Valheim review

Valheim ranks first because it is the most complete answer to the question of what to play with a friend or a full group. Iron Gate describes it as a collaborative exploration and survival game for 1 to 10 players, set in a procedurally generated world inspired by Norse mythology. You gather materials, raise longhouses where structural integrity matters, sail to new biomes and fight regional bosses called the Forsaken, which open the next tier of crafting. The food system grants health and stamina boons rather than starving you, so sessions stay focused on building and exploring. The hardware bar is low for a 3D game: 8 GB of RAM, a GeForce GTX 950 and 1 GB of storage, on Windows, macOS or Linux. 94% of 268,033 English Steam reviews are positive. Two caveats: co-op is online only, and recent reviews dipped to 78% positive in the last 30 days when we checked.

Who it is for

Two players or a group of friends who want shared base building and boss fights

Price

$29.99 one-time purchase on Steam (US store); on a temporary 10% sale when checked, USD check pending.

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Collaborative survival for 1 to 10 players in a procedurally generated world
• Biomes with their own environments, resources and enemies
• Regional bosses called the Forsaken that gate your progress
• Base building with structural integrity, from small shelters to fortresses
• Food system that grants health and stamina boons instead of punishing you

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: 94% of 268,033 English Steam reviews are positive
• Strength: Minimum spec is 8 GB of RAM, a GTX 950 class card and 1 GB of storage
• Strength: Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux with full controller support
• Weakness: Online co-op only; Steam lists no local split-screen mode
• Weakness: Only 78% of reviews from the last 30 days were positive when we checked
• Weakness: Progress depends on beating bosses, which may not suit pure builders

Key facts

• Developer: Iron Gate AB
• Publisher: Coffee Stain Publishing
• Players: 1 to 10
• Minimum RAM: 8 GB
• English Steam reviews: 94% positive of 268,033

Where it ranks

Valheim is No. 1 in our Best Survival Games verdict.