Enshrouded Review

Enshrouded wastes no time throwing you into its world of ruin, mystery, and survival. Developed by Keen Games, this blend of open-world survival crafting and action RPG may not be the first of its kind, but it manages to carve out a distinct identity through atmosphere, fluid mechanics, and a deep sense of progression. If Valheim, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Dark Souls had a foggy child, this would be it.

You awaken in the shattered realm of Embervale, a kingdom cursed by a magical plague known as the Shroud. The landscape is hauntingly beautiful. Rolling green plains abruptly end at crimson fog-choked valleys. The world begs to be explored, and despite the omnipresent danger, it’s easy to lose hours trekking across ruins, chopping trees, or spelunking into half-buried tombs.

At the center of Enshrouded lies a tightly woven gameplay loop that fuses survival mechanics, combat, crafting, and exploration into a remarkably cohesive experience. Unlike many survival games that overwhelm players with meters and micromanagement, Enshrouded keeps things focused. Yes, you’ll need to eat, gather, and build — but it never becomes a chore. Food gives buffs instead of being a strict necessity, allowing you to play at your own pace while still rewarding preparation and planning.

Progression feels rewarding. You start with scraps — literally a stick and some cloth — and slowly claw your way up to enchanted armor, reinforced strongholds, and magical gear. Along the way, you’ll rescue key NPCs like the Blacksmith, Alchemist, and Carpenter, each unlocking entire layers of gameplay through new crafting stations and recipes. These characters don’t just exist to hand you blueprints; they bring personality and a sense of growing civilization to your otherwise desolate world.

Exploration is both a joy and a threat. The world is rich with verticality, hidden caves, derelict towns, and towering ruins. Grappling hooks and gliders add a much-needed sense of freedom to traversal. The glider in particular feels excellent — catching thermals and soaring over valleys never gets old, and it often becomes the safest way to scout out dangerous fog-covered areas before committing to a descent. Every biome has its secrets, whether it’s a loot-filled temple buried beneath the forest or a cursed outpost lurking behind a waterfall. The game doesn’t hold your hand, and that’s where the thrill lies.

The Shroud zones act as soft barriers. Entering them starts a countdown based on how long you can survive the corrupted air. This adds a strategic layer to exploration. You’re forced to prepare — craft better gear, stock up on consumables, and maybe bring a friend if you’re playing co-op. These zones aren’t just deadly; they’re designed to lure you in with rare loot and ancient relics. That constant push-and-pull between risk and reward drives much of the game’s tension.

Combat is another highlight. It may draw comparisons to Soulslikes due to its stamina system, lock-on mechanics, and timing-based encounters, but it’s far more accessible. Light and heavy attacks can be chained, dodges give you invincibility frames, and blocking opens up opportunities to parry and stagger enemies. Build customization plays a big role too. You’re not locked into one archetype — you can shift between melee, ranged, and magic as you unlock skill nodes and experiment with gear combinations. Want to be a stealth archer who rains fire from above, or a shielded tank who summons lightning? Both are viable.

The RPG elements are deeper than they initially appear. The skill tree is expansive, with branches for various playstyles. Each level-up feels meaningful, letting you tailor your character to how you want to play rather than forcing you down a min-maxed path. On top of that, armor sets and weapons often have unique traits that further enhance specific builds, giving gear a sense of identity beyond just stats.

Base building is more than cosmetic. Your shelter is your lifeline. It’s where you craft gear, store loot, and house the NPCs that slowly form your home base. Building uses voxel-based terrain manipulation, giving you a huge amount of creative freedom. You can sculpt the earth, lay stone foundations, raise walls, and even wire up lighting or create moody interiors. The building tools are responsive and satisfying, making the construction aspect feel like its own game within the game.

Co-op play brings all of this to life. Up to 16 players can share a server, and while the game is perfectly playable solo, it truly shines in a group. Tasks can be divided, massive bases can be constructed faster, and combat encounters become more tactical. There’s no PvP, so the tone remains collaborative. It’s a survival experience that encourages camaraderie rather than confrontation.

Visually, Enshrouded is stunning for an early access title. The lighting effects are moody and dynamic. The fog rolls in like a living creature. Forests feel dense and alive. Ruins feel forgotten and tragic. The soundtrack complements the experience with ambient tones that shift from tranquil to tense, depending on your surroundings. It never overwhelms, but it’s always present, a subtle reminder that the world is holding its breath.

Despite its strong foundation, Enshrouded isn’t without issues. Inventory management can feel clunky, especially during intense exploration runs. Some enemy AI lacks polish, occasionally getting stuck or failing to react. Certain crafting recipes are locked too deeply into progression, slowing down your creative drive. And while the story is intriguing, it remains skeletal, relying heavily on environmental storytelling rather than direct narrative delivery.

But the game is still in early access, and it already outpaces many of its peers in ambition and polish. The developers are active, responsive, and clearly passionate. With continued updates and community-driven feedback, Enshrouded has the potential to become a landmark title in the survival RPG space.

At its heart, Enshrouded is about reclaiming a world lost to darkness. It’s about lighting a fire in the fog and daring the world to notice. Whether you’re battling through corrupted wastelands, building a stronghold in the hills, or simply watching the sunrise from a cliff you claimed as your own, there’s a quiet magic in what Keen Games has created.