Valheim – The Current Peak of Survival Games

None of us are strangers to the survival genre in gaming. Most of us have sunk countless hours into games such as Minecraft, Ark, Terraria and The Forest. Survival games offer many hours of fun when you go to explore the vast landmasses you are dumped on and try to survive on. The worlds are typically sandbox-like, meaning you can almost do anything you want with them. 

The newest arrival in the genre is Valheim. Valheim has so far sold millions of copies on Steam in a matter of weeks and it looks like it is going to cement itself as one of survival gaming’s most splendid titles. Let us discuss it more in detail.  

Valheim’s Premise and Theme

Valheim takes place in a Nordic mythological realm of the same name. It is a plane of the afterlife where Odin sends worthy champions to undergo his trials. You are sent there with no knowledge of your previous life and must survive in many different biomes ranging from the peaceful and tranquil Meadows to the dark and menacing Swamps where fierce undead Draugr seek to claim your soul.  

Surviving is not the main goal, however. Odin has tasked you by slaying 5 powerful and evil spirits he locked away in the realm of Valheim. They are known as The Forsaken. The Forsaken work like bosses in Terraria and provide a monumental challenge for even the most seasoned player. Prepare well and face these mighty beings.  

Minecraft’s Building and Terraria’s Progression

Valheim borrows concepts from some of the survival genre’s greatest games and fuses them together in a beautiful symphony. You have control over a 3d sandbox world that you can build and shape to your heart’s desire as in Minecraft. Then you have a progression system involving gear, tools, recipes and bosses like in Terraria.

This means that there is a little bit of everything for everybody. But you must generally do them together. A lot of things can only be built after killing certain bosses and looting their special items that help you progress further in obtaining new tools and of better quality. Similarly, you must build several comprehensive bases of operations in different biomes to kill the bosses and farm materials. You really cannot have one without the other.  

Brutal Survival

Valheim describes itself as a brutal survival game. After over 60 hours of playing and three bosses killed, we can only concur with that statement. Progressing through the game can be very scary and nerve wracking until you get used to the new environments and enemies. 

For example, whenever you go sailing it is like going on betting NJ to bet on a sports match; You never know what will happen. You might have a breeze sailing through the beautiful ocean or you will get annihilated by an angry sea serpent.  

In Valheim you must always be on your toes, but that is what makes succeeding in the game so rewarding.  

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