The performance is horrible even on my PC that greatly exceeds the requirements. I'm talking 25-50 FPS at 1080 on a 3080ti.

It does not look like it is going to improve as the game has already been out for years.

I am a prior-to-Steam release player with 100s of hours.

Fantastic game that has plenty of adventuring, crafting, questing, grouping, and soloing fun. This game starts off differently than other MMORPGs - it does not have a dedicated magic/caster class, and you start as a basic tank/dps/healer that does have further specializations later into deeper class mechanics, and adds "magic" in the form of alchemy at level 20. In addition, all the classes/specializations have numerous abilities beyond their melee-only abilities that fall into magic casting areas.

The starting combat feels slow at first, and it took me a few hours to get it and understand the mechanics. As you level you gain new abilities. As you pick your class specializations, you gain new abilities. When you obtain Alchemy, you gain new abilities. All of this adds up to more complex combat outside the initial basic levels - but be warned: higher level baddies also gain new abilities..... not just more HP/Damage.

Stick with this game until at least you obtain your specializations at level 6, and you at least move past the starter zone and the big city. Group up and go into a dungeon. Dive into an ember vein and explore. There is A TON of content beyond the first zone.

Are you tired of MMORPGs where you experience most of the game completely solo with little social interaction? This game might be for you.

MMORPGs from when I was a kid were designed so that early on while leveling you were confronted with the reality that you would HAVE to group with strangers. Embers Adrift shares this design and focuses on journey before destination while leveling. The shared experience that is exploring dangerous dungeons with strangers is a perfect formula for creating long lasting memories with strangers who often become long-time friends.

Combat starts out deceptively simple but you quickly gain access to the more unique abilities that distinguish your class from its counterparts. It became clear to me by level 20 that Embers Adrift has one of the most unique, balanced takes on the holy trinity. This is paired with one of the smoothest tab target combat systems in any MMO I've played. The cherry on top for me was combining this with a world full of genuinely rare gear to hunt and massive dungeons to get lost in.

It ain't perfect, but neither is the P2W triple-A slop that saturates the MMO industry. Kudos to Stormhaven and all Indie developers out there that stick with it despite the countless obstacles in their way.