If you’re a fan of Valheim, then you’re most definitely going to like what I have to show you today.
Aska is a brilliant open-world survival title set within the age of the Vikings, hence that Valheim comparison.
It’s with that in mind that you should expect to build and expand a competent settlement that’ll protect you and your fellow tribesman from the ancient terrors that roam this unforgiving land.
As such, the building and management aspects might appeal to those who enjoy the SimCity series.
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Aska is developed by Sand Sailor Studio and published by Thunderful - and you may be wondering why I'm referring to the title as new.
A quick trip over to the game’s Steam listing and you’ll see a release date of 20 June 2024.
Aska is currently in early access, but it is planning on leaving in the remainder of 2025 which means we should get a 1.0 launch in the next three months if a delay isn’t announced.
“In ASKA, build and sustain a powerful Viking tribe where you and your villagers work, craft, hunt, and fight together,” the synopsis reads.
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“Command intelligent NPC villagers, guiding them through the challenges of survival in a harsh and dangerous world. Play solo or with up to three friends and forge your legend.”
If you ask me, Aska is one of the best survival management games out there.
You can design every aspect of your village from your home to its fortifications and everything in between.
To maintain its success, you’ll want to assign each of your villagers with a role based on their skills - or you can train them to suit a certain role.
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That’s far from all, as your villagers require food, water, and rest so you’ve got quite a lot to contend with here.
The happier your villagers, the more your settlement will thrive.
You’ll want to equip some villagers with weapons to join in fending off a variety of nasty foes.
And it wouldn’t be a survival title if you didn’t also have to deal with the elements; Aska features particularly harsh winters.
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You can enjoy the game alone or you can load it up in co-op with a friend.
Of course, we’ll get a formal review consensus when the game does drop its 1.0 update.
For now though, you can see evidence of the fantastic player reception via the game’s Steam reviews.
“This game is fun, engaging, and offers a sense of creating something. Please do get the game for yourself, it is well worth it,” reads one such review.
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So whether you want to dive in now or await that 1.0 release, Aska is very much worth your time.