Into the Unexplored Darkness

I have been playing Valheim for the last couple of years and, at each turn, I’ve been sitting there going, “is this when I finally write a review of the game?” But then the next boss was defeated, the next zone was unlocked, and I had more content to explore and it didn’t feel right to get in and review the game at that time. I prefer to review video games when I’ve seen everything they have to offer, and while Valheim isn’t technically done yet (the final expansion, “The Deep North”, will come out later this year), I’m far enough in that I feel like it’s the right time to finally sit down and share my thoughts.

For those unaware, Valheim is a survival exploration game. You can think of it like Minecraft, but without the blocky graphics and a fair bit less mining. You play a Viking warrior who wakes up in a circle of stones, unsure how you got there or where you are. All you know is that you’re on a world where (unless you’re playing with friends) no one else exists. It’s you, the elements, and the various animals, monsters, and creatures all out to kill you any chance they get. Into that you are set to explore, adapt, and survive. Or die. A lot.

Like most survival exploration games, progress is gated around technology. You start off in the earliest zone, the Meadows, and you can explore around, figuring out the lay of the land. Branches and stones can be picked up, tools can be made, trees can be felled, houses can be built. Once you are far enough along, decked out in deer hide armor and carrying around stone weapons, you can strike out for the first boss. Killing them unlocks not only a special power you can use but also a crafting material of some kind that lets you explore the next zone with greater ease. And from there you use that zone to upgrade equipment, tools, and structures so you can then fight that zone’s boss and move into the next area. And on and on as things get more difficult and your tech gets more advanced.

It’s a simple gameplay loop, really, but one that allows you a fair bit of fun and creativity. You can build bases just about any way you want, going from lowly huts and sheds to massive, sprawling castles. Your weapons and armor get more advanced, making you feel like a god when you track back into easier areas. Your world opens before you, and as you explore you get to see new sights, fight new monsters, and die so many times. It works pretty well, and can be, at times, quite fun (so long as you don’t mind the horrible death part).

So how does the game feel moment to moment? Well, let’s take on the zones in order to see how the game evolves:

Meadows

This is your starting zone, the easiest place to explore. You’ll mostly see deer and boars, both of which can be killed for meat and skins. Berry can be picked, bees can be found, and basic construction elements can be collected. Exploration is quiet, simple, and easy. Wander the open plains and explore your continent. Just don’t venture off too deep into the darker forests because nasty greydwarves live there and they will kill you if you aren’t ready for them. This zone is safe, easy, and fun, and is a good taste of the game to come. I spent a lot of time here, just enjoying wandering around, exploring the countryside, and getting a feel for just how big my starting world was. It’s great.

Dark Forest

Once you’ve gained the ability to mine (from the first boss) you’re then ready to go out and explore the deeper forests. It won’t be easy, mind you, as the greydwarves become tougher and far more prevalent, and they are joined by nasty trolls as well. But if you want to be able to craft the next level of tools and armor you’re going to need a couple of new materials: copper and tin. Together with metals can be forged into bronze, and bronze forms the backbone of much of your equipment in the Dark Forest. Once you’re fully equipped you’ll feel stronger… although you won’t ever feel entirely safe because at any point, in the dark of night, a troll can come along and make you pay.

Swamps

The first real challenge many will face comes in the Swamps. Here we have draugers, undead warriors brought back to cause you pain. They’re joined by leeches, abominations, wraiths… it’s a lot of pain and the Swamps will make you feel it over and over. You will likely spend a lot of time just trying to get your footing here with everything out to kill you over and over again. But the reward is iron, the next level of metal, which is hidden in various crypts all over the Swamps. Iron is very effective, stronger, safer, more lethal, and once you have your gear upgraded… well, you’re still going to die, but less frequently. Unfortunately you’ll be mining a lot in the Swamps since iron goes in so many things. Get used to being damp and cold because you’ll never, ever have enough iron.

Mountains

I’ve seen people online complain about how hard the Mountains are, but this zone honestly felt like a breeze to me. In the center of main continents are higher peaks, covered in snow and ice. Scaling up will let you search for the next metal you need, silver, which is hidden out on the slopes of the mountains. Wrapped in furs and protected from the elements, it’s nice to sit in the snow and mine away, finding your true Viking self. But you will have to watch out for wolves, drakes, and stone golems, as they can all cause so much pain for the unsuspecting. Hit the slopes during the day then do yourself a favor and flee back down at night. It’s scary out there in the dark.

Plains

The next big difficulty jump comes when you reach the Plains. Although your upgraded silver weapons are nice, already the game presents you with the next resource you need: black metal. This comes from the corpses of dead fulings, little, green, frog-like humanoids that stalk you like you stalked everything before. You have to kill them, but the fulings are powerful foes that aren’t so easily dispatched, especially when all you have is silver. But the Plains also present plenty of new things to collect, hunt, and grow, and once you find your zone you might just want to build your next castle in the wild open grasses of this area. It’ll never be easy, but it will grow slightly more manageable over time.

Mistlands

Here is where the game really decides to up its challenge. If you thought the Plains were a struggle before, the Mistlands aren’t messing around. This territory is covered in thick mist (giving it its name) and if you don’t have wisps that will light your path forward you won’t make much progress. The Mistlands are steep, spiky towers of rock and stone, hard to scale and harder to navigate. Not that it will be much of a struggle for your foes, the nasty bugs, seekers, who are even more murderous than the fulings. And, unfortunately for you, killing these bugs is a must since they’re the only source of materials, their own scales and shells, you can use to upgrade your gear. Worse, even after you’re upgraded, they will still hit like trucks and laugh at your damage. Mistlands is the first time in the game you might consider stopping and, if so, I can’t really blame you. Getting past this zone is a bigger reward than exploring it.

Ashlands

And now we have true pain. It takes a lot to get to Ashlands – you have to make a special boat, sail through boiling waters, and land on a territory that absolutely hates you and wants you dead. Enemies are constantly coming for you while the very sky itself rains fire down on you. If you’re lucky you might find a small nook out of the way where you can set up a portal and begin to organize something like a base. More likely you’ll make land, die soon after, and have to make the whole journey again. And it never really gets any easier as the game has it out for you every second of every day. Ashlands is a miserable experience designed for those players that have seen and done it all and want “a greater challenge”. You only tackle the Ashlands if you are desperate for pain and like it rough…

That wasn’t meant to sound sexual. Please don’t take it that way.

Final Thoughts

I do enjoy Valheim. I like the moments of action when you’re taking on enemies and fighting through mobs. But I also like the quieter, introspective moments when it’s just you, on your base, building castles and organizing items. There are times where I’m peacefully sailing along, enjoying the waves as my boat cuts through the wind, and I feel like I’ve found a groove in the game. And then I go into Mistlands or Ashlands and the game makes me pay for ever thinking enjoyment was on the table. Valheim is a brutal survival game that loves making you wail. If that’s your cup of tea then this is likely a solid game for you. Just go in knowing you were warned.