Where Winds Meet is a Chinese RPG (role-playing game) which simulates the Jianghu experience as a solo and multiplayer game. It has risen in popularity and appealed to many who initially turned away from it due to its MMO (massive multiplayer online) elements.
Now, there are many elements that contribute to the game’s success, but there is one large factor that stands out to me for its popularity. Its attempt to replicate the Jianghu experience.
The Jianghu is a universe in which martial arts dominate in the world and people can cultivate their bodies to becoming stronger through these arts. There are a variety of sub-genres within the Jianghu but there tends to be elements that remain.
Usually, there are sects which are groups of people who practice and cultivate together within a set of guidelines and martial arts. For Where Winds Meet, there are many sects, though only a portion of them of joinable currently. Each have their own values and guidelines that can change how players focus on aspects of the game.
The Midnight Blades is a sect known as warriors. They are lone cultivators who seek battle as they earn karma for when victorious. The way to be invited to the sect reflects this very ideology; players have to receive an annihilation token which can be earned by killing any mob. To ensure your spot in the sect, the sect asks for players to seek another kill.
The sect is known to be the PvP (player versus player) sect. Players can gain sect reputation (an in-game currency) through the PvP gameplay modes which is combat-oriented. For players who enjoy the PvP content, the Midnight Blades is a great sect to join.
These in-game actions and missions through the Midnight Blades show how sects can influence the way players focus on gameplay modes in Where Winds Meet. Different sects seek players to focus on different play modes whether it’s playing music and learning dance or spending a certain amount of money in a certain time period.
The Jianghu is all about cultivators being able to have a space and power to do whatever they want to do. Cultivators can decide to join a large sect and rise in the ranks or they may wander aimlessly and acts as a judge by their own morality.
Different people live within the Jianghu. It’s not simply cultivators but regular civilians, merchants, and other trades. It’s a living world that lives alongside the martial arts world. And Where Winds Meet reflects this as well. Players can choose to focus on being a doctor, healing NPCs (non-playable characters) in their own solo world and even other players in the multiplayer world. They can be a scholar, debating to help those who were falsely accused or debating philosophy. Players can be a merchant, gaining their supply of items and selling it during periods they can make the most money.
Where Winds Meet doesn’t limit many of its rewards outside of the cosmetic gacha. There are multiple avenues to earn rewards and a variety of gameplay modes for in-game currencies to be obtained. The game rewards player who take part in the game’s recreation of the Jianghu.
No matter the NPC, each have their own little worlds and moments placed within the game. Some are normal, day-to-day worries about prices increasing for products or the newest gossip on the block. Some are hints and clues to larger backstories about the world and its lore. Other NPCs play a much larger role of changing the flow of power in the Jianghu itself.
The world lives outside the player. Just like players are learning about the world, the world is learning about the player and their place in the Jianghu. It’s a space each player has a part in rather than a world that has made a space for each player.
Why are your thoughts about the setting of Where Winds Meet? How do you think the Jianghu shines in the game? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below or in our Boss Rush Discord!
Featured Image Source: Everstone Studios
Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games
The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship show of Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network. Each week, hosts Corey Dirrig, LeRon Dawkins, Stephanie Klimov, and Pat Klein, as well as their friends, fellow creators, developers, and industry veterans, share their gaming experiences. They discuss what they’ve been playing, explore rotating segments, debate the Boss Rush Banter topic of the week, answer community write-ins, and more. Patreon subscribers at any tier enjoy exclusive access to the Boss Rush Podcast Patreon Show twice a month along with other perks and extras.
Follow and Connect with Boss Rush Podcast on Social Media
X/Twitter + Bluesky + Instagram + Threads + YouTube
Listen to Boss Rush Podcast on Podcast Services
Apple Podcasts + Spotify + Goodpods + Amazon + More Links
Thank you for supporting Boss Rush Podcast and the Boss Rush Network
Thank you for watching or listening to The Boss Rush Podcast. If you’re watching this episode on YouTube, hit the Subscribe button, Like the video, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss an episode! If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, consider leaving us a rating and a review as it helps with discoverability and growth. Support Boss Rush on Patreon for exclusive content, early access and audio versions of shows, become a Patreon Producer, and more. Visit our website for all of our content including reviews, news, daily Boss Rush Banter discussion topics, listicles, features, and more. However you support us, it means so much to us. Thank you for your continued support of the Boss Rush Podcast and the Boss Rush Network.
Leave a Reply