Grab The Games: Valheim

Another day, another review for our fans! Today we’re heading into the Viking afterlife with Valheim, a survival adventure that has built a huge following around exploration, crafting, building, combat, and discovering a dangerous but beautiful world. One of the first things that stood out to me was the introduction. Being carried through the skies by the Valkyrie and getting a glimpse of the world below immediately gives you the feeling that you’re about to begin a real adventure. Soon after, Hugin, the familiar raven, begins guiding you through this mysterious land. It’s a simple but memorable introduction that does a great job of setting the tone for everything that follows.

Once you’re in the world, Valheim gives you a lot of freedom in how you want to approach your journey. You can gather resources, craft new equipment, build your own home, explore different biomes, sail across the ocean, fight dangerous creatures and bosses, or simply spend time improving your base. The progression is one of the strongest parts of the experience, as every new material and piece of equipment makes you feel more prepared for whatever comes next. I also really enjoyed the exploration. Every new area can bring something different, and travelling through forests, mountains, swamps and other environments makes the world feel like somewhere worth discovering. Sailing is another memorable part of the experience, especially when you’re heading toward a new destination and don’t know exactly what you’ll find along the way.The atmosphere deserves a special mention as well. The music, weather, lighting and environmental design can create some fantastic moments, especially when you’re simply travelling through the world or returning to your base after a long adventure. There is a great contrast between the peaceful moments of building and exploration and the more dangerous encounters that can suddenly turn an ordinary trip into a fight for survival.

If I had to mention a negative, the graphics are probably the first thing that could put some players off. Valheim uses a deliberately low-resolution visual style, and while I understand the artistic direction, some environments and textures can look dated compared with more modern survival games. That said, the atmosphere, lighting and world design often do a great job of making up for the limitations of the visual presentation. 

Another small issue is that the game can become quite demanding in terms of resource gathering and preparation, especially as you progress further. There are moments when travelling, collecting materials and getting everything ready for your next adventure can feel like a lot of work. However, for me, this is also part of what makes finally achieving your goal feel rewarding.

To sum it all up, Valheim is a fantastic survival adventure that gives you plenty of freedom to create your own stories. From that memorable introduction and Hugin guiding you through the world to sailing across the ocean, building your home, discovering new biomes and facing increasingly dangerous enemies, there is always something to work toward. The graphics may not be for everyone, and some of the resource gathering can become demanding, but the atmosphere, exploration and progression make the journey worthwhile.

If you enjoy survival games where exploration and creating your own adventure are just as important as combat, Valheim is definitely an experience worth checking out.

Dionysis Spinos

For a visual glimpse into the game’s atmosphere and mechanics, check out this gameplay video: