaking fills groups quickly, and crossplay means finding teammates is rarely an issue, even on smaller platforms.

Is the free-to-play model fair?

Yes. All hunts, weapons, and progression are free. Monetization is cosmetics and battle pass XP boosts—nothing affects hunt difficulty. Patient players unlock everything; impatient ones can pay to speed cosmetic unlocks.

How much content is there?

Expect 30-50 hours to see most Behemoths and weapon types. Endgame variants and seasonal content add replay value, but updates are less frequent than at launch. Best enjoyed in focused bursts rather than as your only game.

Game data and imagery provided by IGDB.com

Dauntless