Farlight had an impressive 2024, continuing their successful partnership with Lilith Games to bring the much-anticipated AFK Journey to mobile gamers. As we move into 2025, Farlight is not slowing down, with one of their latest ventures, Ace Trainer, already making waves in its soft-launch phase in regions such as South Korea and the US.
So, what exactly is Ace Trainer? At its core, it's reminiscent of Pokémon, where players collect, train, and level up fantastical creatures to battle on their behalf. However, Farlight has added a unique twist inspired by games like Palworld. Instead of traditional turn-based battles, players deploy their creatures in a tower defense setting to fend off zombie hordes. This innovative approach adds a fresh layer of strategy to the familiar gameplay.
But that's not all—Ace Trainer also incorporates pinball mechanics, allowing players to shoot and collect resources, further diversifying the gameplay experience. This eclectic mix of genres, including tower defense, pinball, PvP, and PvE, might seem overwhelming, but it's a testament to Farlight's ambition to create something truly unique.
While the game is currently only available in select regions, its early soft launch indicates that Farlight has high hopes for Ace Trainer's global appeal. Although I'm based in the UK and haven't yet had the chance to play it, the combination of these popular elements is certainly intriguing, even if it raises questions about the game's long-term viability and balance.
For those who enjoy our candid takes on the gaming world, don't miss the latest episode of the Pocket Gamer podcast, where we dive into the exciting developments and news kicking off 2025.
