Enshrouded

Enshrouded is an engaging action role-playing game about survival, created by Keen Games. It takes players into the strange world called Embervale. Since its initial release in January 2024, this game has gained much praise for its compelling ways to play and deep story that draws you in. With darkness approaching, players start a dangerous task to face an upcoming danger. The game quickly became popular, selling more than 1 million copies in under four days and becoming one of the top-selling games on Steam.

Development

Enshrouded, developed by Keen Games, was initially slated for release by the end of 2023. However, the developers opted to delay the release to January 24, 2024, to ensure a polished Early Access launch following a successful demo at the Steam Next Fest. They have emphasized their commitment to refining the game based on community feedback, diligently improving features and addressing player-reported issues.

The development process appears to be heavily influenced by community input, reflecting the developers' dedication to crafting a game tailored to player preferences. The delay underscores the team's dedication to delivering a polished and well-received experience to players. Developer Keen Games has described Enshrouded as "a complete experience in regards to the core gameplay elements" on the game's Steam page. However, they also intend to continue expanding the game over time, to achieve a full, comprehensive launch "within a year."

“Our ultimate goal, particularly for the full release of Enshrouded, hinges on your feedback," wrote the developer. "Our current objective is to transition the game out of Early Access within a year. We are confident that by then, we can offer a game that not only meets your expectations but also provides long-lasting enjoyment for years to come.”

The release date for other platforms is set for later this year, but PC players can currently enjoy it on Steam. Additionally, developers have confirmed their intention to transition Enshrouded out of early access within a year, although an official date has not yet been announced.

Plot

Enshrouded unfolds in the captivating realm of Embervale, where players assume the role of a Flameborn, the last hope of a fading race tasked with awakening fellow survivors and cleansing the world of the malevolent fog known as "the Shroud." The game's storyline revolves around the enigma of the Shroud, an all-encompassing mist that has engulfed Embervale.

Players must brave the perilous, mist-laden landscapes, confronting hostile creatures to uncover valuable loot and treasure caches. The Shroud manifests in two distinct forms – blue and red – each presenting its array of challenges and dangers. Delving into the Shroud is imperative for acquiring unique materials essential for upgrades, as well as for discovering Elixir Wells that yield Shroud Roots, bestowing players with valuable skill points.

"Enshrouded embodies the vision Keen Games has harbored for years," explained Antony Christoulakis, Creative Director of Enshrouded. "We're thrilled to share this experience with our players and to shape the future of Enshrouded alongside our community."

The narrative progresses as players embark on a main questline that leads them across various regions, urging them to fortify their Flame Altar to unlock new areas and enhance their equipment to confront escalating challenges. Along the journey, players will encounter diverse points of interest and locales, with thorough exploration yielding lore fragments, hidden treasures, and side quests.

Enshrouded's blend of open-world survival RPG elements immerses players in a voyage of discovery, resource management, and combat as they endeavor to uncover the mysteries of the Shroud and restore Embervale to its former splendour.

Gameplay

Enshrouded utilizes a proprietary voxel-based engine crafted by the developers, enabling gamers to experience a range of gameplay mechanics not typically found in traditional action-adventure RPGs. Unlike polygons, the voxel system grants players unprecedented control and interactivity, allowing them to modify the world, shape it according to their whims, and unleash their creativity. For instance, players can construct their bases from scratch, sculpt terrain, and excavate the earth to fashion dungeons and tunnels.

The voxel system seamlessly integrates into the core gameplay focus of Enshrouded, emphasizing survival, exploration, quests, building, and combat.

Enshrouded boasts third-person combat, offering a plethora of weapons for players to mix and match to their heart's content. The arsenal is diverse from staffs and bows to wands, maces, swords, and shields. During combat encounters, players can employ blocking and dodging maneuvers to evade enemy strikes. Additionally, sneaking and surprise attack mechanics add depth to the gameplay experience.

As players triumph over mutated creatures and formidable bosses, they earn experience points and levels that can be allocated in the skills tab. In a departure from traditional class restrictions, developers have opted for a more open-ended approach, allowing players to choose their desired skills from a versatile skill tree freely. With skills organized in a spiderweb structure, gamers can simultaneously acquire perks from the warrior, mage, and ranger branches, unlocking numerous build possibilities. Whether opting for a resilient warrior wielding both shield and magic or a stealthy assassin proficient with a bow, players can tailor their characters to suit their preferred playstyle.

Platforms and Release Date

While Enshrouded is already available in early access for Microsoft Windows, it has not been released on gaming consoles yet. But Keen Games, the company that made the game, says it will come out officially on Windows and also on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S later. Despite what the reports are saying about a release time around the end of 2024, there is no official date for when it will come out yet.

Following numerous beta and demo tests, Enshrouded made its public Early Access debut on Steam on January 24, 2024. Developer Keen Games has described it as "a complete experience in regards to the core gameplay elements" on the game's Steam page, with plans for ongoing updates leading up to a full launch "within a year." While plans are subject to change based on player feedback or unexpected technical issues, the studio aims to officially release Enshrouded in January 2025 or sooner.

Reception and Sales

Enshrouded, made by Keen Games GmbH, made an impact when it first appeared on Steam's early access. The game was a hit as it had more than one million players within only four days and reached a peak of 160 thousand concurrent players. The quick success shows how good the game is because it sold more than 500,000 copies in the first three days. Also, Enshrouded has a "Very Positive" rating on Steam; 84% of reviews are positive from more than 30,000 users.

Moreover, the game for survival and role-playing made a remarkable $10 million in sales after just three days of being available on Steam. The studio's expertise is reflected in the positive reception and strong sales performance of the game.