According to Iron Gate, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and The Legenda of Zelda were more influential on Valheim's gameplay and systems than traditional survival games. Valheim may have just launched via Steam Early Access this month, but it's already the world by storm. Within a week of its release, for example, the co-op survival title sold an impressive one million units.
In Valheim, players assume the role of battle-slain warriors who are taken to the titular Valheim - a 10th Norse realm created by Iron Gate. Vikings can either try exploring and surviving solo or team up with up to nine other players. No matter the choice, a world of challenge lies ahead. There are mythical beasts in need of slaying and harsh elements that will push even the strongest Vikings to their absolute limit. Its inventive gameplay systems tie everything together nicely, forgoing the trappings of other survival games to instead provide players with unique and memorable experiences. Simply put, Valheim is no Rust, and now there's insight into how Iron Gate managed to differentiate its survival game from the rest of the pack.
Speaking with PC Gamer, Iron Gate co-founder Henrik Törnqvist revealed that two of Valheim's biggest inspirations weren't survival games. When designing the title, the crew instead looked to role-playing titles such as Skyrim and The Legend of Zelda. Törnqvist told the publication, "we wanted to have more of a feeling of an old school, single-player adventure game, kind of like the older Zeldas, I guess. Where you get new equipment from defeating the bosses. And we thought it would, or we hoped that it would, mesh well with the survival aspects of a game. And, yeah, it seems it worked out."
The Zelda influences are especially noticeable in Valheim's overall structure. For instance, after defeating Valheim's first boss, Eikthyr, players will get to pick up the creature's antlers. Since these parts are the only avenue towards crafting a pickaxe early on, players are incentivized to engage with the world to proceed down the path of progression. This seems a design choice that further differentiates what Iron Gate is doing from other survival titles on the market.
Valheim is currently an Early Access title on Steam, a status it will likely maintain throughout the rest of the year. As of writing, there exists no concrete answer as to when Iron Gate plans on releasing the game in full. Whether or not it will eventually make its way to consoles serves as yet another mystery.
Valheim is available to play now on PC via Steam Early Access.
Source: PC Gamer