Enshrouded
{{Short description|Upcoming 2025 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Enshrouded
| image = Enshrouded cover art.jpg
| developer = Keen Games
| publisher = Keen Games
| director = Antony Christoulakis
| genre = Survival, Action RPG
| platforms = {{ubl|PlayStation 5|Windows|Xbox Series X/S}}
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| released = 2025
| engine = Holistic Engine {{small| (Proprietary) }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.enshrouded.com/FAQ|title=Frequently Asked Questions - Enshrouded|website=www.enshrouded.com}}
}}
Enshrouded is an upcoming survival action role-playing game by Keen Games for PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S. It launched in early access in January 2024 for Windows and is set to be officially released in 2025.
Gameplay
Enshrouded is a survival action role-playing video game played from a third-person perspective. It supports up to 16 players at once.{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/for-a-survival-game-enshrouded-feels-too-safe|title=For a survival game, Enshrouded feels too safe|first=Emma|last=Kent|work=Eurogamer|date=January 24, 2024|accessdate=January 28, 2024}} The game's world is set in Embervale, an open world which can be freely explored by players. The overworld is where players can build their bases, gather resources, and craft new equipment and gear. Players will be able to summon friendly non-playable characters to their base, who will then provide players with new crafting recipes and quests. Players can also explore areas which are covered by a thick layer of fog named "the Shroud". These areas are dangerous as they are filled with hostile monsters, and players can only stay within it for a limited period of time before their character dies; however, players can find valuable loot and treasure chests which regenerate regularly in the Shrouded area.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/24051683/enshrouded-survival-game-early-access-impressions|title=Enshrouded is a solid start, but hasn't found a distinct survival identity|first=Cass|last=Marshall|work=Polygon|date=January 26, 2024|accessdate=January 28, 2024}}
Like other survival games, players need to manage their hunger and thirst level; however, hunger and thirst only affect the player character's efficiency in combat. Drinking water boosts the player's endurance, while eating food boosts their constitution.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2023/07/13/surviving-made-easier|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713170540/https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2023/07/13/surviving-made-easier|url-status=live|archive-date=July 13, 2023|title=Enshrouded: Surviving Made Easier|first=Wesley|last=LeBlanc|magazine=Game Informer|date=July 13, 2023|access-date=January 28, 2024}} Enshrouded also has a sleep mechanic.{{Cite web |last=Velocci |first=Carli |date=2024-01-30 |title=Take advantage of Enshrouded's clever sleep mechanic |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/24055526/enshrouded-sleep-mechanic |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}} Players can use a variety of weapons to defeat enemies, and they can dodge and parry hostile attacks. As players progress in the game, they will unlock new talents, further boosting their combat capabilities and allowing players to specialize in one of three Archetypes: Melee Focused, Magic Focused, and Ranged Focus. Each archetype has four specialties such as Barbarian, Wizard, or Hunter. They will unlock a glider and a grappling hook, both of which aid their traversal in the game's world.{{cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/enshrouded-how-to-build|title=Enshrouded building guide: How to build any structure|first=Ollie|last=Toms|work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|date=January 24, 2024|accessdate=January 28, 2024}} If the player character dies in the game, players will keep all of their equipped gear and crafted items, and only lose all of the raw resources they have collected.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/co-op-survival-rpg-enshrouded-forgiving-survival-systems-in-a-surprisingly-massive-open-world/|title=Co-op survival RPG Enshrouded: forgiving survival systems in a surprisingly massive open world|first=Christopher|last=Livingston|work=PC Gamer|date=January 24, 2024|accessdate=January 28, 2024}}
Development
Enshrouded is being developed and published by German studio Keen Games, which previously developed Portal Knights. The developers drew inspirations from games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Valheim.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/sorry-but-the-8-hour-demo-of-co-op-survival-rpg-enshrouded-isnt-long-enough-for-me/|title=Sorry, but the 8-hour demo of co-op survival RPG Enshrouded isn't long enough for me|first=Christopher|last=Livingston|work=PC Gamer|date=October 11, 2023|accessdate=January 28, 2024}} While the combat was influenced by "Soulsborne" games, it was not designed to be as challenging. It was envisioned as a "welcoming" game for players who are unfamiliar with the survival game genre.{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/enshrouded-steam-early-access-release-date|title=Enshrouded, the most-played Steam Next Fest demo, enters Early Access in January|first=Stephanny|last=Nunneley-Jackson|work=VG 247 |date=November 7, 2023|accessdate=January 28, 2024}}
Keen announced the game in May 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/05/portal-knights-studio-keen-games-announces-survival-action-rpg-enshrouded-for-pc|title=Portal Knights studio Keen Games announces survival action RPG Enshrouded for PC|first=Sal|last=Romano|work=Gematsu|date=May 3, 2023|accessdate=January 28, 2023}} An eight-hour demo for the game was released during Steam Next Fest in November 2023. Enshrouded was released via Steam's early access model on January 24, 2024. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions are also currently in development.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/gaming-news/gruelling-survival-enshrouded-wins-fans-with-steam-next-fest-demo-3512847|title=Gruelling survival game 'Enshrouded' wins fans with Steam Next Fest demo|first=Imogen|last=Donovan|website=NME|date=October 10, 2023|accessdate=January 28, 2024}} The full release of the game is scheduled for 2025.{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/08/enshrouded-surpasses-three-million-players-fully-launches-in-2025-for-playstation-xbox-and-pc|title=Enshrouded surpasses three million players, fully launches in 2025 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC|work=Gematsu|date=August 8, 2024|access-date=August 8, 2024}}
Reception
= Sales =
Enshrouded sold over one million copies within a week of its early access launch in January 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/refusing-to-be-buried-by-palworld-survival-rpg-enshrouded-hits-1-million-players-in-4-days/|title=Refusing to be buried by Palworld, survival RPG Enshrouded hits 1 million players in 4 days|first=Austin|last=Wood|work=GamesRadar|date=January 30, 2024|accessdate=January 30, 2024}} In August 2024, sales were at three million copies sold,{{Cite web|url=https://www.enshrouded.com/news/enshrouded-hits-three-million-players|title=Enshrouded Hits THREE MILLION PLAYERS!|website=www.enshrouded.com}} and by April 2025 sales had hit four million.{{Cite web|url=https://opencritic.com/news/15275/enshrouded-sales-hit-4m-as-sixth-major-update-revealed-techraptor|title=Enshrouded Sales Hit 4m as Sixth Major Update Revealed | TechRaptor|website=OpenCritic}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website}}
Category:Action role-playing video games
Category:Early access video games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Open-world video games
Category:Post-apocalyptic video games
Category:Upcoming video games scheduled for 2025