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

Delving into the Myst and Enchantment of Enshrouded

In the vast realm of open-world survival crafting games, Enshrouded emerges as a captivating contender, drawing comparisons to the genre-defining Valheim. Developed by Keen Games, Enshrouded invites players to explore the mystical land of Embervale, a world shrouded in mystery and brimming with both beauty and peril. While it comes close to recapturing the magic of Valheim’s initial release, Enshrouded still has a journey ahead before it can truly ascend among the titans of the genre.

The Shroud: A Double-Edged Sword

At the heart of Enshrouded lies the Shroud, a mysterious magical fog that blankets vast regions of Embervale. Venturing into the Shroud triggers a relentless countdown, a constant reminder of the danger that lurks within. Failure to escape before the timer expires results in instant death, adding an ever-present sense of urgency to exploration.

While the Shroud undoubtedly serves as Enshrouded’s unique selling point, it can also be its Achilles’ heel. The low visibility, oppressive atmosphere, and relentless time pressure can often feel more frustrating than engaging. The game’s true beauty lies in the sprawling and meticulously crafted world above the Shroud, where diverse biomes, ancient ruins, and hidden secrets beckon exploration. In contrast, the moments spent within the Shroud can feel like a chore, detracting from the overall experience.

Building: Enshrouded’s Shining Beacon

Where Enshrouded truly shines is in its exceptional building system. Keen Games, drawing upon their experience with Portal Knights, has delivered one of the most user-friendly and versatile building systems in the survival crafting genre. Using a Flame Altar, players can designate safe havens for construction and unleash their creativity with a vast array of premade shapes, malleable blocks, and intuitive controls. The ability to seamlessly switch between building parts and materials using the mouse wheel is a stroke of genius, elevating the building experience to new heights.

Combat: A Work in Progress

Enshrouded’s combat system draws inspiration from Valheim, featuring dodging, parrying, and a variety of weapons. While it offers more depth than many survival crafting games, requiring players to pay heed to enemy attack patterns and adapt accordingly, it is far from perfect. The weapons themselves lack differentiation, with swords, axes, and maces feeling like variations on the same theme. As a result, combat can often feel repetitive and uninspired.

Exploration and Progression: A Journey of Discovery

Much of Enshrouded’s early game revolves around quests that introduce players to the game’s mechanics and guide them towards discovering crucial traversal items like the Grappling Hook and Glider. These tools greatly enhance mobility, making navigating Embervale’s vast landscapes less arduous. Players will also encounter other survivors who, once awakened, can be recruited to provide valuable crafting recipes. While these NPCs essentially serve as glorified workbenches, their presence adds a sense of community to the otherwise solitary experience.

Multiplayer Potential: A Glimmer of Camaraderie

While this review focuses solely on the single-player experience, Enshrouded holds immense potential for multiplayer greatness. Building and exploring alongside friends can alleviate the loneliness and inject a layer of cooperation and camaraderie. However, the lack of character development and the static nature of the NPC companions can make the single-player experience feel somewhat melancholic.

Technical Issues: A Blemish on the Experience

As an early access title, Enshrouded is not without its technical difficulties. Crashes, save game issues, and performance drops can be frustrating, especially when they result in lost progress. While these issues are to be expected in early access games, they can still detract from the overall experience.

Conclusion: A Solid Foundation with Room for Growth

Despite its early access status and technical hiccups, Enshrouded has the potential to become one of the most popular and well-regarded survival crafting games. Its exceptional building system, evocative world, and solid combat mechanics provide a strong foundation for future development. While it may not yet surpass Valheim’s lofty heights, Enshrouded is a game worth keeping a watchful eye on as it continues to evolve.

Review Score: 7/10

Pros:

* Exceptional building system with intuitive controls and a wide range of options
* Evocative and visually stunning world with diverse biomes and hidden secrets
* Sound combat mechanics that require skill and adaptation
* Potential for engaging multiplayer experiences

Cons:

* The Shroud can be more frustrating than engaging, detracting from the overall experience
* Weapons lack differentiation, making combat feel repetitive
* Single-player experience can feel lonely and melancholic due to the lack of character development and static NPC companions
* Technical issues, including crashes, save game problems, and performance drops, can be frustrating

Overall, Enshrouded is a promising early access survival crafting game with a solid foundation. While it has some rough edges and technical issues to iron out, its strengths in building, exploration, and combat make it a game worth watching as it continues to develop.