Valheim was one of those early access games that had just released its 1.0 version. The game went into early access back in February of 2021. Five years later, it officially released to great reviews and a lot more content. It’s a simulation game where you control a character in Norse mythology. It’s the age of the Vikings, and you get to craft things to survive and progress. That being said, let’s see what the game is all about and what 1.0 brought to the table.
Story and Progression
The story is that in this world inspired by Norse mythology, Odin had defeated all manner of creatures and gods that stood in his way. Now, you, a warrior, must prove your worth by defeating a set number of entities (game bosses) and offering parts of their bodies. Once you do this, you’ll be able to ascend to Valhalla. It won’t be easy, as you have to build your bases and craft things along the way.
Early Access Valheim had a simpler progression path. Players generally moved through the available biomes by defeating their associated bosses, obtaining new materials, and crafting increasingly powerful equipment.
The progression was still recognizable, but there were fewer stages and fewer things to do between major milestones. Some later additions significantly expanded the amount of equipment, resources, structures, and activities available to players.
Different and New Locations
The biggest difference is the amount of finished world content. Early Access contained the Meadows, Black Forest, Swamp, Mountains, and Plains as the major developed biomes, while later development expanded the game with additional substantial regions.
Some areas that existed in the world during Early Access were essentially unfinished. They could be explored, but they did not necessarily have the enemies, resources, structures, or progression systems that players would eventually associate with fully developed biomes. Newer areas like the Mistlands, Ashlands, and the upcoming Deep North have been added.
Gameplay and Crafting
The fundamental combat system was already present in Early Access. Players could use swords, axes, spears, bows, shields, and other weapons while fighting creatures and bosses. Later versions added more enemies, weapons, armor, combat options, and specialized equipment. Some existing systems were also adjusted and balanced, meaning that combat in the later game can feel noticeably different even though the basic mechanics remain familiar.
Building was already one of Valheim’s strongest features during Early Access. Players could construct houses, longhouses, farms, defensive walls, docks, and other structures, and the basic building system was largely recognizable.
However, the selection of building pieces and decorative options was considerably smaller. Over time, Valheim received more construction materials, furniture, crafting stations, and decorative objects, giving players much more freedom when designing their settlements. The base-building is one of the many appeals of the game. You can look up videos of people making some very impressive structures during the early access period.
Final Remarks
Even during the early access period, the game felt complete. It had an initial story but not an ending just yet. After all, they are still adding biomes, so more locations means more content and more bosses to beat. This game isn’t that expensive, so it’s worth the purchase.
