Summary
For those looking for an engaging survival crafting game similar toValheim, enthusiasts should keep an eye on Sand Sailor Studio’s upcoming open-world gameASKA. The combination of Norse mythology with Viking clans alone is enough to draw a basic comparison between the two titles. Based on the closed beta and the announcement trailer, it almost seems likeASKAis a love letter to open-world survival games likeValheim,Sons of the Forest, andDon’t Starvewith its own unique twist.
Unfortunately, while the first closed beta forASKArecently ended, the future of this captivating survival crafting game appears to be quite promising. Over 1,000 people joined the closed beta in November, and there are over 7,000 users in the official Discord. Though it doesn’t appear that a finished game will be released this year, theASKATwitter page has implied that more closed betas are on the way.
ASKA Is Building on Valheim’s Foundations To Create Something New
ASKA and Valheim Share Several Similarities
To say thatASKAis the same game asValheimwould be false, though it’s clear that the two have many similarities. After all, both games emphasize exploring alongside a procedurally generated world, Vikings, monstrous foes, crafting, sailing, and farming. However, it seems thatASKA’s developers are listening to the criticism thatValheimreceived to ensure they don’t make the same mistakes.
For example, SadSnail, a member of Sand Sailor Studio, noted in theASKADiscord server that the metalworking progression would be limited to iron because it mimics what materials could be found in the Dark Ages. After acquiring iron, players will be able to obtain better tech to smelt iron, make alloys, and make mixed-metal tools. This is quite different thanValheim’scrafting progressionsinceores are directly tied to specific biomes.
ASKA Is Combining Two Genres Into One Title
Perhaps the most daring part ofASKAis how it attempts to combinethe colony sim genrewith the survival genre. Set in a mystical realm, this third-person open-world survival game thrusts players into the shoes of a tribal leader tasked with establishing a thriving society before Dead Winter arrives. Players, along with up to three friends, must work together to gather resources, construct shelters, and establish a fully functioning society. However, as Norse lore suggests, the arrival of Dead Winter also means deadly mythological creatures who will wreak havoc upon unprepared tribes.
Features ofASKAinclude, but aren’t necessarily limited to:
Due to these features,Valheimplayers may want to keep an eye onASKA’s development, especially since it focuses on cooperative play. Fortunately, it appears that Sand Sailor Studio holds weekly streams on its official Twitch channel wherein it shares updates on the current state of the game. Hopefully, as 2023 comes to a close, Sand Sailor Studio will give its community an update on an official release date for theNorse mythology-inspired game.
