Valheim
About
Overview
Valheim is a survival video game developed by Swedish studio Iron Gate Studio and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. It is an open-world game played from a third-person perspective, with low-resolution stylized three-dimensional graphics and combat inspired by action games. The game was developed by a small team, building on earlier work by studio co-founder Richard Svensson.
Gameplay
Players create a Viking character and enter a procedurally generated world based on a map seed. Each world is divided into biomes, including meadows, the Black Forest, swamps, mountains, plains, oceans, the Mistlands, the Deep North, and the Ashlands. Each biome has its own enemies, items, and bosses, and Valheim uses an in-game day and night cycle.
Survival revolves around gathering natural resources through foraging, hunting, mining, or farming. These resources are used to build shelters, craft tools and equipment, and forge weapons. Players have health and stamina bars, while Eitr is used for magic items. Food can increase maximum health, stamina, or Eitr, with different foods giving different bonuses and regeneration effects.
The game includes a skill-level system covering actions such as blocking and running. Skills can rise up to level 100 and affect mechanics such as weapon damage or stamina use. Combat uses one-handed and two-handed weapons, shields, bows, spears, and magic weapons. Players can travel on foot or by crafted boats, from rafts to Viking longships. Co-operative play supports up to ten people, and optional player versus player gameplay is also supported.
Setting
Valheim takes place in a fictional tenth world within Yggdrasil, the world tree of Norse mythology. Players take the role of slain Vikings who must prove themselves fit for the halls of Valhalla.
Release
Valheim was released in early access for Linux and Microsoft Windows via Steam on 2 February 2021, followed by Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on 14 March 2023. The full version was released on 9 September 2026 for WIN, OSX, LIN, NS2, PS5, XBO, and XBX/S.