Enshrouded review

Enshrouded-review

In our Enshrouded review, find out whether this survival action game, which launched in early access on January 24, managed to captivate and excite us with its exciting fantasy world or whether it left an impression.

Enshrouded review

Keen Games delivers an immersive action, survival and building experience with “Enshrouded”. In this Early Access game, you step into the body of a Flameborn, the last hope of the ancient Emberville civilization. The world, ravaged by a mysterious “Mantle”, asks you, Flameborn, to be the one to save them from a mysterious disease that no one else can solve.

The story provides direction and motivation to face dangers and explore Emberville. There are interesting gameplay elements that complement each other perfectly. Battles feature action with evasion, stealth, and drawing enemies out of hiding. Exploring is always dangerous, exciting and interesting. The game is focused on exploration, crafting, and storytelling rather than pure survival.

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As the last hope of a civilization marked by the Mantle, Enshrouded’s narrative thrusts me into the role of a Flameborn, a rare descendant of an ancient civilization. An ancient curse, a mysterious and deadly plague, has left the land uninhabitable. You are the only hope left for Emberville, as there is no one left who can break the Mantle to identify the cause and free the world again.

Enshrouded has a vast and intriguing world that constantly invites exploration. From caves to basements, ruined buildings or villages, every corner promises discoveries. Each time I explored the area, I found new books to read, places I wanted to be, and side quests I wanted to progress further. And it doesn’t even stop there, because there’s always an interesting new place in sight, so I kept exploring more and more…

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Enshrouded gameplay

The dynamic cycle of day and night introduces an element of danger, with tougher enemies appearing in the dark. If you are willing to explore dangers at night, you should always be prepared for your doom as there are many more enemies than during the day. The “Enshrouded” effect adds an atmospheric layer, obscuring areas in the fog and keeping me on my toes as I had plenty of time to traverse the area. In addition to the normal “Mantle”, there is also a “Mantle of Death” marked on the map as a reddish mist.

At first, the enemies are impossible to overcome as they almost knock you out in one fell swoop. But by making further progress in the story and upgrading your own “Llama” in the camp, you have the ability to traverse even the deadliest parts of the world. Since getting to this point takes time and effort, this commitment gives you a great sense of progress. The game strikes a perfect balance between providing direction through the story and encouraging exploration, revealing a vast open world with different biomes to conquer.

The crafting system in Enshrouded doesn’t fall short. The game offers countless options that evolve with each introduction of a new NPC you’re tasked with finding. But that’s not your only option, as you unlock even more options for crafting as you progress through side quests and collect various things like minerals, herbs, fruits, wood, and more.

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Enshrouded graphics and sound

Enshrouded has a unique graphic style that may seem a bit outdated at first glance. However, this perception changes when the world is bathed in changing light. The vivid colors of the sun, the Fatal Mantle or the lights of the dungeon are masterfully crafted and offer different fascinating moments. The graphics enhance the immersive experience by bringing Emberville and its diverse landscapes to life.

The soundscape in Enshrouded adds significantly to the immersive experience. Calm, soothing background music sets the mood for exploration and seamlessly transitions into intense melodies once the action begins. This dynamic sound design ensures that players are always aware of their surroundings. While the sound design isn’t always revolutionary, especially in terms of combat and creation sounds, it adds a layer of realism to Flameborn’s journey, complementing the overall atmosphere.

Enshrouded System requirements

Minimum:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-6400 (2.7 GHz 4 Core) / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X (3.5 GHz 4 Core) or equivalent
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (req. 6GB VRAM) / AMD Radeon RX 580 (req. 6GB VRAM)
  • Network: Broadband Internet connection
  • Storage: 60 GB available space
  • Sound Card: on board

Recommended:

  • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
  • OS: Windows 10
  • Processor: Intel i7-8700 (3.7 GHz 6 Core) / AMD Ryzen 7 2700X (3.7 GHz 8 Core) or equivalent
  • Memory: 16 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super (req. 6GB VRAM) / AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (req. 6GB VRAM)
  • Network: Broadband Internet connection
  • Storage: 60 GB available space
  • Sound Card: on board