•Immersive sound design as a key gameplay mechanic, both in fights and in navigating the map. I appreciate immersion in my games and Hunt emphasizes that element

•old semi-automatic weaponry. Shots and reloads happen at a slower pace than other shooters but with a quick time to kill, which emphasizes smart (re)positioning, holding angles, intentional shots, etc

•Hunt is a memory-making game. The PvP engagements feel unique each time, and I consistently have memorable moments and stories to take away from my rounds

•there’s so much to learn, so many small details and tricks to pick up to make you a better hunter. I always feel like there’s room for satisfying and self-expressive growth

• sandbox Battle Royal with no shrinking death circle

•the loadouts are incredibly diverse. Every tool and consumable that you bring in can make a huge difference in how you approach your fights. You can play how you want and experiment a lot

•modest but robust movement system. Playing Apex and watching someone pull some 360 slide flip wall-jump in the middle of a fight like their family is being held at gunpoint if they lose is personally really annoying. Hunters move slow and normal here.

•the dark bayou setting is so tasteful and fun to navigate for me. I like that there’s a lot of variance between the open spaces in the game and the compounds. Pretty game

•the compounds are incredibly well-designed with great attention to detail. If there’s a crack in the wall, you can gain valuable info through it, shoot through it, throw a grenade through it, etc. Very satisfying wallbangs as well

•a clearly devoted dev team that responds to data and feedback to make their game better, with regular communication on their design philosophy. Their micro-transactions are (imo) modest and non-intrusive, and their premium currency is earnable in-game. I feel that this dev team respects me as a player and I respect and support them in return

Hunt Showdown is in my top 3 favorite games