AFK Arena Vs. AFK Journey: What’s the Difference? (2024)

AFK Arena made its debut in 2019, developed by Lilith Games. Fast-forward four years to 2024, and the company introduced their new canonical IP, AFK Journey, expanding upon the same universe with a fresh perspective. AFK Journey can be likened to an exploration of the question, "What if AFK Arena took the form of a narrative-driven adventure RPG?" However, the resemblance in title, shared mechanics, characters, and familiar game modes has left players pondering the relationship between the two games.

Fans are left questioning whether AFK Journey serves as a sequel to AFK Arena or if it stands independently. To clarify these uncertainties, this article will delve into the similarities and differences between these two captivating games.

How Does AFK Journey Differ From AFK Arena?

AFK Journey is the stand-alone expansion of AFK Arena, existing within the same universe and featuring overlapping characters. While both games share these elements, they diverge in gameplay style. AFK Journey offers a robust RPG adventure with a rich campaign, contrasting with AFK Arena’s turn-based RPG format.

Despite similarities, AFK Journey isn’t a direct sequel but rather expands upon the AFK universe, incorporating familiar mechanics such as Heroes, Factions, and Ascension. Both games present their own narrative, making them accessible independently. However, players of AFK Arena will find themselves more familiar with the combat dynamics of AFK Journey.

AFK Journey & AFK Arena Comparison

Lilith Games’ AFK Journey is a canon title set in the same universe as AFK Arena. Nonetheless, the two games notably diverge in gameplay, narrative, and visual presentation. Below is a comprehensive comparison delineating these distinctions.

Gameplay Comparison

Both AFK Arena and AFK Journey employ a turn-based combat system, but AFK Journey offers more intricate battles. In Journey, the inclusion of tiles, represented by empty blocks on the board, significantly impacts combat by determining attack direction and range. In contrast, AFK Arena’s formations are less complex, providing players with fewer opportunities for creative team compositions.

Another notable distinction lies in the Hero Types and Roles. In AFK Journey, Heroes are categorized by Factions and Classes, omitting Types and Roles, which simplifies battle arrangements. Additionally, the approach to leveling up (Ascension) and equipment upgrades differs. Upgrading five primary characters enhances the entire squad’s level, and equipment is used on all Heroes in the same class.

Story Comparison

AFK Journey has an extensive campaign comprising main and side quests, complemented by fully voiced cutscenes and dialogue. Conversely, AFK Arena features a straightforward progression-based narrative with minimal impact on gameplay and no cutscenes.

In AFK Journey, players embark on their adventure within an open-world map comprising four primary regions: Holistone, Golden Wheatshire, Dark Forest, and Vaduso Mountains. In contrast, AFK Arena’s world map consists of multiple smaller regions functioning as progression towers, which unlock progressively as players defeat adversaries in preceding regions.

Visuals Comparison

Graphic-wise, Journey and Arena have nothing in common. AFK Journey is a 3D adventure game available on both mobile and PC platforms. In contrast, AFK Arena is a 2D turn-based RPG designed specifically for mobile devices. One could perceive AFK Journey’s visuals as a revitalized iteration of AFK Arena’s universe, featuring familiar Heroes depicted in new 3D styles.

This evolution has influenced the file sizes of both games, with AFK Journey necessitating approximately a 2GB download, whereas AFK Arena occupies a mere 300MB of storage space.

AFK Journey shares a significant similarity with AFK Arena through the Hero roster. Lilith Games’ latest title incorporates thirteen characters from the 2019 release. Below is a list of characters featured in both games:

• Lucius (Lightbearer)
• Rowen (Lightbearer)
• Mirael (Lightbearer)
• Lyca (Wilder)
• Aeden (Wilder)
• Eironn (Wilder)
• Satrana (Mauler)
• Antandra (Mauler)
• Brutus (Mauler)
• Thoran (Graveborn)
• Niru (Graveborn)
• Silvina (Graveborn)

AFK Journey

Platform(s)

Android , PC , iOS

Released

March 22, 2024

Developer(s)

Lilith Games

Genre(s)

RPG