Source-backed analysis8
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
8 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 11, 2026
How we review
Arknights: Endfield Review
Free 3D RPG mixing squad combat with automated factory building
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Fact-checked
- iOS
- Android
- Windows
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Suits players who want an anime-style RPG with a production-building layer and one account across several platforms. The main drawback is the gacha: currencies that are hard to track, pity that does not carry between banners, and a system the developers themselves admit is confusing.
Best for: Players who want squad combat plus factory building
Skip it if: Anyone who wants to avoid gacha and random-item purchases
Pros
- Free to download, with progression shared across mobile, PC and PS5 (per the publisher's press release)
- Combines real-time combat with squads of up to four operators and the AIC factory system
- Interface in 14 languages per the App Store, including English, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Thai
Cons
- Contains loot boxes; RPGSite calls the gacha "predatory" and GamesRadar+ notes criticism of convoluted currencies and opaque drop rates
- On 22 January 2026 some players paying by PayPal received unauthorised charges (since refunded)
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
More pros
- Rated 4.7/5 from about 98,700 reviews on Google Play and 4.5/5 from over 7,400 ratings on the US App Store
More cons
- The iOS app is 3.4 GB
Best for
- Players who want one account across mobile, PC and PS5
Experience & key features
What it is
Arknights: Endfield is a 3D real-time strategy RPG from GRYPHLINE that launched globally on 22 January 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, iOS and Android. Per the publisher's press release, it is the first Arknights title to move beyond mobile. Players take the role of the Endministrator, running Endfield Industries and expanding across the planet Talos-II.
How it plays
Players command a full squad of up to four operators in real-time combat, combining elemental effects to boost damage. Alongside it, the AIC (Automated Industry Complex) is used to build production lines and power grids. RPGSite, writing from pre-launch test servers, praised the visuals and combat but found AIC base-building complex and not very engaging, while noting building sims are not a genre the author usually enjoys.
Pricing and gacha
The game is free to download. On the US App Store, Monthly Pass costs $4.99, Origeometry packs range from $1.99 to $69.99, and the listing flags loot boxes. The publisher has not released a VND price list, so nothing is converted. RPGSite calls the gacha "predatory", pointing to pity that does not carry over and currencies that expire. In April 2026 the lead developer told GamesRadar+ the team is giving out more in-game currency, has added character selection permits and is looking at merging currencies; Hypergryph later clarified that gacha changes are still at the discussion stage.
More analysis
Platforms and updates
On PC the game is on the official launcher and the Epic Games Store, and Google Play also lists a Windows version. Per GRYPHLINE's press release, it arrived on Steam on 15 October 2026 with the free Sanctuary of Ink update, which adds a new main-story chapter, two operators (Si and Argent Flow), the Contingency Contract mode and a farm-and-inn activity, Yuanyuan's Blazing Stoves.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 11, 2026
Miễn phí / Free
PersonalFree
Free to download and play on iOS, Android, PC and PS5, with cross-platform progression. In-app purchases include random items (gacha).
Monthly Pass
Personal$4.99/mo
$4.99 as an in-app purchase on the US App Store; the listing does not state its duration or renewal terms. Origeometry currency packs cost $1.99–$69.99.
- Free plan limits
- Playable without paying. The lead developer told GamesRadar+ that free players can experience all content. New operators come mainly from gacha banners.
- Free trial
- No free trial
Cancellation & refunds
No general refund policy was found on the official pages reviewed. For the January 2026 PayPal incident, the publisher announced full refunds for affected orders.
Privacy
The App Store privacy label (self-declared by the developer, not verified by Apple) says usage data is used to track users; data linked to identity covers purchases, contact info, user content, identifiers, usage data and diagnostics. The Google Play Data safety section, also self-declared, says no data is shared with third parties, data is encrypted in transit and users can request deletion. This entry has not been cross-checked against the full privacy policy.
Arknights: Endfield alternatives
7.2/10Steam
Valve's PC game store, library and community, partly blocked in Vietnam
7.0/10Where Winds Meet
Free wuxia open-world RPG with cross-play on PC, console and mobile
Controversies & incidents
Issues documented by the press, regulators, courts or the vendor itself. Every item is sourced; unproven claims are labelled as allegations. Last researched: Nov 11, 2026
- Medium impactResolvedBilling ·
Unauthorised PayPal charges on launch day
Per Siliconera, on 22 January 2026 some players who had linked PayPal were charged for purchases they had not made. The publisher disabled PayPal and fully refunded affected orders.
Read the full account
Siliconera cites receipts shared by players showing varied amounts and currencies, with one user reporting €1,302.08 taken. Per the publisher's timeline (UTC+8): first report at 9:58, issue confirmed and PayPal disabled at 11:05, review finished at 18:20, and full refunds began at 18:30 for PayPal orders created between 9:36:51 and 11:05:36 via the official launcher and the topup.gryphline.com site, expected to complete within four hours. Players still without a refund were told to contact support with their region and in-game UID. The article does not state a technical cause.
Vendor response
Gryphline and Hypergryph acknowledged the issue on social media and Reddit, disabled PayPal to prevent further impact and fully refunded affected orders.
Sources:Siliconera
- Medium impactAllegedEthics ·
Criticism of the gacha mechanics and in-game currencies
RPGSite calls the gacha "predatory" and GamesRadar+ reports criticism of convoluted currencies and opaque drop rates. These are press assessments, not a regulator's finding; the developer acknowledges the system is confusing.
Read the full account
In a 20 January 2026 impressions piece written from pre-launch test servers, RPGSite said the many currencies are hard to track and some expire, later duplicates cost more pulls, pity does not carry over, and the 300 starting pulls barely cover the current rate-up banner. On 3 April 2026 GamesRadar+ wrote that the game drew criticism before and at launch for convoluted currencies, opaque drop rates and pity caps, and a rotating banner system that obscures how spending is tracked.
Vendor response
The lead developer (who goes by Ryan with press) told GamesRadar+ the team is giving out more currency, has adjusted the opening hours, added character selection permits and is looking at merging currencies, aiming for free players not to be paywalled. A Hypergryph representative later clarified that the gacha changes are at the discussion stage.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arknights: Endfield free?
Yes. It is free to download and play, with in-app purchases that include random items.
Which platforms does it run on?
iOS, Android, PC (official launcher, Epic Games Store, and Steam since 15 October 2026) and PlayStation 5, with cross-platform progression.
Does it support Vietnamese?
Yes. The App Store lists 14 languages, including Vietnamese, and the official website has a Vietnamese version.
Does it use gacha?
Yes. The App Store listing says it contains loot boxes, and Google Play notes in-app purchases of random items.
Review evidence & sources8
Scores
- Ease of use
- 7.2
- Features
- 8.0
- Value for money
- 6.8
- Performance
- 7.5
- Support
- 6.5
- Privacy & security
- 6.3
Why this score
Interface in 14 languages and shared progression across platforms. On the other hand, RPGSite found the AIC system complex, and the lead developer acknowledged players find there are too many currencies and said the team is looking at merging some.
Why this score
Squad combat, factory building and wide platform coverage. Per the press release, the Sanctuary of Ink update added a main-story chapter, two operators, the Contingency Contract mode and a farm-and-inn activity.
Why this score
Free to play, but the gacha draws criticism (pity not carrying between banners, many currencies) and currency packs go up to $69.99. The developer says it is handing out more resources and has added character selection permits, though gacha changes are still at the discussion stage.
Why this score
RPGSite reported a stable 60 FPS at very high settings on a Ryzen 5 5600X PC during pre-launch testing; the publisher cites 120 FPS, DLSS and FSR 3 support on PC. No reliable source measures mobile performance, so the score stays cautious.
Why this score
Support is by email. In the PayPal incident the publisher disabled the payment method within about an hour and began refunds the same day. No detailed help centre was found to assess further.
Why this score
The App Store label declares usage data for tracking and many data types linked to identity; Google Play says nothing is shared with third parties and deletion can be requested. Both are self-declared and have not been checked against the full policy.
What users say
- Google Play (United States)4.7/5 · 98,700
- App Store (US)4.5/5 · 7,452
Sources
- Vendor-providedOfficial websiteNov 11, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (US)Nov 11, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listing (US)Nov 11, 2026
- Vendor-providedGRYPHLINE press release: Steam launch and Sanctuary of InkNov 11, 2026
- pressAnime News Network: launch press release (2026-01-22)Nov 11, 2026
- pressSiliconera: PayPal charges incidentNov 11, 2026
- pressRPGSite: launch review impressions (2026-01-20)Nov 11, 2026
- pressGamesRadar+: Endfield lead on gacha (2026-04-03)Nov 11, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- Hypergryph (Gryphline)
- Headquarters
- China
- Launched
- 2026
- Category
- Entertainment
Capabilities
- Mobile app
Platforms
- iOS
- Android
- Windows
Interface languages
- English
- Vietnamese
- Japanese
- Chinese
- Spanish
- French
- Korean
- German
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Thai
- Indonesian
Integrations
- Epic Games Store
- Steam
- PlayStation 5
- Google Play Games (PC)
Support
Change history
- Feature.Steam launch alongside the free Sanctuary of Ink update (per press release).
- Update.The lead developer tells GamesRadar+ about plans to hand out more currency and merge some in-game currencies.
- Launch.Global free-to-play launch on PC, PlayStation 5, iOS and Android.
Full change history (4)
- Update.PayPal payments disabled after reports of unauthorised charges; affected orders refunded.
About the author
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