This is definitely a game that gets your head out of the water in terms of healthy game designs & monetisation.
Every time I go into a different online game, it's like I'm drowning again.

Gameplay is fantastic, the freedom of movement makes everything feel fluid and natural.
For looting, crafting and upgrading, the game is extremely fair. Only issue is that crafting stuff usually takes an absurd amount of times (3.5 days for new characters). However, each character is very distinct and they all have their purpose.

The beginner experience is well polished for such a big game, but players going alone usually end up very confused. Be prepared to look at online guides and the wiki after a while. I also recommend finding a clan, asking for help or getting a higher level friend to help you learn the basics and give you tips.

Powercreep exists, whether it's for weapons or for characters. It isn't as bad though, as the amount of power-crept content is usually very low and it doesn't mean stuff is completely unusable. You can stick to one/a couple characters or weapons for up to a few years with only few changes to your loadout if you wish.
You do need extensive resources and think about your loadout mods (upgrade modules) if you want to tackle high-level content. The upside is that loadouts can be changed on a whim and the game gives you testing areas.

In terms of monetization, Warframe is a prime example to study for game designers. It is one of the primary reasons this game is still as popular today. Every single mechanic is available for free and in a fair amount of farming. The paid currency is called "platinum" and can be exchanged between players. It can be used to bypass the farming of regular weapons & characters, aswell as buy cosmetics such as skins, accessories or color palettes..
Exception for "tennogen" cosmetics, which are player-made items voted by the community. They can only be bought using actual money. They make up for about 50% of the cosmetics currently and are often the better looking stuff.

This game's economy is one of the biggest parts of the community, and it becomes very simple after a while to trade for platinum. As an example, veteran players might find themselves farming prime gear and selling it, to buy more rare upgrade resources or stock up on platinum for the future.

I definitely recommend at least trying the game, it's free and the free experience is not hindered at all by the paid currency. Stay open-minded and don't be scared to try out new things!

This is definitely a game that gets your head out of the water in terms of healthy game designs & monetisation. Every time I go into a different online game, it's like I'm drowning again. Gameplay is fantastic, the freedom of movement makes everything feel fluid and natural. For looting, crafting and upgrading, the game is extremely fair. Only issue is that crafting stuff usually takes an absurd amount of times (3.5 days for new characters). However, each character is very distinct and they all have their purpose. The beginner experience is well polished for such a big game, but players going alone usually end up very confused. Be prepared to look at online guides and the wiki after a while. I also recommend finding a clan, asking for help or getting a higher level friend to help you learn the basics and give you tips. Powercreep exists, whether it's for weapons or for characters. It isn't as bad though, as the amount of power-crept content is usually very low and it doesn't mean stuff is completely unusable. You can stick to one/a couple characters or weapons for up to a few years with only few changes to your loadout if you wish. You do need extensive resources and think about your loadout mods (upgrade modules) if you want to tackle high-level content. The upside is that loadouts can be changed on a whim and the game gives you testing areas. In terms of monetization, Warframe is a prime example to study for game designers. It is one of the primary reasons this game is still as popular today. Every single mechanic is available for free and in a fair amount of farming. The paid currency is called "platinum" and can be exchanged between players. It can be used to bypass the farming of regular weapons & characters, aswell as buy cosmetics such as skins, accessories or color palettes.. Exception for "tennogen" cosmetics, which are player-made items voted by the community. They can only be bought using actual money. They make up for about 50% of the cosmetics currently and are often the better looking stuff. This game's economy is one of the biggest parts of the community, and it becomes very simple after a while to trade for platinum. As an example, veteran players might find themselves farming prime gear and selling it, to buy more rare upgrade resources or stock up on platinum for the future. I definitely recommend at least trying the game, it's free and the free experience is not hindered at all by the paid currency. Stay open-minded and don't be scared to try out new things!