Valheim
Valheim
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Valheim is a fantasy survival adventure based on Norse mythology and available for download on Windows-and Linux-based PCs. Players are dropped into an expansive wilderness, where they must gather resources, build tools and shelter, find food, and defeat various monsters and entities roaming the land. Gameplay can be difficult to pick up early on but can be learned over time. Combat is a constant threat, though the violence isn't graphic and very little blood is ever shown on-screen. Some of the food that players can craft includes alcoholic beverages, such as wine and mead. While there's no profanity in the dialogue, multiplayer options could still expose younger players to offensive content or behavior from others.
Community Reviews
Valheim is a refreshing newcomer in the survival genre
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What’s It About?
Welcome to VALHEIM, the 10th Norse realm and the place where the Forsaken, ancient foes of the Allfather Odin, were sent into exile. The word has come that these enemies of the past have begun to grow in power, threatening to challenge Odin's rule once more. Even after falling in battle and dying a true warrior's death, it's not yet your time to enter the gates of Valhalla. Instead, the Valkyrie have brought your soul to Valheim, to serve the Allfather once more. As one of his chosen champions, you've been tasked with hunting down the Forsaken and their minions before they gather enough strength to invade the World Tree and take over the nine realms of Asgard. To do this, you must survive the dense forests and snow-covered mountains of this realm, using the resources of the land to build shelter, search for food, and craft weapons and armor powerful enough to defeat your foes. Prove your valor once more, and earn your place among the celebrated warriors of Valhalla. Fail, and all of Asgard will soon follow.
Is It Any Good?
While there's no shortage of survival games on the market, the most popular involve pixelated worlds, zombie apocalypses, or prehistoric dinosaurs. Valheim stands apart from the crowd by dropping players into a backdrop based on the rich Norse mythology. But while the minions and monsters of this realm feel like they're pulled straight from ancient Viking fantasies, the player characters still feel grounded in a certain level of realism. Players can't rely on flashy magic spells to get themselves through battles, but instead must put in hard work to gather resources, craft armor and weapons, stock up on food to heal their wounds, and plan their trek to face each of the Forsaken bosses. It takes a lot of time and effort to advance the story, but in the tradition of Viking history, that only makes each hard-fought victory feel even more deserved and satisfying.
Truth be told, Valheim doesn't have the prettiest of presentations. Even with maxed-out settings, the visuals are more than a little rough around the edges. The user interface is also a bit clunky at times, particularly when you're first learning the building mechanics. But it more than makes up for this in the freedom it gives players to play the game the way they want. Players can take on Valheim solo or build a thriving community with up to 10 people in multiplayer servers. They can choose to dive right into the action, amassing arms and supplies to drive back the Forsaken in a calculated offensive push, or simply enjoy the almost calm of slowly expanding their shelter, exploring the surrounding lands and seas, and carving a true home out of the wilderness of their purgatory. Ask 10 different people to describe how to play Valheim, and you're likely to get 10 different responses, none of them being wrong. In fact, it's the flexibility to create a truly personal experience that makes the world of Valheim such a difficult place to leave.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about cultural influences on entertainment. What are some of the ways that various cultures' beliefs and mythologies are used as inspiration in entertainment? Do stories based on these encourage you to learn more about those cultures?
Do you prefer to take on the challenge of a game solo, or to work with others to overcome obstacles? What are some of the advantages of cooperation in building and survival games like Valheim?
Game Details
- Platforms: Linux, Windows
- Subjects: Language & Reading: storytelling, Social Studies: cultural understanding, exploration, Hobbies: building
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: problem solving, strategy, Collaboration: cooperation, teamwork
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Coffee Stain Publishing
- Release date: February 2, 2021
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires, Science and Nature
- ESRB rating: NR for No Descriptions
- Last updated: March 1, 2021
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