Today, a game with a building system that feels like Minecraft + Valheim + Conan Exiles all in one. Think of it as Minecraft, but grown up. We’re talking about Enshrouded, a co-op survival action RPG developed and released by Keen Games GmbH.
*This review was written the day before the new “Wake of the Water” Update launched, so any content and updates that were released are not included in today’s review.
Chicken Jockey
I used to play a lot of Minecraft. First on PC and later on console. That game consumed a lot of my time. I loved Minecraft because of the building, the creativity, and the freedom. I think that’s why I really enjoyed Enshrouded too. It’s definitely not a Minecraft clone, because this game is much more realistic (graphics) and way more RPG-like.
Story
In Enshrouded, you play as a Flameborn, one of the last survivors of your people. You wake up in a world threatened by a dangerous, mysterious mist. You head out to explore this world, defeat enemies, and slowly rebuild the old kingdom. You can create huge structures, upgrade your gear, and play together with others, up to 16 players at once.
Early Access
We have to keep in mind that Enshrouded is still in Early Access. The developers say they want to continue building the game together with the community. They want to actively listen to feedback and use it to add improvements and new content.
The game is not finished yet and will get more biomes, enemies, locations, crafting materials, recipes, gear, skills, and more building and decoration options when it fully releases. They say the current Early Access version is already complete at its core and offers plenty of fun, but will continue to expand. The price will go up after Early Access, so keep that in mind if you’re unsure whether to buy it now!
Gameplay
While exploring the world, you’ll search through ruins, wander the wilderness, and try to become stronger along the way. Your goal is to bring the land back to life. You do this by surviving and building. Build structures, work out every detail, and place NPCs who unlock new workstations and better gear. The Shroud has created deadly bosses and corrupted factions, and it’s your job to fight them. When I first launched the game, it immediately felt good. I quickly got the hang of the basic mechanics and started exploring the world. During combat, I noticed that dodging is super important. I built my own settlement and crafted all kinds of different items.
It really felt like playing Minecraft again, but in a more modern style. I did immediately notice that it’s an Early Access game, but I think you should look past that a bit and give the game a chance. I found the building system enjoyable and pretty easy to understand. It’s important to dodge properly during fights and use powerful abilities and spells so you can shape your own combat style as a Mage, Ranger, or Warrior. Without gear, you’re nothing, so craft and upgrade legendary weapons and armor. Expand your skills and make sure you master them!
Variety and issues
You’ll quickly notice that the game is a mix of fighting, exploring, building, and gathering. That’s why I think it fits really well with players who enjoy survival + RPG. And it’s super cool that the game has co-op, without forcing it. But I did have one moment where I thought: I’m closing the game and uninstalling it immediately. I was peacefully cooking my meat, no enemies anywhere. Out of nowhere, a wolf spawned in and started attacking me. Because of that, I respawned behind the fire, inside the fireplace. I was stuck, and the fire (and the wolf) killed me again, making it impossible to ever get my loot back.
Conclusion
Survival felt a bit too easy, and I really missed enemy variety. Combat became repetitive fairly quickly since it’s mostly a simple click-and-dodge loop. After a few hours, I started feeling “done,” even though the game itself wasn’t. I just didn’t feel encouraged to keep going.
Early Access is definitely noticeable, especially in frustrating moments like when a wolf suddenly spawned beside me and caused me to lose my loot permanently. Still, the core of the game is strong. The mix of building, exploring, fighting, and gathering works well, and for players who enjoy survival + RPG, this game definitely has potential. I played solo, and with co-op your sessions can easily become more fun and much longer. And since it’s still growing, there’s plenty of room for it to become something really good.
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