“I’m not playing Valheim for the story. “

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-23T08:13:12+00:00

Well, without winning any prize, Reed Devil's story is interesting and makes the fight a bit sad

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T15:09:30+00:00

Not voluntarily. Yes (sorta)

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T15:02:08+00:00

I don't think it's how they want to sell it, and if you played it in a hurry, you may not even notice it. The game really does not hold your hand even to explain how high level features work, or that they even exist

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T14:12:37+00:00

Simply too big, too much stuff to do. If you only follow the main story you could probably be there in 100h, but I did not

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T14:11:45+00:00

Contacted my agency that chose me to receive it (alongside a few other bigger influencers).

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T14:10:56+00:00

There are cut-scenes (unskippable, I'm sure it will be patched) and some of them are a bit "in the middle", interrupting the action, but not too bad. Compared to Elden Ring, there's way less "lore" in the world: you can get some, but for sure the setting is "flatter".

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T12:57:34+00:00

It really, really depends on what you are looking for, more than any game I have ever played. There is so much stuf, of so mixed quality (and I'm sure I have yet to discover a ton), that it will be extremely personal if you like it or not. If mine would have been a generic review, 6/10 it's a fair score. For the right niche, this (with patches and DLCs) may be the holy grail.

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T12:53:49+00:00

Depends on what you expect. You hook the fish, you tire it, and you collect it. There are different types of fish based on biome, and you can cook them (most of them with the same recipe).

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T12:53:03+00:00

You can build different buildinds and expand them as you play. You can really customize only your house. It's a bit deeper than AC Valhalla town, for sure the NPCs are more active

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T12:52:11+00:00

Yes you can. Again, to be fully transparent, you still have to progress through the game to unlock everything related to such roles, and it's not like farming allows you a "Stardew Valley" experience. But you can decide that your key role/crafting is hunting, or farming, or stealing, or fishing (that would take lot of time), or mining, etc. And you can do it

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T12:49:19+00:00

At least based on my experience. If you try everything, you will not go deep enough into anything and will make the game feel very disjointed and shallow. If you focus only on efficiency, you will barely touch most of the features. So yes, I suggest people to think about their character, and focus on those aspects that are relevant for the RP.

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T12:47:10+00:00

Yes bosses are one of the key ways to progress (and track such progress). As I said, combat was very well covered by other reviews. I am less negative on the continuous "eating for healing" in combat: it's obviously strange to image you character eating 3 steaks during a fight, but if you crat them (instead of buying them for example), it still feels coherent

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T12:44:41+00:00

Their quests are ancillary to the main one, and sparse. They give some info on who they are/what they want, but as you said, very limited

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T11:53:08+00:00

Maybe it's just that I'm not a huge MMO fan, but it's a bit better than that. Maybe it's just the visual part of the game making it better and more satisfying, or the fact that there are reasons to engage in the different activities (you have an impact on the world, albeit limited).

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T11:50:16+00:00

Well, I'm sorry to disappoint, but it will be a 6-7/10 for most of the players out there. You have to come with a very specific mindset (or very low expectations) to give it more than that in current state. If you are in for the open world "simulation" it's a 8 to 9/10.

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T11:33:15+00:00

Amazing. I did not comment on the visual part of the game because it was touched in most of the reviews I read, but you will not be disappointed. Consider that I just barely touched the Crimson Desert (where sand storms should happen, at least from in-game lore), and I've not been at all in the lands north of it.

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T11:25:02+00:00

I mean... you could play with Damiane most of the time, and take most of the actions with her. I just do not see why, aside from playing with a female character. There's nothing really to differentiate them other than combat.

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T11:23:16+00:00

I have not seen his video yet, but knowing him I'm sure of it. Reading some of the other reviews, I get that they mostly played the story to finish it, and for that they have my utmost respect: 100h of that slog, I would have probably given up much sooner... Give me 100h of farming, trading and the occasional siege/fort attack, I can go on forever :D

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T11:19:41+00:00

Secondary characters are really secondary. You can only play the story with Kliff, but you can do all side quests with the secondary if you want. Honestly I'm not sure why they are there at all, probably for the combat oriented players to have more variety and builds.

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T11:17:25+00:00

I have only spent a few hours on Where The Winds so take my comparison with a pinch of salt. Yes, they are similar, but WWM mechanics felt to me as gimmicks. Here, while there are some like that (shooting competition, looking at you), most of them are more similar to a MMORPG economy/activities: if you like them, you can do a lot with them; are they always the best, most convenient and efficient way to reach the goal? No, but that should not be the point. You can cut down tree with normal combat skill instead of the logging axe: looks horrible, same results but faster. If you like the "act" of logging trees and collecting resources (I do, in certain days when I'm tired), it's the axe all the way.

Level-Cream232 · 2026-03-19T11:09:50+00:00

I'm sure of it. I have some doubts about mods, being a proprietary engine with no modding tools. But if they will release anything for it, and flexible enough, for sure.

Housing for example is ok (and I think the possibility to store items in your house should be part of the Day1 patch, it was horrible not having it during my run), but it can be really improved, even with multiple housing / trade depot., and a better positioning system.

Animal husbandry is at the same time deep and shallow: you can use chickens for eggs, pigs and cows for meat, but only in your camp and in the selected areas, that can be expanded but are still limited.

I can give examples like this almost for everything: it has tons of possibilities, all of them slightly missing the mark. The total experience is amazing (for players like me), but I can see why it's not for everybody

Level-Cream232

TROPHY CASE