About
Enshrouded is a survival action RPG for solo or co-op play, set in the fantasy kingdom of Embervale. A corrupting fog called the Shroud has consumed the land, and players must explore a large, handcrafted open world to reclaim it. Gameplay revolves around combat against corrupted creatures, uncovering secrets through exploration, and a deep building system that allows for full terraforming of the landscape. Players forge their own hero with flexible skill trees and craft the tools needed to survive and rebuild.
Verdict
Enshrouded delivers a magnificent, sprawling world that begs to be explored. Its survival mechanics are compelling, but the real star is a building system that gives you the freedom to reshape the terrain block by block. For a game that spent its early access building a reputation for polish, its 1.0 launch is unfortunately marred by new bugs and jarring performance stutters. Underneath the technical hitches is a top-tier adventure, but you may have to wait for a patch to see it run cleanly.
You'll like it if …
- +You want Valheim's survival loop combined with the freedom to build like in Minecraft.
- +Exploration and uncovering a world filled with secrets is your main drive.
- +You enjoy creating elaborate bases from scratch in a fully terraformable world.
You'll dislike it if …
- −Technical hitches like stuttering and frame drops are a deal-breaker for you.
- −You prefer games with focused, linear stories over open-world sandboxes.
- −Playing solo and hitting a wall in content balanced for groups frustrates you.
Breakdown
- +The core loop of exploring, fighting, and gathering is deeply satisfying.
- +Combat supports multiple playstyles, from melee to ranged and magic.
- +A glider and grappling hook make traversing the vertical world a joy.
- −Some late-game areas, like the Hollow Halls, are balanced for groups and can be punishing for solo players.
- −The combat system feels floaty and lacks impact for some players.
- +A vast, secret-filled world that offers hundreds of hours of exploration.
- +The building system is uniquely powerful, allowing players to edit voxels and build complex structures anywhere.
- +Flexible skill trees allow for extensive character customization and multiple playthroughs.
- +A custom game mode provides welcome accessibility options for difficulty and resource gathering.
- −Once the map is fully explored, endgame activities are currently limited.
- +Lore is effectively delivered through scattered notes and environmental storytelling.
- +Discovering the history of Embervale's fall creates a strong sense of journey and purpose.
- +Voice acting for lore books, added for the full release, is a welcome quality-of-life improvement.
- −The main plot is sparse and takes a backseat to exploration and building.
- +The art direction is stunning, with beautiful vistas and atmospheric lighting.
- +Navigating the eerie, dangerous Shroud feels distinct and visually striking.
- −The 1.0 release introduced significant performance drops and stuttering for many players.
- −Some report that post-launch visuals appear blurry or downgraded from the Early Access version.
- +The development team was highly responsive to feedback throughout Early Access.
- +Features like auto-looting chests show a commitment to improving player experience.
- −The 1.0 launch introduced new bugs, including issues with world editing and item pickups.
- −Keybinding options can be unintuitive and strangely linked across different contexts.
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