My favorite fighting game is DIRT CHEAP right now, but play with caution: You might go insane

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All of For Honor is incredibly affordable right now, but only play it if you can avoid tilt.

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Though I've never felt drawn to many fighting games, one that immediately caught my eye when it released back in 2017 is Ubisoft's For Honor. I was an instant fan of its wholly unique "Art of Battle" third-person combat system, large character roster, and dark medieval setting, and over time, its status as my favorite multiplayer fighting game has been solidified. With that said, I've also been grappling with how I feel about it for a long time now, and there are some things you should know before you jump in yourself (you'll find my full thoughts below).

Right now, the For Honor Complete Edition that's normally $100 is on sale for just $17.20 at GMG (Ubisoft Connect, PC) for Cyber Monday, and it gives you access to the majority of the game's playable heroes as well as all of its game modes and some cosmetics. A similar discount is available for Xbox players as well, and less advanced editions of For Honor are heavily discounted under $10 on both platforms, too. Be aware that these deals could end any minute now that Cyber Monday is over, though.

For Honor Complete Edition |$99.99now $17.20 at GMG (Ubisoft Connect, PC)

For Honor Complete Edition | was $99.99 now $17.20 at GMG (Ubisoft Connect, PC)

The Complete Edition of For Honor gives you access to 26 of its 33 heroes, as well as all of its multiplayer modes, some cosmetics, and 60 days' worth of Champion Status that boosts your XP progression and offers some other small bonuses.

Also at: Amazon (Xbox, $19.99)

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For Honor Standard Edition | $29.99now $3.87 at GMG (Ubisoft Connect, PC)

For Honor Standard Edition | was $29.99 now $3.87 at GMG (Ubisoft Connect, PC)

Go with the Standard Edition and you'll get access to all 12 of the game's launch heroes, as well as the campaign and every multiplayer mode other than PvE Arcade. Overall, this is the best way to get into For Honor for cheap while still getting a good amount of its content.

Also at: Xbox ($4.49)

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✅Perfect for: Folks that like the sound of deep, brutal, and fast-paced melee combat with a heavy emphasis on skillfully reading your opponents

❌Avoid if: You're impatient or get frustrated easily. Seriously — this game can tilt like no other

👍Price Check: $19.99 at Ubisoft Store

🔍Our experience: For Honor review: This brutal Xbox One multiplayer packs a double-edged sword

⚔️Other For Honor deals: Marching Fire Edition (PC) | Marching Fire Edition (Xbox) | Starter Edition (PC) 

Deals STILL AVAILABLE!

The double-edged sword that is For Honor

A Raider and a Kensei duking it out in For Honor. (Image credit: Ubisoft)

Compared to the majority of fighting titles that operate on a 2D plane, For Honor's 3D third-person swordfighting system stands out quite a bit. In it, you're able to both attack and defend yourself in three different directions, utilizing various offensive and defensive maneuvers to cut down your foes or guard against their strikes. Every character can light attack, heavy attack (and feint those heavies, if they want), block, parry, dodge, or guard break, but each individual hero has unique combos and mixups they can perform to keep opponents on their toes. These lead into special moves like unblockable or undodgeable attacks, bashes, and knockdowns.

Cyber Monday 2023

Cyber Monday deals at Windows Central

(Image credit: Windows Central)

• Unbeatable Xbox bundles
• Xbox SSDs and expansion cards
• RTX 4050 gaming laptop for $599
• 700hrs in this game is 3¢ an hour
• Refurb Surface Pro 9 is just $639
• Microsoft Audio Dock is 80% off
• My favorite game is DIRT CHEAP
• Pick ROG Ally over the Switch
• Our top Xbox headset is $50 off

It's a lot to wrap your head around, especially now that For Honor has 33 playable knights, vikings, samurai, and other warriors — but once you've got a good understanding of how your hero works and what your enemy's is capable of, it'll start to click. The back-and-forth of trying to predict what your opponent will do next while trying to throw them off with your own mixups is absolutely thrilling, and thanks to the game's stellar animation work and intense medieval warfare backdrops, the moment-to-moment gameplay feels cool as hell.

The problem, though, is actually getting to that point. Even with its solid campaign and training modes that help ease new players into the experience, For Honor is extremely difficult to learn. Its fights are blisteringly fast, and just a few mistakes will often lead to a quick death. The game is rather notorious for being frustrating as a result, to the point where "why does For Honor make me so mad" is a common Google search. If you get irritated easily or you're not a patient person, this definitely isn't the game for you.

Ultimately, it's a double-edged sword. On one hand, the mind games of For Honor's stylish, read-based combat have led to some of the most heart-stopping moments of action I've ever experienced in gaming. But when you're just starting out, or when you face off against a much better player, it's hard not to get discouraged or downright angry. There's a lot to enjoy here, but you'll probably need to resist the urge to hurl your controller a few times before you see it. If you're eager to learn and able to keep your cool, though, you might just fall in love — and when lingering Cyber Monday deals have it this affordable, it's absolutely worth a shot.

In terms of game modes, there's a number of different 1v1, 2v2, and 4v4 playlists available, as well as a 6-7 hour campaign, PvE Arcade mode added with the Marching Fire expansion, and limited-time event modes. You'll unlock gear and customization unlocks for your heroes as you play these and level up with XP (gear only matters in 4v4, and even then it's marginal), as well as the Steel currency that you'll need to buy characters you don't have.

Notably, the Marching Fire Edition of For Honor that includes both everything in the base game and the four heroes and two modes from Marching Fire is available on Xbox Game Pass. If you subscribe to Microsoft's all-you-can-eat gaming service, using it to try the game out before buying it permanently isn't a bad idea.

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Brendan Lowry
Brendan Lowry

Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you'll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he's not writing or gaming, there's a good chance he's either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once. Follow him on X (Twitter).