Valheim is a Viking survival game which launched on Steam Early Access on February 2 and has already wowed gamers who have set off on longboats to explore its vast open world. It's being developed by the Swedish studio Iron Gate and shares many of the same gameplay aspects, and intricate tech trees, found similar titles like Rust. Valheim added its own sprinkle of fantasy role-playing elements to the genre, including a plot loosely based on Norse mythology.
Players are laced in the boots of a Viking warrior that's been transported to the mysterious realm of Valheim. They need to gather resources to craft weapons, armor, and tools to traverse this new land and defeat the mythical beasts and monsters that inhabit it, like the boss Eikthyr. The title can be played solo or with up to ten other gamers, but the end goal stays the same regardless of party size.
The Vikings that find themselves in Valheim must conquer the primordial landscape eventually, because they will be stuck there for the rest of eternity. Every warrior that is sent to the realm has fallen in battle and has been chosen to purge the land of its evil creatures and transform Valheim into a raider's paradise. Here's everything there is to know about Valheim's story.
Valheim's Story & Mythology
According to Norse mythology, there are nine realms that mortals and divine beings inhabit. Humans reside in Midgard, while gods like Odin live in Asgard. Valheim is a feral, tenth realm that even the gods are terrified of, so the souls of fallen Vikings have been sent there to make it hospitable. It's a plot that falls somewhere between the colorful interpretation of mythology from God of War with the exploration and kingdom-building gameplay of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla.
Every new character in Valheim is a warrior that was recently slain in battle and ferried to the realm by a divine maiden known as a Valkyrie. Traditionally, Vikings who die honorably are either taken to the paradises of Valhalla or Fólkvangr, where they would rest until their final battle brought about by the end times, known as Ragnarök. However, those taken to Valheim will have no time to beat around the bush.
The gods have turned their backs on Valheim, and it has become besieged by powerful beasts that even Odin is fearful of. It is players' duty to tame this primordial purgatory and turn it into paradise akin to Valhalla. That will involve carving out mountains to build mead halls, traveling to snowy peaks to harvest arcane materials, and slaying mythical creatures. It's a straightforward mission with countless ways to approach it.