Review: Enshrouded – A Survival Game That’s Anything But Fog-ettable

A Familiar Genre, But Not a Familiar Grind

If there’s one thing the gaming industry loves, it’s oversaturating a genre. Often, one standout indie title emerges from a sea of uninspired clones, offering a fresh take—only for its success to set the new standard, triggering a flood of imitators.

We’ve seen it with battle royales, metroidvanias, roguelikes, and now it looks like extraction shooters and automation games are next in line.

The survival/base-builder genre is currently a crowded space, with genre heavyweights like Ark: Survival Evolved, Valheim, and Palworld dominating players’ time. Personally, I’ve jumped from title to title, enjoying a few dozen hours before the inevitable burnout from grindy progression loops. After my last session with Valheim, I swore off the genre—at least temporarily.

A First Glimpse at Embervale

Then came Enshrouded from Keen Games, best known for Portal Knights. When I first saw the trailer, I was cautiously optimistic. It looked like someone had taken the strongest elements from multiple genres and fused them with sharp art direction, a stronger focus on combat and traversal, and a clear emphasis on meaningful exploration.

Keen Games kindly provided me and another Nickbait contributor with codes so we could test the multiplayer. And after diving in, I’m happy to say Enshrouded not only rekindled my interest in the genre—it raised the bar.

Survival Meets Style

At its core, Enshrouded is a survival/base-building RPG. If you’re unfamiliar, these games task players with managing basic needs—hunger, thirst, shelter—and building out increasingly complex homes or bases using better materials over time. Crafting more advanced structures can also reward you with buffs like faster XP gain or increased stamina regeneration.

Set in the cursed realm of Embervale, you play as the Flameborn, awakened in the ruins of a civilization destroyed by greed. Your ancestors mined a magical elixir, eventually unleashing the toxic mist known as The Shroud. Now, it’s your task to push back that darkness, save the few remaining survivors, and rebuild what’s been lost.

Table-Setting, Not Story-Driven

Character creation is fairly simple, but I appreciated being able to rock a beard and long hair—developers, please give us more long-hair options for men!

After awakening in a strange, crypt-like chamber, you’re greeted by a towering flame that guides you forward. You’re instructed to build an altar and begin rescuing NPCs with unique skills, clearing areas of The Shroud, and slowly reclaiming the world.

The narrative is light in the early hours—mostly breadcrumbs via NPCs and The Flame—but that works in Enshrouded’s favor. The game focuses on mechanics and exploration first, and the story quietly supports that journey.

A World Worth Exploring

Where Enshrouded truly excels is in its open-world design. Traversing Embervale—through snowy peaks, decaying ruins, and fungal nightmares—is always engaging. Exploration feels earned and rewarding.

Early in the game, I came across a broken bridge. Instead of just marking it and moving on, I followed a winding path into The Shroud, eventually resurfacing on the other side hours later. Later, I crafted a grappling hook and could swing across. Later still, I expanded my base’s reach to rebuild the bridge myself. I could even glide over the gap. Every method was viable—and meaningful.

Combat With Consequences

Combat in Enshrouded channels Soulslike energy in the best way. Enemies are deadly, and success hinges on real skill: dodging, parrying, weapon choices, and timing all matter. Mistakes are punished quickly, especially if you’re unprepared, outnumbered, or venture too deep into The Shroud without caution.

No matter how strong you are, Enshrouded always demands respect in battle.

The Shroud Is Watching

Let’s talk about The Shroud itself. It’s a brilliant piece of environmental storytelling and design. Venturing into it feels dangerous because it is dangerous—not just due to the enemies, but the eerie ambiance.

Flickering spores, low groans, and dense mist fill the air. A time limit hovers on screen, letting you know how long you can survive before the poison overtakes you. Everything in The Shroud whispers: “You shouldn’t be here.” And yet, the rewards are always worth the risk.

Building a Home, Not Just a Base

As you cleanse Shrouded areas and defeat bosses, your ability to expand your base increases. I played on a private server with a few friends and fellow Nickbait contributors. Some of us explored while others stayed back to build. It wasn’t long before we had a functioning village within fortified walls—each of us constructing our own home.

I built a modest stone-and-wood cottage. One player set up in a towering watchtower, and another carved a hobbit-style burrow underground. We housed NPCs we rescued in their own custom homes, creating a town that felt alive and purposeful. This wasn’t just base-building for the sake of progression—it was town-building with heart.

Class and Character Customization

Progression is cleverly handled. Every meaningful action—chopping wood, mining, defeating enemies, even discovering lore—earns XP. Leveling up allows you to unlock skills from a sprawling Final Fantasy X-style sphere grid.

There are 12 classes, and players can mix and match abilities over time. I focused on becoming a stealthy ranger, while a friend leaned into battlemage territory. Whether you’re into bows, blades, or spellcasting, Enshrouded supports your playstyle and rewards investment.

Final Thoughts: A Shining Light in the Fog

Even after 13+ hours, I’m still constantly surprised by Enshrouded. From soaring down cliff faces in a glider to barely surviving a one-on-one fight with a Fell Thunderbrute, the game delivers one high after another.

To be honest, I never expected something this polished and thoughtfully designed from the devs behind Portal Knights. But Enshrouded feels like their breakout moment—a game that isn’t just good for its genre, but genuinely great on its own.

You can jump in right now on PC, and console players should keep an eye out for the 1.0 launch in 2026. If you’re even mildly interested in survival games, Enshrouded isn’t just worth watching—it’s worth playing.