That sounds simple enough; the setting and core loop are mainstays among video game mainstays. But “Valheim” succeeds, arguably rising above its component parts, because of the path it charts for its players, and the tangible sense of accomplishment at each step’s conclusion. After a “Valheim” session, I usually felt a bit tired. The game doesn’t hold your hand, and it asks players to be inquisitive, to experiment. But each time I played, I ended up radiant with the warmth of a job well done, and anxious for my next chance to do more.
It’s helpful to think of the game as an inverted pyramid: low complexity at the bottom, and increased complexity at the top. You start at the tip of the pyramid, with limited options: just a stick and a rock. Combine those to make an ax. With this crude ax, you can hunt down your next meal or chop down a tree. Pretty simple.
But crucially,…
