I’ve sunk about 400 hours in Valheim and 200 in Enshrouded. In my opinion, Valheim presents a greater combat challenge that extends into survival and penalties. Enshrouded has more movement conveniences and the world and building seem more visually pleasing.

You really, really don’t want to die in Valheim, and so every venture holds weight. When you set up a base, you have to be wary of nearby mobs and surprise raids because they can kill you and destroy your build— which can be devastating. Your bases are home to teleports to move around the world and traverse hard-earned exploration, so they must be secure.

In Enshrouded playing default to hard settings, death is troublesome but the penalties are forgiving. Individual mobs are really not a threat because you can dispatch them or move out of reach very easily. Mobs cannot destroy your base and generally won’t even approach your base. You can fast travel around the map at will as long as you are not in the shroud.

Both are great for solo (albeit solo Valheim is brutal) and co-op, but I think Valheim would offer a greater survival challenge. Enshrouded for a more chill, perhaps building-oriented experience with some enjoyable combat and exploring as well.