Not Recommended (as a survival fan)

I love survival games and I really wanted Raft to click for me, but it just doesn’t.

The game feels way too linear for something that’s marketed as survival and exploration. Progression is heavily gated behind story beats and information you’re forced to find, and a lot of it feels random rather than earned. If you miss a key clue or location, it’s not like you can meaningfully push forward through crafting, building, or problem solving. You just stall until you find the “right” thing.

If you get stuck at any point trying to find the secret sauce to your next progression, expect the game to turn into Food and Water collecting simulator while you explore the same island over and over, killing the same animals again and again, just to find a roadsign and a piece of wood to make a "machete" - which by the way, is to chop vines, something an axe would be able to cut?

Combat is also awkward. The weapon scaling feels weird, enemies don’t feel balanced, and the difficulty spikes don’t match your actual progression. It ends up being frustrating rather than challenging.

There’s definitely a cool idea here and the raft-building is fun for a while, but the overall design feels messy, and the survival side takes a backseat to a rigid progression path.

If you like open-ended survival games, this one might disappoint.

Like Rust - but different.

It seems I have a thing for early access games. I wouldn't say I am an early adopter or anything, but when a game shows potential I am a sucker for going all in.

Sometimes I get burnt, other times I get more than what I paid for.

Valheim is hands down one of the latter. Incorporating the fundamentals of Survival in a vastly open world environment. There are lot of survival based games out there, but Valheim takes survival literally.
Starting out with picking berries and mushrooms to eat and gather health/stamina, that is depleted over time. Hunting using primitive tools to get that little bit extra sustinance while you get your bearings in the new world.

There is no hand holding either, from the very get go there are predators lurking, ready to test you as you try and build your first abode. That is what survival is all about!

On to the specific details I like about the game:
- Building freedom and mechanics. Structures require integrity and some real thought.
- Adventure! You know nothing of the world, but through every tier of progression you will always return to an adventure stage.
- Progression. As you start learning new aspects of the game, discovering new items and unlocking crafting abilities you can feel yourself making progress.
- Levelling!!! Yup you guessed it, there are skills in this game. As you do more of something, the better you get. Chopped down a tree? How about chopping them down faster in a few more levels?
- Cooking. This one is worth mentioning, as a lot of survival games I have played have some pretty stock standard ways to sustain yourself. Valheim offers some creativity here.
- Weapon/Tool tiers. Remember age of empires? Stone Age/Bronze Age? Yup it's got it.
- Building! Oh yeah I mentioned this one already, but you will always find yourself wanting to build something and sidetrack yourself from adventuring or progressing. Your base matters!!!

Some might say for a newly developed title the graphics and textures are a bit of a disappointment. In 2022 I don't totally disagree - We have a huge standard of expectations now. Valheim developers clearly spend more time putting content and stability in to their game before focusing on the graphics. THIS IS NOT A BAD THING!..

RUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are big on the idea of "Futuristic Age Of Empires" type real time strategy, then this game may be for you! Lots of fun filled, thinking hours will be had, just in the campaign, let alone playing a "Continuous Game". Multiplayer is great, although, if you want to play with others, make sure it is someone you can contact. The game cannot be resumed without all players active.

Features of the game are quite good, well thought out. The expansion "Deep Ocean" is a MUST with this game, as it will actually allow you to continue further in a continuous game. and actually complete a faction.

I would recommend this game, only if you buy the expansion!!!!
8/10 for Anno 2070
10/10 for Deep Ocean
11/10 for Anno 2170 ARRC

P.S google around for 2170, you will be surprised :P

HOLY HECTIC!