Valheim is currently available on early release on Steam. Therefore I will keep the game’s current status in mind during the writing of this review.
What is Valheim?
At the start of the game, you are a warrior who died in battle. The Valkyries have ferried your soul to Valheim, the tenth Norse world, besieged by creatures of chaos and the enemies of the gods. You are the newest custodian tasked with slaying Odin’s foes and bringing orders to Valheim.
The game, in my opinion, is best described as a survival RPG (Role Playing Game) which can either be played solo or as a Co-op (2-10 players).
From the very start, it encourages you to collect resources and start base building. Not eating or resting does not kill your character. However, eating and resting will increase your health and stamina, improving your chances of survival.
Even if you die, you are resurrected after all your character is already dead. Your new body wakes up either in your active bed. All st the starting location with no food or equipment. Your belongings can be retrieved from your corpse.
It is so easy to die in Valheim. From cutting down trees that fall on you to poor fire ventilation causing death by suffocation. That is before you even consider the enemies all around you.
Beating the forsaken in battle will open up new technology allowing you to progress through the game. Beating Eikthyr, the first forsaken enables the crafting of a pickaxe which can be used to mine both tin and copper in the black forest regions. The tin and copper are then be used to make bronze tools and weapons in preparation for your next forsaken battle.
Should I buy it?
According to Steam. At the time of writing, I played the game for 22 hours. I know I have only scratched the surface of the game.
Of the games I have played myself. It reminds me of Elder Scrolls Oblivion due to its skill system levelling up your character’s skills. It also reminds me of no man’s sky with longboats instead of spaceships.
The graphics are relatively low res for a modern game which, in my opinion, fits in well with the atmosphere of the game. The game isn’t yet complete, but the developers have a road map for ongoing development for the rest of this year, with the first significant update revolving around further development of the base building.
If you like survival, RPG or base building game. I would recommend that you buy the game and give it a try. I’m going to give the game five stars out of five.