Valheim reviewed by Len Hafer on PC. Also available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X|S.
Whether I'm fighting for my life, plundering forgotten barrows, or just watching the sun play across the water in a calm moment of respite, Valheim has created a world I'm consistently joyful to live in and discover. Its gorgeous art style, deadly bosses and dungeons, charming homesteading mechanics, and breathtaking scope each play a few notes of a melody that gets my blood pumping to explore the raging sea, defeat the greatest beasts, and share a piping hot meal with my sisters and brothers in the shield wall. The journey Minecraft started me on back in 2010 culminated in Valheim. This is the oath of the ultimate survival crafting adventure fulfilled and carved into the very bones of the Earth. Valhalla calls. And even after more than 100 hours just on this fresh playthrough, I feel so sad it's over that I'm eager to answer that call again. One day in the sun is a life well-lived.