Subsequent to Keen Games announcing Enshrouded last year, things are stitching together fairly well. With multiple unrestricted Steam demo opportunities since its May 2023 reveal came much anticipation. To little wonder, as genre-wise, it ticks a lot of boxes; Action-Adventure, Survival, Fantasy, Open-World, RPG, and Sandbox all-in-one. Enshrouded is marketed as a ‘co-op survival crafting A-RPG’. Albeit most my gameplay preview was performed solo over co-op. Still, both versions of playthroughs were gratifying.
Similar to titles like Valheim, co-op only uplifted an already enjoyable gameplay experience, which I map out in detail below. Although, it should be iterated that (like Valheim) a solo player still can receive a “full” experience for all that in an early one. However, with Enshrouded, the survival gameplay experience is relatively more hospitable to solo and casual players.
Enshrouded early-access is currently available for PC on Steam for $29.99.
Story – Scattered Pieces
In the magical realm of Embervale, the protagonist’s ancestors fell their own kingdom through a lust for mystical power. Through their greed, unbound a plague that enshrouded the world. First, the protagonist (player) has a Skyrim-esque “You’re Finally Awake” moment and player learns they play as the Flameborn. Naturally, one of the few of a dwindling race. Before long, player steps out into the world unveiling the beauty of Embervale.
From there, it’s player’s choice. Player is free to choose their path and shape their destiny. There is a journal to outline the main quest and unlike Valheim or Raft, this game is quite story-heavy. Again, player chooses to explore either the story or other aspects of the large map. On the surface, are pretty and peaceful-ish areas where player can explore old ruins and gather materials from salvage or the land for crafting and survival. But the underbelly holds the “Shroud” and these sub-zones are found all across the map.
Pretty and Peaceful.
Gameplay – Quality Material
Character customization held over a dozen presets for player’s Flameborn appearance. The sex choice was the biggest influence in how the Flameborn presented. Early-access held no way to edit detail features like height, body mass, facial structure, or skin tone outside of presets. Hairstyles and facial hair can be applied no matter the gender. Dozens of hair stylings to choose from and about 8 colors for both head and face. There are 5 male and 5 female presenting voices that can be applied no matter the preset. There does not currently appear to be an avenue to alter an existing character. Also, here is where the player will name the Flameborn.
No matter your playstyle as you get situated into the world, in order to progress, player must prepare to journey into the Shroud. The Shroud is a pestilent fog that carries stronger enemies and valuable resources. Within Shrouded zones are challengers that could be seen as “bosses”. Defeating them alters the world and looting their corpse gave further reward. From an early-access preview and without giving away too many spoilers, cleansing the Shroud is likely the closest thing to an endgame system for Enshrouded.
Building + Crafting – Stitch-by-Stitch
If in need of respite from the gloom, the player can return to the surface where a base is available for claim. This is where the game’s strong-arm can be most flexed. Enshrouded features a voxel-based world meaning Embervale presents an almost entirely destructible environment. Cementing further the player’s choice aspect giving nearly total control over base-building. Furthermore, the building mechanics boast both prefabs for inspiration as well as a rotational, single-block feature for really precise and detailed creation. “Surface” enemies were mostly easier to defeat but provided me an unhurried leveling up experience avoiding the Shroud. More on all of this a little further down.
Crafting the glider enables the most fun mechanic of the game. I really appreciated being able to fast-travel a huge map but gliding adds even more QOL.
The Underbelly of Embervale
Adventure-Survival – …of the Fittest
Gathering and crafting was seemingly the focal point of gameplay. Previewing Enshrouded played out like a survival game but the action-adventure element was the main driver to the experience. Hunger/Thirst/Rest mechanics are currently not traditionally centered to the player’s survival. Although the Flameborn carries multiple buffs the player can augment based on player actions. For example, consuming cooked food and resting in a sheltered and warm environment buffs the player’s health and stamina regen. For me, this incentivized me to “take care” of the Flameborn more rather than looking at alleviating things like food insecurity as another chore in my survival.
Unlike traditional survival games, the day/night cycle doesn’t appear to impact the game other than a little more enemies come out at night. My casual playstyle appreciated not having to worry about raids. This may change as game development scales in early-access.
Combat – Eye of the Needle
Fighting while previewing Enshrouded also helped lean the game further into the action-adventure element. There are a quite a few weapons to choose from with all mostly limited durability. This is where gathering and crafting stays the focal point. Melee and ranged combat was point-and-click with decent combat animations for a survival game. RPG elements take center stage in the skill tree system as players level and accumulate skill points. Warrior, Ranger, Mage and in-between classes improve the nature of the combat mechanics.
In solo-play with a slightly more casual playstyle it was a test for me to render a core gameplay loop. With little survival elements to hunt for real QOL improvements for survival I found myself focusing more on exploration. In coop, my partner played the role of building (an amazingly detailed) base while I piddled around and tried to gather resources. Again, as I usually assign myself the role of researching and exploration in coop survival. With QOL elements being self-managed through the “buffs”, the real fun in coop would be in conquering the Shrouds with friends. As a player that tried to “hail mary” a mob or two solo that is not recommended unless you’re buffed, geared, and leveled. Once again, solo play is enjoyable but two or more sets of hands are better than one in both crafting and combat.
Get by with a little help from friends…
Graphics & Sound – Only A Few Patches Needed.
It’s a beautiful game in both sight and sound for most tastes. I was both moved and rightfully disturbed by the music. The developers and composer(s) did a fine job at setting the right tone for the corresponding settings. Most notably and without giving away too many spoilers, when I was within the Shroud, there was a certain tension that I really did not enjoy. Understandably, the Shroud isn’t supposed to be pleasant. It took me awhile to get acclimated to the murkier areas but after exploring for awhile there were sometimes where I found there was not much to be afraid of after all. Still, the overall look and mood of the atmosphere created an anxiety in the Shroud that I would deem a mild spoiler but worth mentioning for this preview.
Also, the environment is pretty for being so malleable. Harkening back to being voxel-based, the player can carve their way through mountains without disrupting the overall aesthetic of the game. Now nitpicking, but their destruction noises could use some amping up. Axing down a mountain or ruined building, the sound of your tools striking against the material sounded flat. The tree chopping animation was also awkward. It was a twisting of the top half of the Flameborn’s body.
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- An Action-Adventure Awaits
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- Deep in the Shroud
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- Lively Environment
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- Lots to Explore
Enshrouded was previewed on PC thanks to a key provided by Keen Games and Evolve PR
