Valheim, RuneScape Dragonwilds, and Enshrouded Compared
Three major survival crafting games, Valheim, RuneScape: Dragonwilds, and Enshrouded, have recently launched. This article compares their key features and mechanics.
Three major survival crafting games—Valheim, RuneScape: Dragonwilds, and Enshrouded—have all reached the significant milestone of their official 1.0 launches in a single month. This unusually crowded release window has led fans to ask an essential question: which game deserves to be at the top of their gaming wishlist?
With insight from seasoned players Andrea Shearon and Christopher Livingston, who have each logged countless hours in these titles, a thorough comparison of each game's features and gameplay mechanics can ultimately help players make an informed choice.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Valheim | RuneScape: Dragonwilds | Enshrouded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Map | Procedurally generated | Handcrafted | Handcrafted |
| Fast travel | Player-crafted portals with item limits | Player-crafted portals that require runes as currency | Unlockable fast travel points and limited player-crafted bases |
| Thirst and starvation | No thirst or starvation mechanic, but food buffs are vital | Adjustable thirst and starvation mechanics with food buffs (enabled by default) | Adjustable thirst and starvation mechanics with food buffs (disabled by default) |
| Inventory capacity | Slots and weight | Slots and weight | Slots only |
| Death penalties | Skill XP/levels lost; leave behind a gravestone with inventory to retrieve | No XP loss; leave behind a gravestone with inventory to retrieve | No XP loss; leave behind a gravestone with inventory to retrieve |
| Item durability | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Crafting from storage | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Structural integrity | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Sleep through nights | Skips nighttime | Skips nighttime | Speeds up nighttime |
| Comfort/Rest | Provides rested buff through furniture and decor with comfort values | Requires sleep to replenish rest meter; separate coziness buff requires a bed | Provides rested buff through furniture and decor with comfort values |
| Dynamic weather | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Grid snap | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Terraforming | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Stats and leveling | Gain XP and levels in various skills and weapon proficiencies upon using relevant tools or crafting benches | Gain XP and levels in various skills and weapon proficiencies by using relevant tools or by collecting output from crafting benches. Some proficiency levels include stat bonuses or new abilities | Level up through combat and exploration; each level rewards skill points to spend on additional stats or abilities |
| Raids | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Dungeons | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Fishing | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Farming | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Taming and ranching | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Mounts | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Quests | A few optional sidequests; progression is instead driven by exploration | Main story quests drive world progression; sidequests reward optional bonuses | Main story quests drive world progression; sidequests reward optional bonuses |
| Creative Mode | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Photo Mode | ❌ (Has option to hide HUD, can control camera with console commands) | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Custom difficulty | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Official mod support | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Multiplayer | 1-10 players | 1-6 players | 1-16 players |
| Steam Deck compatibility | Verified | Playable | |
| Crossplay | ✔️ Available between PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S (and Switch, pending an update) | ✔️ Available between PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S (and Switch, pending an update) | ❌ Planned for future update |
| Price | $30/£24 (Steam) | $30/£25 (Steam | Epic) | $40/£35 (Steam) |
Game Overview
Valheim
Valheim has captured players' attention with its distinctive procedural generation, allowing for fresh experiences on each playthrough. It's celebrated as the go-to survival crafting experience, particularly thanks to its unique challenges and immersive world that fosters exploration and cooperation among players. The game features a rich Nordic-inspired setting, filled with mythical creatures, vast landscapes, and opportunities for base building.
RuneScape: Dragonwilds
RuneScape: Dragonwilds offers players a different flavor of survival crafting. It incorporates a handcrafted world filled with main story quests that drive progression. The game balances exploration with punishing mechanics, such as thirst and hunger, and is the only game in this comparison that enforces sleep as a requirement. This adds to the challenge but may deter casual players who favor relaxation over pressure.
Enshrouded
Enshrouded stands out with its expansive building mechanics and customizable environments. It provides players with a plethora of crafting options and is recognized for its detailed terraforming capabilities. The game’s dynamic world encourages creativity, allowing players to engage deeply with the environment as they develop their bases and communities.
Core Mechanics and Gameplay Experience
Each game offers a unique take on survival mechanics that caters to different playstyles. Here are notable aspects that set them apart:
Resource Management
- Valheim: Players must manage resources carefully, balancing their hunger for buffs without dealing with thirst mechanics.
- Dragonwilds: The adjustable thirst and starvation mechanics became a core part of the experience, challenging players to pay attention to their survival needs.
- Enshrouded: While retaining hunger mechanics, this game offers a less punitive approach as starvation isn't a constant concern.
Crafting and Building
In terms of crafting and building, here's how each game shines:
- Valheim: Known for its structural integrity and creative possibilities, players can craft and build bases with robust foundational elements.
- Dragonwilds: Offers crafting from storage, allowing players to easily access and utilize items necessary in their survival.
- Enshrouded: Takes the cake for building enthusiasts with extensive options for customization, including block shapes, furniture, and environmental intricacies.
Exploration and Quests
Exploration is another fundamental part of any survival crafting game. Each title handles quests and exploration differently:
Valheim
Valheim provides a unique sense of exploration as players navigate its procedurally generated world. It features fewer quests, focusing more on exploration and discovery. The journey often rewards players with new experiences and encounters that emphasize the thrill of adventure.
Dragonwilds
Dragonwilds offers a different approach to exploration by ensuring that main story quests significantly influence world progression. This encourages players to engage with the story while also driving them to explore the game's rich environments for optional side quests.
Enshrouded
In Enshrouded, players can experience a blend of exploration and structured quests similar to Dragonwilds, but with a greater emphasis on building and crafting as they engage with the world. This encourages a more hands-on approach to exploring their surroundings.
Gameplay Features Rankings
Based on gameplay experiences, here are the rankings for essential gaming features:
- Most traditional do-this-or-else survival game: 1st Place: Dragonwilds, 2nd Place: Valheim, 3rd Place: Enshrouded
- Best mining experience: 1st Place: Enshrouded, 2nd Place: Dragonwilds, 3rd Place: Valheim
- Best logging experience: 1st Place: Valheim, 2nd Place: Dragonwilds, 3rd Place: Enshrouded
- Best building mechanics: 1st Place: Enshrouded, 2nd Place: Valheim, 3rd Place: Dragonwilds
- Best raid experience: 1st Place: Dragonwilds, 2nd Place: Valheim
- Most engaging exploration: 1st Place: Valheim, 2nd Place: Enshrouded, 3rd Place: Dragonwilds
- Best cooking system: 1st Place: Enshrouded, 2nd Place: Dragonwilds, 3rd Place: Valheim
Community and Multiplayer
All three games offer multiplayer options, enhancing the survival experience through collaboration. Here’s the breakdown of player limits and platforms:
- Valheim: Supports 1-10 players in cooperative gameplay, allowing friends to join forces in exploration, building, and combat.
- Dragonwilds: Designed for smaller groups with a maximum of 1-6 players, offering a more intimate experience.
- Enshrouded: The most accommodating with support for up to 1-16 players, making it ideal for larger gatherings of friends or communities.
Pricing and Availability
Finally, the price points for the games also play a significant role in decision-making:
- Valheim: Price is set at $30/£24 on Steam.
- Dragonwilds: Available for $30/£25 on Steam and Epic Games Store.
- Enshrouded: Priced at $40/£35 on Steam, reflecting its unique features and mechanics.
Key Takeaways
- Valheim, RuneScape: Dragonwilds, and Enshrouded have all officially launched with 1.0 versions.
- Valheim is known for its exploration and expansive crafting features, offering a unique procedural world.
- Dragonwilds features structured quest progressions and a more traditional survival experience with hunger and thirst mechanics enabled by default.
- Enshrouded excels in building mechanics, offering extensive options for crafting and customization.
- Each game has varying multiplayer support, from 1-10 players in Valheim to up to 1-16 players in Enshrouded.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the choice between Valheim, RuneScape: Dragonwilds, and Enshrouded will depend on personal preferences regarding gameplay style. Whether prioritising exploration, structured quests, or creative building, each title has something unique to offer, making this crowded release window one worth celebrating. No matter the choice, players can expect rich, engaging survival experiences ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions