Valheim is a game about exploration and surviving. You play as a fallen Viking warrior brought to the purgatory-like world of Valheim by Odin’s Valkyries. The world has been overrun by chaotic creatures that Odin wants eliminated. By conquering these enemies, you aim to prove your worth to the All-Father and attain a place in the halls of Valhalla.
That being said, Valheim is a game all about exploring and survival. Start from nothing and build your way up, travelling through numerous biomes, fighting many bosses and other enemies, building bases, and obtaining all sorts of weapons and gear.
Valheim has 7 different bosses currently in the game, with a final boss soon to come in the games official release, the Deep North Update. These bosses range in difficulty with varying fighting styles and damage types. Each boss is supposedly hardly than the last.
All the bosses must be fought in order to progress to the next area of the game. While some can technically be skipped, it will limit your abilities later on, so it suggested that every boss is defeated. Additionally, each boss drops its own unique item upon defeat (typically allowing for a new craftable item) along with their individual Boss Trophy, which can be offered to their Forsaken Alter in order to obtain a new unique ability.
Valheim's map currently has a total of 9 different biomes in the game (apart from one that is still under construction) that randomly generate throughout the map as long as there individual conditions have been met.
Progress through each biome of the game, one by one, to encounter new enemies, gather new materials, obtain better weapons and gear, and fight the biomes corresponding boss.
Valheim has numerous different weapons types throughout the game with a total of 12 different classes. Weapons are used to conquer your enemies and gain their loot, using it to craft new and better gear to keep becoming stronger throughout the game.
Each weapon class has its perks and downsides and all vary in damage, attack types, and usability. While some weapon classes are essental to the games progression, others are totally optional. Explore all the different weapon types and choose your way of playing.
Valheim has numerous Armour Sets, some light and some heavy. Every armour set has its positives and negatives and can be obtained depending on the stage of game. Some armour sets have Set Bonuses for wearing every piece in a certain set. Additionally, there are numerous Capes in the game which all have the same armour amount, providing 4 Armour at max level.
Food in Valheim are items that can be consumed to give temporary Health, Stamina, or Eitr boosts. A player can consume up to three different food types at any given time for a combined increase in buff strength. Food items last a certain amount of time, and there effects slowly wear off over time.
Food items can be crafted or obtained in numerous ways. Most meats can be obtained by defeating certain mobs and then cooking their meat over a fire. Most other foods can be crafted at a Cauldron, Stone Oven, or Food Preparation Table. Additionally, many foods and ingredients for recipes can be planted and farmed using the proper farmland.
Building in Valheim is an extensive system that utilizes the ability to design structures and creativity. Players often use the building menu to create their Bases, but can really be used to build almost anything the player desires. To begin building, all players need is a Hammer and be in range of a Workbench.
When building, players need to be cautious of some slight Building Physics. Some pieces are stronger than others and can only hold so much before breaking. Practicing good building techniques can make this process a lot easier. Some building pieces may also take damage over time from enemy attacks, or even rain.
