Many games boast highly detailed graphics, but Valheim is not one of them. The low-resolution game has simple textures and low-poly, basic objects, with characters that lack distinctive details and item models only vaguely recognizable as flint, stone, and wood. Despite this design choice, Valheim worlds are not lacking in stunning landscapes, and this is due to careful use of lightening, bloom, and landscape generation.
Too often, AAA games become entrenched in efforts to produce the best graphical experiences a system can support. Hyper-realistic character models and textures painstakingly rendered to look nearly tangible have become a popular fixture of modern games like Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and Cyberpunk 2077. However, a game can be visually stunning in ways besides these minute details. Valheim can capture a unique, tranquil atmosphere with the way it casts its lighting around trees and objects, as well as the placement of weather effects like rain and fog. The focus on mastering these other effects creates an atmosphere many high-resolution games haven't been able to achieve.
While low-poly games aren't for everyone, Tony Coculuzzi - previously lead developer on games like Cuphead and Florence - shared his thoughts about Valheim's impressive visuals on Twitter, agreeing with Iron Gate CEO Richard Svensson that composition and lighting are more important than texture quality and polygon count. Much of Valheim is about the composition of its models, which can be done well without AAA gloss. In fact, the entirety of Valheim can be enhanced by the rough edges of its models and textures; Valheim doesn't focus on the details, so it encourages players to better appreciate the bigger picture of its gameplay, story, and visuals alike.
Valheim Is About Seeing The Bigger Picture
While it is possible the graphics could change as Valheim progresses through its early access roadmap, it is just as likely developers will choose to focus on adding more content, rather than creating hyper-realistic landscapes. A few items in the game could use updated models, like vegetables and weapons, but the adjustments would be purely to make these items more recognizable. However, Valheim's visuals are strong as-is, and there are plenty of other areas more pressing for developers to put time into. The building mechanics still need ironing out to be intuitive for new players, and enemy levels might need further adjustments to better accommodate the hardcore difficulty level Valheim advertises.
Creating an excellent gaming experience like Valheim doesn't require the best graphics money can buy, nor the newest console available. If previous low-resolution games like Minecraft, Terraria, and Stardew Valley have shown anything, it's that a good story and gameplay can overcome the benefits of complex graphics, and a solid visual design direction can even make these graphics just as impressive as more demanding styles. By utilizing other design elements and creating engaging gameplay, Valheim has enjoyed explosive success, even in its early access state.
Source: Tony Coculuzzi/Twitter