Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (PS5) - Review

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is in many ways Far Cry: Avatar Edition—a massive open-world game set on the lush, alien moon of Pandora. It’s visually impressive, the world is huge, and there’s plenty to explore... but maybe a little too much.

The game starts off slow, with long distances to travel on foot, lots of cutscenes, and a whole lot of dialogue that doesn't always land. But once you get past the intro, it opens up and starts giving the player more freedom. That’s when it gets more enjoyable.

Taking down RDA factories and outposts can be pretty fun, especially the first few times. Sneaking through the jungle, planning your attack, and using your Na’vi agility feels satisfying—until it starts feeling repetitive. After a while, it’s just another base to clear, another device to hack, another thing to collect. Enemies are also really tiny and weirdly accurate with their shots, which makes combat more frustrating than it needs to be. It doesn’t feel super balanced, and you’ll often find yourself getting hit by someone you can barely see.

There’s some character customization, but since the game is in first-person for most of the time, it doesn’t really matter much. You don’t see your character often, so all the effort feels kind of pointless—except when you're riding your Ikran, which thankfully is in third-person and genuinely one of the better parts of the game. Soaring across Pandora on your banshee feels awesome and captures that “Na’vi simulator” vibe in the best way.

The world itself is beautiful and dangerous. From toxic zones and plants to wildlife that will definitely try to kill you, Pandora is alive and deadly. It’s one of the game’s biggest strengths—but also its weakness. The world is so big and filled with repetitive "fetch quests" that it can feel more like a chore than an adventure.

The characters and dialogue don’t help much either. Most of the people you meet aren’t very interesting, and the writing doesn’t do much to make you care. The story could’ve been tighter and more focused—something smaller in scope with better pacing would’ve worked a lot better. Still, there are some genuinely fun moments scattered throughout, especially if you're a fan of the Avatar universe or just enjoy open-world games with a sci-fi twist.

TL;DR:

Big, Beautiful, and bit Boring 

Frontiers of Pandora has its moments, especially when you're flying through the sky on an Ikran. But a dull story, forgettable characters, and repetitive missions hold it back from being something truly special.

Final Rating: 7/10

Pros:

- Gorgeous open world with lots of detail  

- Flying your Ikran is genuinely fun  

- Pandora feels alive and dangerous  

- Some good moments of open exploration  

Cons:

- Weak story and boring characters  

- Repetitive missions and fetch quests  

- Frustrating combat with tiny enemies and perfect aim  

- Slow start with lots of walking and cutscenes  

- Customization doesn’t feel meaningful in first-person

Verdict:  

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora nails the look and feel of the world, but the gameplay is stretched too thin. It’s fun in bursts—but there’s too much filler between the highlights. Fans of the world might still enjoy it, but it’s hard not to wish for a tighter, more focused experience.