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Valheim

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For the baseball player, see Val Heim.
Valheim
Developer(s)Iron Gate Studio
Fishlabs (Xbox)
Publisher(s)Coffee Stain Publishing
Composer(s)Patrik Jarlestam
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
Release
  • Linux, Windows
  • 2 February 2021 (Early access)
  • Xbox One, Series X/S
  • 14 March 2023 (Early access)
  • macOS
  • 10 June 2024 (Early access)
Genre(s)Sandbox, survival
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Valheim is an upcoming survival and sandbox video game by the Swedish developer Iron Gate Studio and published by Coffee Stain Studios.[1] It was released in early access on 2 February 2021 for Linux and Windows via Steam, and for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on 14 March 2023.[2][3] The game was developed by a five-person team, building on development work which Richard Svensson had undertaken as a side project in his spare time.[4] Since its early access release, Valheim has achieved both critical and commercial success, being praised as a "rare exception" of a refined early access game. A month after its release, it had sold over five million copies and was one of the most played games on Steam.

Gameplay

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Valheim is an open-world survival game played from a third-person perspective. As fallen Vikings, players must craft tools, build shelters and fight enemies to survive.[5] The game uses low-resolution stylized 3D graphics, with a combat system inspired by action games.[6] Co-operative gameplay with up to ten people and optional PvP gameplay is also supported.[5]

After creating their Viking character, players can create a world that is procedurally generated from a map seed.[7] Each world is split into several biomes, such as meadows, the Black Forest, swamps, mountains, plains, oceans, the Mistlands, the Deep North, and the Ashlands.[8] Each biome has its own unique enemies, items, and bosses that change how difficult it is to survive there. Valheim operates on an in-game day and night cycle.[9]

To survive, players must gather natural resources found throughout the world, either through foraging, hunting, mining, or farming. These resources are used to build shelters, make tools and equipment, and forge weapons. Players have a health bar (which depletes from enemy attacks or taking large falls), as well as a stamina bar that drains as players perform actions like running and attacking. To replenish either bar, players can eat food. This can not only restore health and stamina, but can also temporarily increase how much of each the player has, depending on the variation and quality of the food that is eaten.[10]

In addition, the game utilizes a skill-level system that ranges from blocking to running. Each skill can be increased up to a level of 100 and has different effects on the game mechanics. For example, the spears skill will determine the damage the player can do with spears,[11] while the running skill will determine how stamina is drained while sprinting.

The main objective of the game is to kill the seven bosses located in different biomes of the game. To summon each boss, players must travel to each boss' altar and give a specific item as an offering. Bosses will drop a collectable trophy when killed; this trophy can be placed at a central altar to grant each player a special power-up. Power-ups can be used infinitely, but the player needs to wait for a brief period between uses.[12][13]

Combat makes use of one- and two-handed weapons, shields, bows, and spears.[14][15] Players can travel through the different biomes either by foot or on crafted boats, which range from rafts to different types of Viking longships.

Plot

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Valheim takes place in a world where slain Vikings go to prove themselves fit for the halls of Valhalla. As one such, the player begins with nothing and soon discovers that to reach the Norse afterlife, they must defeat the evils that stalk Valheim.[16] Led only by their instincts and occasional hints from a raven,[17] the player must prepare to fight the sworn enemies of Odin himself.[18]

The term "Valheim" denotes a fictional tenth world within the world tree Yggdrasil of Norse mythology.

Development

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Valheim is developed by Iron Gate Studio, a small Swedish game development studio formed during the game's production. Studio co-founders Richard Svensson and Henrik Tornqvist were both coworkers at a local game development company called Pieces Interactive.[19][20] Before Valheim, Svensson had previously begun development on a simulation game called Tolroko in his spare time; however, this game was ultimately unreleased.[21] According to Tornqvist, Svensson realized that it was "redundant to implement simulation systems for their own sake, rather than for the player".[21] With his next game, Svensson wanted to make an open-world experience where its simulations improved the player's experience.[22]

Svensson began working on Valheim in 2017 under the working title of Fejd (Swedish for "feud").[19][20] He ended up leaving Pieces Interactive in 2018 to work on Valheim full time, and convinced Tornqvist to join him later that year.[19] The game was released into alpha in June 2018[23] and officially released into early access in February 2021.[24]

Continued support for the game is planned, and it involves the expansion of unfinished biomes, as well as improvements to fundamental game mechanics.[25] Iron Gate Studio updated the game on 16 September 2021 with the "Hearth & Home" update. This update brought general improvements to the game and introduced new food, weapons, and build options.[26]

The game's original soundtrack was released 29 October 2021, by Iron Gate AB, to stream on Spotify and for purchase on Steam.[27][28]

In December 2022, Iron Gate released the "Mistlands" update for Valheim. The update added a new biome (the Mistlands), along with a large quantity of new content. This content included enemies, neutral NPCs, random events, items, food, building parts, the sixth main boss, crafting stations, weapons, and a few other miscellaneous features. The update also saw the addition of a magic system (and four magic weapons to go with it).[29]

During the Xbox Games Showcase 2022 Extended on 14 June, it was announced that Valheim would be coming to Windows 10 via Microsoft Store in Q3 2022, and later in Q2 2023 to Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles. These versions, developed by external studios Piktiv and Fishlabs, would support cross-platform play and launch directly into Xbox Game Pass. Meanwhile, Iron Gate Studio would focus on the "core Valheim experience and its next major update milestones".[30] In February 2023, it was announced that the game would release in early access on the consoles on 14 March 2023.[3]

Reception

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Valheim has received positive reviews from critics.[32] IGN Nordic gave the game a rating of 9/10, stating that the game has "excellent art and music highlighting a world that generates endless exciting stories".[31] PC Gamer called Valheim a "rare exception" for early access games, as well as stating that the game "feels refined and satisfying as it is right now".[33] The Washington Post appreciated that Valheim did not elaborate on certain gameplay and story elements, allowing its fans to build a sense of community with each other by sharing things like design ideas and theories about the game's lore.[34]

A month after its release, it had sold five million copies and was one of the most-played games on Steam.[35][19] It sold over 10 million copies on Steam by July 2022.[36]

Awards and accolades

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Valheim was nominated for Best Debut Indie Game and Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards 2021.[37] The game was named the Game of the Year for 2021 by PC Gamer.[38] Later, Valheim won the Best Debut and Audience Award at the Game Developer's Choice 2022.[39]

References

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  1. ^ "Norse survival sim Valheim coming from Coffee Stain Studios". PCGamesN. 13 June 2020. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  2. ^ "FAQs 1". Valheim. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b Makuch, Eddie (17 February 2023). "Xbox Game Pass Adds Valheim On March 14". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  4. ^ Jagneaux, David (19 February 2021), "Valheim: How a 5-Person Team Created the Most Popular Game on Steam", IGN, archived from the original on 1 March 2021, retrieved 22 February 2021
  5. ^ a b Marshall, Cass (9 February 2021). "What is Valheim, the Viking game blowing up on Steam?". Polygon. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  6. ^ "How Valheim Looks So Good Without Fancy Textures". ScreenRant. 13 March 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  7. ^ Rothery, Jen (23 September 2021). "The best Valheim seeds". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  8. ^ Ramos, Jeff (5 March 2021). "Valheim biome progression guide". Polygon. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  9. ^ Scheurle, Jennifer (26 March 2021). "Valheim offers the perfect balance of danger and coziness". Polygon. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  10. ^ Livingston, Christopher (10 March 2021). "Keep your Viking belly full with this Valheim food guide". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  11. ^ Izaak (26 February 2021). "How skills affect combat in Valheim". www.sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  12. ^ Leguiza, Santiago (12 March 2021). "Valheim boss guide: How to summon, locate and defeat bosses explained". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  13. ^ Toms, Ollie (16 February 2021). "Valheim bosses order: how to summon and beat each Valheim boss". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  14. ^ Machkovech, Sam (16 February 2021). "Valheim is the endless Viking survival game we have craved for years". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Combat Basics for Beginners (Valheim)". EIP Gaming. 9 February 2021. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  16. ^ Borthwick, Ben (4 March 2021). "Viking survival game Valheim sails past 5 million sales in one month". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  17. ^ Chandler, Sam (3 February 2021). "Steam Game Festival 2021: Valheim hands-on preview". Shacknews. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Valheim". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  19. ^ a b c d Conditt, Jessica (9 March 2021). "Valheim surpasses 5.7 million copies sold in five weeks on Steam Early Access". Engadget. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  20. ^ a b Rogers, Reece (2 March 2021). "Valheim Is Changing How We Play Survival Games". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  21. ^ a b Wilson, Ewan (15 March 2021). "Valheim will unleash your inner prepper from the safety of your sofa". Input. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  22. ^ Livingston, Christopher (17 February 2021). "Valheim developer says Zelda and Skyrim were bigger influences than survival games". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Valheim – Viking survival & exploration game (ALPHA) RELEASED! – Release Announcements". itch.io. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  24. ^ "Valheim FAQ". Valheim. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Valheim – Valheim Release and Roadmap! – Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  26. ^ September 2021, Marloes Valentina Stella 17 (17 September 2021). "Valheim Hearth and Home changes – all the new stuff". gamesradar. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ Shutler, Ali (29 October 2021). "The official soundtrack to Valheim has been released". NME. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  28. ^ Talbot, Carrie (29 October 2021). "Valheim's soundtrack is here with Viking beats and bangers aplenty". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Mistlands – Valheim Update Guide – IGN". IGN. 7 December 2022. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Valheim coming to Xbox Series, Xbox One in spring 2023". Gematsu. 14 June 2022. Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  31. ^ a b "Valheim Early Access Review". IGN Nordic. 17 February 2021. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  32. ^ Statt, Nick (3 March 2021). "Steam sensation Valheim sold 5 million copies in one month". The Verge. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  33. ^ Livingston, Christopher (26 February 2021). "Valheim review: a challenging and rewarding Early Access survival adventure". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  34. ^ Klimentov, Mikhail. "Review | Valheim just works because it makes you work, too". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  35. ^ "Valheim – Five Million Vikings! – Steam News". store.steampowered.com. 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  36. ^ Stanton, Rich (25 April 2022). "Valheim has sold over 10 million copies". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  37. ^ Ankers, Adele (16 November 2021). "The Game Awards Nominations Announced". ign.com. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  38. ^ "Game of the Year 2021: Valheim – PC Gamer". PC Gamer. 31 December 2021. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  39. ^ Marasigan, Marc (26 March 2022). "Valheim Wins GDCA 2022's Best Debut And Audience Award, Mistlands Still A Ways Off". MMOs.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
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