Early in 2021, Valheim rose rapidly in popularity as a unique, cooperative survival experience, and it still stands out against newer survival titles like the recently released V Rising. While an early access and indie title, Valheim's low poly graphics and unique building systems offered a customizable survival title for open-world gamers. The art direction and gameplay built around Viking mythology give it a refreshing premise, offering a break from gritty post-apocalyptic worlds and heavy narrative progression.
Despite being in progress as a survival title, Valheim has already sold over ten million copies and continues to be a great way for players to come together and build interesting bases and explore vast open-world biomes. Regular updates to content have kept the game interesting, while the versatility of the crafting systems allows players to take vastly different gameplay directions in each new save. This has kept Valheim at the top of the sandbox and survival game options over a year after release. However, other games may soon challenge Valheim's first-week sales, including the new vampire survival game V Rising.
V Rising, which launched in early access on May 17, 2022, offers players the chance to survive in a massively online multiple world as a recently realized vampire. Players can explore an open world, build a vampire base, hunt for loot, and get lost in a dark fantasy adventure. However, several of the main mechanics for the game may be a setback for Valheim fans, as they deviate away from the relaxing, colorful graphics and leisurely exploration that have become popular over the past few years. Because of this, many may choose to pass up life as a vampire and continue on as an adventure-seeking Valheim Viking.
V Rising's PvP Fight System Is A Big Change From Valheim PvE
While V Rising does offer players the chance to team up with others, the game also supports and primarily promotes PvP and an MMORPG style of gameplay. While it is possible to enter a PvE game, players who choose a PvP server will have to constantly defend their base, battle against other players, and be vigilant while out and exploring the world. While this type of gameplay can keep open-world gamers on their toes, it can also create a stressful experience, and lead to the loss of hard-earned loot and buildings when attacked by a large group of opposing players. This is an area that Valheim has addressed with small server sizes and gameplay that does not reward players for engaging in PvP combat.
Valheim server sizes are set at a maximum of 10 and are curated by players instead of through online lobbies. Because of this, those playing Valheim have the ability to create adventure parties with people they know or who they can trust and don't risk the chance of random players joining and destroying projects. Additionally, the small server size keeps the large biome maps of Valheim wild, ensuring that exploration is breathtaking and exciting, and not bogged down with numerous bases and player projects. Because of this, teams of players are able to stick together and build bases in Valheim's wilderness, and only fear the environment they are tackling.
Valheim's Crafting System Is Seamless And Portable, Offering Easy Access
Additionally, Valheim ensures that players have access to both crafting tables and needed resources and materials with relative ease. Unlike V Rising, which can require hours of planning to obtain the most basic of resources, Valheim players can find an abundance of basic to intermediate resources just by journeying out from the spawn point or base. While advanced materials can require a journey into far-off biomes, these items aren't needed immediately and don't impact early gameplay progression and base building. Because of this, it is possible to create a structured and well-built home before journeying out to tackle difficult challenges.
Additionally, Valheim has a rewarding progression of crafting, ensuring there is a balance of difficulty and reward as players unlock new recipes. While obtaining certain advanced materials can be challenging in Valheim, requiring players to tackle powerful enemies or journey into dangerous locations on the map, they aren't unreasonably difficult to locate and collect. Because of this, players can focus on other aspects of the game, like upgrading weapons, leveling skills, and building Valheim home bases with different crafting tables and farmable resources.
V Rising Offers Dark Graphics, But Valheim's Low Poly Visuals Are Better
V Rising offers players a top-down view of their gameplay area and graphics that are primarily dark and gritty with highlights of saturated color. Because of this, the player character appears far away on the screen, and the details of the locations can feel bland or basic. While the gritty world is a good pick for night-dwelling vampires, Valheim offers a more visually stimulating atmosphere for players to explore. Valheim's low poly graphics give the world a soft, natural look while the ambient lighting and realistic, vibrant colors can create breathtaking views.
The choice to create a tranquil and realistic setting in Valheim helps immerse the players in the world, and rewards exploration with unique landscape views from clifftops or stunning visuals of oceans and rivers. As players slip through trees, the light catches on particles in the air or cuts through the leaves of trees to offer a close-quartered and sometimes spooky tone. Valheim's art showcases the importance of emotional immersion, and how the lighting, art style, and details of a game can completely alter the way a player interacts with the environment. Many Valheim fans even pick base locations solely for their views and atmospheric offerings, ensuring they will have a beautiful and calm place to relax after long and difficult adventures.
While both Valheim and V Rising offer different experiences for open-world gamers, Valheim has a specific appeal for its unique and relaxed gameplay. Despite this, the choice to join in on fast-paced PvP and spooky fantasy settings in V Rising could be a great opportunity for fans of occult and horror titles. Because of this, choosing a preferred game falls to the playstyle preferences of each gamer. However, those looking for a laid-back survival experience may want to consider giving Valheim a try and join the millions of players embarking on challenging Viking journeys together.