PLATFORM: PC | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW (EARLY ACCESS)

Since its initial release all the way back in January 2024, Enshrouded has made a name for itself as something of a “Minecraft for grown-ups” – a crafting/survival game that follows the same sort of blueprint as Mojang’s all-conquering block-builder but sets itself apart through its more involved combat, fantasy setting, prettier visuals, and generally more serious tone. Featuring one of the most impressively robust crafting / base-building systems in the genre, satisfying combat and an addictive hunt for increasingly better loot in a world covered with a mysterious fog (“it’s “enshrouded”, you see), all entirely playable either solo or in co-op with other human players, it’s one of those games that you can easily lose dozens upon dozens of hours to if you’re not careful.

With its recent “Wake of the Water” update (free to existing players, or included as standard to newcomers), Enshrouded has become even bigger and more complex than before. The jungle-like surroundings of Veilwater Basin are best suited to high-level players, so those just dipping their toes in for the first time might not get to visit for quite a while, but the update contains a wealth of new additions for veterans and newcomers alike to get to grips with. The biggest and most welcome arrival is water, one of the most-requested features since the game first launched almost two years ago, with players now able to swim, go fishing, use water as a crafting / power source, and even build their own underwater base, with water now appearing all across the land of Embervale for all to experience. But there’s also a new race of enemies, the Drak, who make their home under the waves and might not be so welcoming towards any perceived intruders… Elsewhere, the level cap has been increased, new weapons, armour, magic spells and other items have been added, and a colossal range of mechanics have been either added or altered to make your time with the game as pleasing as possible.

Still in Early Access, this won’t be the last we hear of Enshrouded over the coming years. Showing no signs of running out of ideas, and indeed offering glimpses of new elements that are likely to be improved and expanded upon in future updates, the developers clearly have much more up their sleeve to be revealed when the time is right. If you’ve enjoyed survival games like Ark, Valheim or DayZ, Enshrouded absolutely needs to be added to your library at the earliest opportunity!