Steam's new free open world RPG could be the next Valheim

Over the years, there have been many overnight sensations that have taken the video game industry by storm that garner mass viewings on streaming platforms such as YouTube and Twitch.

One such game is the survival sandbox title developed by Iron Gate Studio and published by Coffee Stain Studios, none other than the Viking-themed Valheim. Initially released in 2021 on PC before making its way to Xbox earlier this year, Valheim is a game that can be played solo or shared with others as players embark on epic adventures.

Check out the Enshrouded demo trailer below!

Still in its early access phase on Steam and Xbox, “Valheim is a brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players set in a procedurally-generated world inspired by Norse mythology,” reads the synopsis of the game. “Craft powerful weapons, construct longhouses, and slay mighty foes to prove yourself to Odin!”

At the time of writing, according to SteamDB, Valheim has an all-time concurrent player peak of 502,387 and 24,936 players engaging in its world over the last 24 hours. So we know it’s still a game proving popular today, but what if there was an alternative title?

Developed and published by Keen Games GmbH, Enshrouded is a co-op survival RPG for up to 16 players set in a fantasy world of beauty and brutality in the realm of Embervale. Much like Valheim, Enshrouded is in its early access phase on Steam, but you can play the game for free right now.

“You start with nothing but the will to survive the wilds. You must scrape and scavenge through the ruined remnants of a lost kingdom, and fend off the beasts that hunger for your flesh,” reads the synopsis. “Journey through forests, caves, dungeons, searching for secret knowledge and treasure. Build the strength to venture into the Shroud and bring the fight back to the horrors of the deep.”

At this time, there is no release date for Enshrouded. What’s more, it is only available on PC. Hopefully, if it proves to be a success, it might eventually find its way onto consoles. Will Enshrouded be as popular as Valheim? Only time will tell, but we’re keen to find out, so we’ll be keeping an Odin’s Eye on this one.

Valheim is out now on PC, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.