Broken Ranks

Broken Ranks is a low-fantasy PC MMORPG from Whitemoon Games, built around an open world, a mature narrative, and simultaneous turn-based combat. It is the modern successor to The Pride of Taern, but it is not presented as a renamed Steam edition or a rebranded storefront product. The PC version is distributed through the official Broken Ranks client, while Steam availability remains unconfirmed by the developer.

A low-fantasy MMORPG with a fast tactical loop

Broken Ranks combines classic isometric RPG exploration with the persistent social structure of an MMORPG. You travel through cities, settlements, wilderness routes, mountaintops, and dangerous ruins while following a non-linear story about Taernian refugees resisting the Utorian invasion. Quests can involve moral choices, personal conflicts, and plot twists rather than only combat objectives.

The main gameplay rhythm is straightforward but demanding: explore an area, accept or uncover quests, fight hostile creatures, improve your character, and return to the wider world with new options. You can play alone, form a party, join a guild, or cooperate with other players during difficult encounters. Exploration is not simply a path between battles, because the game uses its world, factions, trading systems, and player activity to make the shared setting matter.

How Broken Ranks combat works

The defining feature is a JRPG-inspired turn system in which combatants choose their actions at the same time. You have roughly 10 seconds to select an attack, defensive action, spell, or support ability before the round resolves. This makes battles more immediate than traditional menu-driven RPG combat while preserving the importance of prediction and team composition.

Because actions are selected simultaneously, reading an opponent can be as important as selecting a powerful ability. Players must consider incoming damage, enemy behavior, class roles, cooldowns, and the likely choices of allies or PvP opponents. Party play adds another layer: the seven classes have different strengths, and their abilities can create useful combinations when coordinated correctly.

The combat format works in both PvE and PvP. Open-world exploration leads to fights against monsters, bosses, and special enemies, while competitive play includes open-world PvP and tournament-style battles. Open PvP is not simply a permanent condition for every character; the official rules describe systems and factions that let players opt into specific forms of conflict.

Seven classes and distinct party roles

Character creation offers seven classes: Fire Mage, Voodoo, Druid, Barbarian, Knight, Archer, and Sheed. Each class has shared abilities as well as skills that are exclusive to its own playstyle, so the choice affects both solo combat and party value.

• Fire Mages focus on powerful ranged fire damage.
• Voodoos specialize in mental attacks and weakening enemies.
• Druids provide healing, support, and control through nature-based abilities.
• Barbarians are aggressive melee damage dealers.
• Knights protect allies and strengthen the party.
• Archers apply precise ranged pressure and enemy debuffs.
• Sheeds use melee attacks aimed at vulnerable areas.

This structure gives Broken Ranks a stronger role-playing identity than a simple class-and-level treadmill. A class is not only a visual choice; it changes how you approach fights, which groups want you, and how you contribute when enemies become resistant to direct damage.

Story, world, and MMO progression

The setting follows Taernians who were forced from their homeland by the Utorian hordes. The story focuses on displacement, survival, political conflict, and the attempt to rebuild a scattered nation. Its low-fantasy tone emphasizes ordinary hardship alongside monsters, magic, and large-scale events.

Progression extends beyond combat statistics. Players take part in guild activity, trading, crafting, expeditions, boss encounters, and the broader community economy. Strong equipment is tied to defeating bosses, special enemies, crafting, and player trading rather than being presented as a straightforward shop shortcut. This creates a long-term mastery loop for players who enjoy improving a character through knowledge of encounters and the marketplace.

The shared world also gives Broken Ranks a different rhythm from a conventional single-player RPG. You may spend one session progressing through story content and another preparing for a party expedition, recruiting guild members, or arranging trades. Players who enjoy careful party tactics without giving up an online community may also appreciate the darker expedition pressure found in turn-based dark-fantasy RPGs such as Darkest Dungeon, although Broken Ranks is built around a persistent multiplayer world rather than a single-player roster.

Free-to-play model and premium economy

Broken Ranks uses a free-to-play model. The PC game itself is available through the official client without a mandatory purchase, and the developer states that the full game can be enjoyed without buying premium currency.

The premium currency is called platinum. It can be traded between players for gold, items, or other agreements, and it can also be earned through selected in-game activities and events. Platinum is used for premium options, appearance changes, services, and other convenience features. The official monetization information states that valuable combat equipment is obtained through gameplay, bosses, special mobs, trading, or crafting rather than simply purchased from the item shop.

This model will appeal to players who are comfortable with a long-running online economy and optional premium services. It may frustrate players who prefer a fixed-price RPG with no marketplace, premium account, or persistent online requirements.

PC client, languages, and online features

On PC, Broken Ranks uses its own official game client rather than a confirmed Steam, Epic Games Store, or GOG release. The developer’s FAQ states that Steam availability is still under consideration, so players should not assume that Steam achievements, Steam Workshop, Steam Cloud, or Steam Remote Play are supported.

The game is designed around keyboard-and-mouse PC play through the official launcher. The developer does not prominently document full controller support, native ultrawide support, mod tools, or a dedicated server package in its public PC information, so those features should not be treated as guaranteed catalog features. In-game voice chat is also not included; players use external community channels for voice communication.

PC localization includes English, Polish, Russian, German, French, and Portuguese. Server communities are organized around language options, with both dedicated-language and multilingual environments available. The same account ecosystem also connects with the Android version, and official information states that PC and mobile players can share servers and progression where supported.

Who should play Broken Ranks?

Broken Ranks is a good fit for players who want a persistent fantasy world, tactical combat that rewards fast decisions, class-based party cooperation, and a story with a darker social tone. It especially suits fans of online RPGs who prefer planning and prediction over real-time action rotations.

It is a weaker match for players seeking a solo-only campaign, fully real-time combat, cinematic presentation, or a simple progression path without trading and premium systems. The simultaneous action timer also means that battles are not slow, passive menu exchanges; even turn-based specialists must make decisions under pressure.

Similar games and player fit

The closest comparison points are not identical substitutes. Broken Ranks combines MMORPG persistence with turn-based combat, whereas fantasy turn-based strategy games such as Songs of Conquest emphasize territory, armies, and campaign maps rather than character-driven online progression. The useful comparison is the shared interest in deliberate decisions, class or unit roles, and fantasy worlds where preparation matters.

Choose Broken Ranks if you want the social economy, guild structure, and recurring online activities of an MMO. Choose a conventional single-player RPG if you want a self-contained story that can be completed without an account, persistent server, or player marketplace.

Broken Ranks FAQ

Is Broken Ranks a new name for The Pride of Taern?

Broken Ranks is the modern successor and expanded version of Whitemoon Games’ earlier Taern universe. It is not currently presented as a renamed Steam edition of The Pride of Taern.

Is Broken Ranks free to play on PC?

Yes. The PC game follows a free-to-play model. Platinum and premium services exist, but the developer states that core content and valuable equipment can be accessed through gameplay, crafting, bosses, special enemies, and player trading.

Does Broken Ranks have multiplayer and co-op?

Yes. You can play solo, form parties, join guilds, cooperate during expeditions, and participate in PvP. The combat system is designed to support class combinations and coordinated party actions.

Is Broken Ranks available on Steam?

The current official information points PC players to the developer’s own client. Steam availability is still described as under consideration, so Steam-specific features should not be assumed.

How many classes are in Broken Ranks?

There are seven classes: Fire Mage, Voodoo, Druid, Barbarian, Knight, Archer, and Sheed. Each has its own abilities and tactical role.

What languages does the PC version support?

The PC version is officially described as supporting English, Polish, Russian, German, French, and Portuguese. Server selection also reflects the game’s language communities.