For the last seven months or so my main computer game play has pretty much been Valheim. The 'no map/no portal' mode has been employed during the play through which has covered a little over 1000 game days as of this writing. As Sons of The Forest has recently perked my interest for coop game play it seemed fitting to give Valheim a tip of the hat for the great entertainment it has been of late.
For those who have not heard of Valheim, it is an open-world survival game developed by Iron Gate Studio and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. Released in early access in February 2021, Valheim quickly gained popularity for its blend of crafting, exploration, and solo or cooperative multiplayer game play.
In Valheim, players take on the role of a fallen Viking warrior who finds themselves in the afterlife's tenth realm, known as Valheim. The world of Valheim is procedurally generated and features a vast and diverse landscape filled with forests, mountains, plains, and oceans.
Key features of Valheim include:
Survival Gameplay: Players must gather resources, hunt wildlife, and craft tools, weapons, and shelter to survive in the harsh environment of Valheim. They need to manage their health, stamina, and hunger while facing various challenges such as harsh weather conditions and hostile creatures.
Exploration: Valheim offers a vast and open world for players to explore, with different biomes containing unique resources, creatures, and dangers. Players can uncover hidden treasures, discover ancient ruins, and unravel the mysteries of the world.
Building and Crafting: Players can construct bases, fortifications, and settlements using a variety of building materials and structures. They can also craft weapons, armor, and other items to aid them in their journey.
Cooperative Multiplayer: Valheim supports cooperative multiplayer gameplay, allowing players to team up with friends or other players online to explore the world, build together, and tackle challenges as a group.
Boss Battles: Throughout the world of Valheim, players will encounter powerful boss creatures known as "The Forsaken." Defeating these bosses is a significant milestone in the game's progression, granting players access to new resources, abilities, and crafting recipes.
Progression: As players explore and accomplish tasks, they gain experience and progress through various skill trees, allowing them to specialize in different play styles such as combat, crafting, and exploration. Skills are advanced using a learn by doing system.
Valheim offers a compelling blend of survival, exploration, and cooperative game play set in a richly detailed and procedurally generated world inspired by Norse mythology.
The 'no map/no portal' mode is, as the name implies, a setting of game play where no in game map is available and travel portals are unable to be crafted. My experience is that this setting leads to a much more immersive style of game play. With a generational map no two playthroughs are alike.
The Valheim map is divided into different biomes. They break down as follows (with a few more set to be released in the future) ...
Meadows:
Meadows are the starting biome in Valheim, characterized by lush grasslands, scattered trees, and gentle hills. Meadows are relatively safe compared to other biomes, with abundant resources such as wood, stone, and wildlife for hunting. Players can find boars, deer, and other passive creatures here.
Black Forest:
The Black Forest biome is a darker and more densely wooded area compared to the Meadows. It is home to aggressive creatures such as Greydwarves and Greydwarf Shamans, as well as valuable resources like copper and tin deposits. Players can also find dungeons and burial chambers in this biome.
Swamp:
Swamps are murky and dangerous biomes characterized by stagnant water, dense fog, and poisonous creatures. Players must contend with leeches, draugr, and blobs while navigating the treacherous terrain. Swamps are rich in valuable resources like iron and thistle, but players must be cautious to avoid poison and drowning.
Mountains:
Mountains are harsh and unforgiving biomes featuring towering peaks, snow-covered slopes, and extreme weather conditions. Players must brave freezing temperatures and risk avalanches while traversing the mountainous terrain. Mountains are home to creatures like wolves and drakes, as well as valuable resources such as silver and obsidian.
Plains:
Plains are vast and open biomes characterized by flat terrain, sparse vegetation, and dangerous enemies. Players will encounter powerful creatures such as Deathsquitos, Fuling Berserkers, and Loxes in the Plains biome. While challenging, Plains offer valuable resources like barley and flax.
With its incredibly low price, of a little over $20CAD, Valheim offers hours of entertainment at an incredible bargain in my opinion! It gets my hearty seal of approval.