Enshrouded is a captivating blend of survival, exploration, and base-building, wrapped in a high-fantasy aesthetic. Developed by a small indie team, this action-RPG survival sim has already made a mark during its Early Access phase. Let’s delve into the Shroud-covered world of Embervale and see what awaits us.

The World of Embervale

In classic post-apocalyptic RPG fashion, Embervale’s human inhabitants are mostly gone, and a mysterious fungal Shroud blankets the landscape. Imagine twisted creatures reminiscent of Xen from the Half-Life series, and you’re on the right track. The Shroud’s origins remain shrouded in mystery (pun intended), but scattered notes and journal entries provide morsels of lore for the curious traveler.

Crafting and Base Building

Enshrouded’s gob-smackingly gorgeous high-fantasy art style draws you in immediately. The vast open world invites exploration, and the intelligent crafting systems allow you to create everything from simple tools to elaborate structures. Want to build a castle? Go ahead! Construct bases almost anywhere, and watch your custom creations sprawl across the landscape. It’s alluring yet straightforward, making Enshrouded’s base-building a joy.

The Real Main Story: Your Base

As the Flameborn, you spawn in the Cinder Vault at the southernmost tip of Embervale. From there, it’s your path to forge. And forge you will – not just weapons and armor, but entire settlements. My home base boasts a working farmland for healing potions, a village for NPC allies, and a network of caverns with strategically placed grappling hook anchors. Maybe my real main story was the base I built along the way.

Adventure Beckons

Enshrouded’s sense of adventure is palpable. Explore the meadows, forests, and eerie Shroud-covered regions. Gather resources, fend off creatures, and uncover hidden secrets. The world feels alive, and the freedom to build and explore keeps you engaged.

Bugs and Quirks

However, not all is perfect. Enshrouded suffers from a few bugs – both literal and figurative. The combat system, while promising, feels clunky and needs refinement. The story, unfortunately, falls into the lackluster category, with decent-at-best puzzle design. But here’s the twist: despite these hitches, Enshrouded’s rustic fantasy charm keeps you hooked.

Final Thoughts

Enshrouded is par for the course with most survival games released in early access. It has promising foundations and underwhelming systems in equal measure. Yet, it gets key things right: an engaging build system, a sense of adventure, and quality-of-life features. If you’ve ever dreamed of building your fantasy castle while battling Shroud-twisted foes, Enshrouded awaits.