Tree of Savior: NEO Review — The Beautiful MMO Reborn with Modern Upgrades
As someone who’s spent countless hours in the original Tree of Savior, I returned to Tree of Savior: NEO with cautious optimism. The game always had a soul — a hand-painted world, music that stirred emotion, and a flexible class system that begged to be experimented with. But it also had its flaws: grind-heavy progression, overwhelming systems, and a clunky interface. With the NEO update, IMC Games has taken a bold step toward revitalizing the experience, and it’s clear this isn’t just a patch — it’s a rebirth.
What is Tree of Savior: NEO?
Tree of Savior: NEO is not a separate game, but a sweeping overhaul of the original Tree of Savior, launched as a major content and system update. It reworks nearly every core system, including combat mechanics, class progression, skill usage, item growth, and user experience. The goal is to streamline gameplay, reduce unnecessary complexity, and make the game more accessible without sacrificing its depth.
As a returning player, I immediately felt the difference — not just in polish, but in direction. And as someone who played through the original’s highs and lows, this feels like the version of Tree of Savior we always hoped it could become.
Game History — The Roots of NEO
The original Tree of Savior was developed by IMC Games under the direction of Kim Hakkyu, the visionary behind Ragnarok Online. It launched globally in 2016 and earned a loyal fanbase due to its 2.5D hand-drawn visuals, vast class tree, and nostalgic gameplay. Over the years, however, it struggled with bloated systems, unbalanced content, and a steep learning curve.
In 2023, Tree of Savior: NEO was introduced as a major reboot-style update. Rather than fragmenting the player base, IMC unified the community by modernizing the game while retaining its signature aesthetic and charm. The update has brought in new players and brought back veterans alike — and it shows.
Streamlined Progression and Class Rebalancing
The original game’s complex class system has always been a double-edged sword. With over 80 class options and deep build synergy, it offered freedom — but also confusion. NEO simplifies progression without dumbing things down.
Classes have been rebalanced across the board, with clearer roles, smoother damage scaling, and more intuitive synergy between builds. Many outdated or underused skills have been replaced or merged, and there’s now a clearer path from early game to endgame.
Skill effects have also been visually upgraded — animations are crisper, cooldowns feel more meaningful, and combat pacing is much more responsive. There’s still plenty of theorycrafting for hardcore players, but it’s no longer punishing for casual or returning players to experiment.
Combat — Faster, Smarter, Flashier
Combat in Tree of Savior: NEO has seen a massive overhaul. It’s still action-based, but now smoother, more reactive, and better balanced across classes. Skills combo more naturally, enemy AI has been tuned for better pacing, and there’s less screen clutter in chaotic fights.
I found myself enjoying the moment-to-moment gameplay far more than in the past. No longer was I juggling dozens of unimpactful skills — every ability felt purposeful and punchy. Whether I was playing a DPS-focused Wizard or a defensive Cleric hybrid, the flow of battle was more fluid than ever.
A World Worth Rediscovering
The world of Tree of Savior remains one of the most charming in MMO history. The NEO update thankfully preserves its distinctive hand-drawn aesthetic. Towns bustle with life, landscapes feel like paintings, and dungeon designs are both imaginative and atmospheric.
While much of the original map remains, NEO introduces improved zone flow, modernized questing, and better dungeon integration. Leveling no longer feels like a chore — it’s more of a guided, immersive journey with bursts of challenge and exploration.
Music That Still Resonates
One thing IMC Games never needed to fix was the music — and thankfully, they didn’t. The soundtrack in Tree of Savior: NEO remains a highlight. Whether it’s the jazzy energy of Fedimian or the haunting echoes of a remote forest zone, the music elevates the emotional tone of every area.
New compositions have been added with the update, and they match the quality and spirit of earlier works. For returning players, this is a beautiful reminder of why they fell in love with the game to begin with.
New Player Experience — A Huge Step Forward
One of Tree of Savior’s biggest flaws used to be its punishing onboarding. That’s changed dramatically in NEO. From revamped tutorials and clearer class descriptions to a vastly simplified gear system and quest pathing, the game is far more welcoming now.
Inventory and UI management are also cleaner — clunky menus have been condensed, redundant currencies trimmed, and most features are more discoverable than before.
This makes a huge difference for retention. Where the original game overwhelmed new players with too many systems too early, NEO lets players grow into the complexity without being crushed by it.
Monetization — More Balanced, Still F2P
Tree of Savior: NEO maintains the free-to-play model with a cash shop, but the gap between paying and non-paying players feels less severe. There are still convenience items, costumes, and XP boosts available for purchase, but fewer progression bottlenecks demand your wallet.
It’s not entirely free from “pay-to-convenience” elements, but it’s far more respectful of player time and less aggressive than in years past.
Performance and Community Health
Stability has improved noticeably. I encountered fewer frame drops, shorter load times, and more stable party connections. The servers feel more active too, thanks to a combination of returning veterans and curious newcomers checking out NEO.
Community-wise, the vibe remains friendly and helpful. Whether through Discord, forums, or in-game chat, I found guides, parties, and support easily. IMC also seems more responsive in terms of events and balance patches — a good sign for the game’s future.
Final Verdict — Tree of Savior: NEO Is the Game It Was Meant to Be
Tree of Savior: NEO is not just a patch. It’s a redemption arc.
It retains the visual beauty, musical elegance, and class depth that made the original shine — but it now comes with the polish, accessibility, and pacing that modern MMOs demand. For me, it rekindled the old magic I felt when I first logged into Tree of Savior years ago — only now it’s smoother, more balanced, and more welcoming to all kinds of players.
Whether you’re a returning veteran or someone who missed the original launch, Tree of Savior: NEO is absolutely worth experiencing. It’s a rare MMO that blends style, nostalgia, and gameplay depth into something truly soulful.
Score: 8.5/10
Refined, refreshed, and reinspired — Tree of Savior: NEO is the beautiful MMO it was always meant to be.
NEOCRAFT LIMITED
