Enshrouded 1.0 review: Frankfurt’s survival hit is finished – and it shines
Keen Games has completed its survival RPG after more than two and a half years in early access. On Metacritic the PC version stands at 89.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
Trailer: YouTube · Enshrouded · youtube.com
Critics' rating
Scores: Metacritic 89 (PC) · GameStar 87 · GamingBolt 9/10
- Platforms
- PC, PS5
- Studio
- Keen Games
- Release
- 15.10.2026
+ Pros
- Freeform building among the best in the genre
- Varied, beautifully designed world
- Deeper combat and a flexible skill tree
- Co-op for up to 16 players on PC
– Cons
- Simple story and quests
- Progression system poorly explained
- No PC/PS5 crossplay at launch
- Enemy groups can be frustratingly strong
Critics' verdict
After more than two and a half years in early access, many critics count the German survival game among the best in its genre.
Summary of published reviews – sources below.
On 15 October Frankfurt studio Keen Games released Enshrouded version 1.0, in early access since January 2024, – on Steam and, for the first time, on PlayStation 5. The full release adds the new region Cinder’s Cradle, the end of the story including a final boss, a higher level cap, 37 new enemy types and variants, and a magic update with summons. Up to 16 people can play together on PC and up to eight on PS5; there is no crossplay at launch.
On Metacritic the PC version scores 89 from nine reviews, all of them positive. Germany’s GameStar awards 87 points, PC Games and 4Players 90 each. GamingBolt gives 9 out of 10, calls the freeform building system one of the best in the industry and now sees one of the best survival crafting games around. CGMagazine awards 8.5 out of 10, praising the combat and the flexible skill tree in particular.
Criticism targets a thin story, simple quests and the poorly explained Sparkworks system. CGMagazine also faults enemies that become overwhelming just a few levels higher and appear in large groups. Even so, the launch is a success with players: according to iGame Magazine, more than 64,000 people played simultaneously on Steam on day one.