Enshrouded Early Access Review: A Promising Survival Crafting Game with Early Hiccups

Introduction: Unveiling the Enigmatic Realm of Embervale

In the realm of survival crafting games, Enshrouded emerges as a captivating contender, inviting players to embark on an immersive journey through the mystical world of Embervale. Developed and published by Keen Games, Enshrouded distinguishes itself with its unique concept, the Shroud, a mysterious magical fog that shrouds vast regions of the land. As players navigate this perilous environment, they must gather resources, construct structures, and engage in combat to survive the challenges that await them.

Building: A Realm of Creativity and Ingenuity

Enshrouded shines brightest in its exceptional building system, a testament to Keen Games’ expertise in voxel-based games. Building upon the foundations of Portal Knights, Enshrouded introduces an intuitive and powerful system that empowers players to create elaborate structures with remarkable ease. The game’s diverse selection of premade shapes and materials, coupled with the innovative mouse wheel control scheme, streamlines the building process, allowing players to swiftly select and manipulate components with precision.

Exploration and Combat: A Journey of Discovery and Conflict

While the building mechanics excel, Enshrouded’s exploration and combat elements present a mixed bag of experiences. The world of Embervale captivates with its vastness and visual splendor, boasting diverse biomes, ancient ruins, and intriguing points of interest. However, exploration can occasionally feel repetitive, with quests often leading players to familiar areas for resource gathering or combat encounters. The combat system, while functional, lacks inspiration, featuring a limited selection of weapons that offer a somewhat uniform gameplay experience.

The Shroud: A Double-Edged Sword of Mystery and Danger

The Shroud, Enshrouded’s central concept, serves as both its unique selling point and its Achilles’ heel. While the Shroud adds an element of tension and danger to exploration, it can also be a source of frustration and limitation. The constant time pressure and oppressive atmosphere of the Shroud can diminish the enjoyment of exploring the world above ground. Additionally, the Shroud’s fog can obscure the beautiful scenery and hinder navigation, detracting from the overall experience.

Technical Difficulties: Early Access Woes

As an early access game, Enshrouded is not immune to technical difficulties. Players may encounter crashes, performance issues, and bugs that can disrupt gameplay. While these issues are to be expected in early access titles, they can nevertheless be frustrating and detract from the overall experience.

Conclusion: A Promising Foundation with Room to Grow

Despite its early access status and technical challenges, Enshrouded showcases immense promise as a survival crafting game. The building system stands as a shining beacon of innovation, while the world of Embervale enchants with its beauty and scale. Although the combat system lacks depth and the Shroud can be a double-edged sword, there is a solid foundation upon which Enshrouded can evolve into a truly remarkable experience. With continued development and polish, Enshrouded has the potential to ascend among the top survival crafting games on the market.