Video games news, releases, esports and culture — all the biggest gaming stories in one place.
I did the math on my Wardogs XP grind, and now I wish I hadn’t
The PC Gamer writer calculates how demanding it is to unlock higher-level equipment in WARDOGS and concludes that the progression system requires an uncomfortably large time commitment. The issue matters because the game uses seasonal wipes, meaning players may spend much of a season grinding towards powerful gear before their progress is reset.
WARDOGS divides experience between six separate roles, and the XP requirements rise sharply beyond the early levels. Reaching level 20 in a role requires about 250,000 XP, while maxing one track takes roughly 3.48 million XP; the writer estimates that pursuing specific high-level unlocks can demand around 40–60 hours of focused play, potentially making the grind feel more like work than progression.
In short
- WARDOGS’ higher-level unlocks require a huge XP investment.
- One role can take roughly 3.48 million XP to max.
- Seasonal wipes make the grind feel especially daunting.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The progression system is intentionally designed to provide long-term goals for players willing to invest significant time, reflecting a valid design philosophy that rewards dedication. Not every player needs to pursue every unlock; the game accommodates varying playstyles and time commitments. Seasonal resets create structure and prevent entrenched advantages, keeping the game fresh and maintaining competitive fairness.
The case against
A 40–60 hour requirement for specific unlocks transforms progression into an obligation that prioritises time investment over enjoyment or skill, making the game feel more like work than play. Seasonal resets particularly frustrate this, as dedicated players' months of grinding are erased each season, rendering their time investment feel futile rather than rewarding. This design alienates players without vast time availability and risks making engagement feel mandatory rather than entertaining.
Explained simply
WARDOGS is a video game with a progression system where players earn experience points to unlock equipment and abilities. The game divides experience tracking across six separate roles, and the requirements to advance grow increasingly demanding as players level up.
The progression system matters because WARDOGS uses seasonal resets that erase players' accumulated progress at regular intervals. This means a player could invest considerable time grinding for powerful gear only to lose that progress when a new season begins.
The scale of the grind is substantial: reaching level 20 in a single role requires around 250,000 experience points, whilst completely maxing out one role track requires approximately 3.48 million. Players pursuing specific high-level unlocks can expect 40 to 60 hours of focused play, raising questions about whether progression feels like rewarding gameplay or tedious work.