Delving into Valheim
G'day gamers! Welcome to our take on Valheim, brought to you by Game Review Bros. We're stoked to give you the lowdown on this Norse-inspired survival adventure. Stick around as we unpack what makes Valheim a ripper of a game, focusing on its solid content structure. Let's dive in!
The Basics
Gere
Developer
Publisher
Platform(s) Tested
Price
Release Status
Modes
Hours Played for Review
Review Date
Survival, Crafting, Open-World
Iron Gate Studio
Coffee Stain
PC
$30
Early Access
Solo, Co-op (1–10 players recommended)
2500
December 2025
Gameplay & Feel
Valheim’s gameplay is deliberate and weighty. Combat relies heavily on stamina management, positioning, and timing rather than button-mashing. Every biome introduces meaningful changes to enemy behaviour and environmental threats, forcing players to adapt rather than overpower.
Movement, combat, and exploration feel grounded, though combat can occasionally feel stiff compared to more action-focused titles.
Bro Score: 8.5/10
Systems & Depth
The game excels in layered systems that interlock naturally. Crafting, building, progression, and boss mechanics all feed into one another. Bosses unlock tools rather than raw power, encouraging exploration and experimentation instead of linear stat climbing.
The structural integrity system in building adds depth without unnecessary complexity, rewarding thoughtful design.
Bro Score: 9/10
Co-op & Multiplayer
Valheim is at its absolute best when played with others. Co-op feels organic, with players naturally falling into roles such as builder, explorer, hunter, or fighter. Sailing, boss fights, and base defence are vastly more engaging as shared experiences.
While fully playable solo, some encounters feel clearly tuned with co-op in mind.
Bro Score: 9.5/10
Performance & Polish
Despite its minimalist art style, Valheim delivers strong atmosphere through lighting, sound, and weather effects. Performance is generally solid, though large builds or busy servers can cause occasional frame drops.
Development has prioritised stability and quality updates over rapid content drops, which shows in overall polish.
Bro Score: 8/10
Value & Longevity
Valheim offers exceptional value, especially for co-op players. A single playthrough can easily stretch into hundreds of hours, and replayability is boosted by procedural worlds and varied playstyles.
Ongoing updates continue to expand content, keeping the experience fresh without bloating the core design.
Bro Score: 9/10
Pros & Cons
Pros
• Outstanding co-op experience
• Deep, interconnected survival systems
• Immersive world and atmosphere
Cons
• Combat can feel stiff at times
• Solo play can feel punishing
• Large builds may impact performance
Bro's Verdict
Valheim is one of the strongest survival crafting games available, especially for players looking to share an experience with friends. It rewards preparation, patience, and teamwork, delivering memorable moments that few games in the genre can match.
While not without its rough edges, its systems-driven design, co-op focus, and atmospheric world make it an easy recommendation for survival fans.