Games in Early Access on Steam can be quite a thing. Some promise unparalleled adventures but offer little or broken content for their cost. That’s why MeinMMO presents you with 5 really good coop games in Early Access that you can’t go wrong with.
A well-stocked game library on Steam is full of great memories of unforgettable moments in your video game career. But often there are also titles that you prefer not to look back on: the Early Access misbuys.
One thinks of the promises of the game and the fun that the gameplay was supposed to deliver. But 7 months after the purchase, only two developer blogs with holiday wishes and a small update with crash fixes appeared. The only solution is to write off the investment and forget.
But not all games in Early Access are that brazen. Some already offer many well-invested hours of action and content during the test phase. Therefore, MeinMMO presents you with 5 coop games in Early Access on Steam that you definitely won’t regret buying if you enjoy similar games. The order is arbitrary and does not represent a ranking:
- Valheim – Viking survival for €16.79 on Steam
- Granny Simulator – Crazy everyday simulation for €3.99 on Steam
- Raft – Survival with a raft for €19.99 on Steam
- Phasmophobia – Interactive ghost hunting for €11.59 on Steam
- Satisfactory – Build a mega-factory for €29.99 on Steam
When new content comes along that brings you back to the game, you may end up having played more hours than if you had bought the game at full release.
What are the risks? With a game in Early Access, it may happen that the game simply remains in its current state. If the developers run out of money, motivation, or time, the development ends, and you are left with the unfinished test version.
Valheim – Harsh Viking Survival in Hype
Genre: Survival | Developer: Iron Gate | Platform: PC | Start Early Access: February 2, 2021 | Coop Players: 2 – 10 | Price: €16.79 on Steam (03/22/21)
What kind of game is Valheim ? The Viking survival game was released on Steam in early February and hit like a strong mug of mead. The small studio Iron Gate AB hit a big success with the game, selling several million copies in a very short time.
In the pixelated game, you follow a mission from Odin the Father of the Gods himself. His greatest enemies awaken in the world of Valheim, and as an sent warrior, it is your task to keep the monsters in check. Your tools for this: Hammer and clubs.
With the hammer, you create workshops and buildings that provide you with better items and security. Over time, the club turns into a shining sword that, along with armor, makes you an honorable Nordic warrior in the fight against nasty monsters. You can experience this with up to 10 players in co-op, but it’s also fun solo. The difficulty of the opponents is scaled accordingly.
The large open world features several biomes that determine the level of difficulty and is randomly generated. Your task is to explore this world, become stronger piece by piece, and crush Odin’s enemies. If you want a deeper impression, read our preview of Valheim on MeinMMO or check out the gameplay test from our colleagues at GameStar:
For whom is Valheim exciting? Valheim is a typical survival game with strong mechanics and a considerable addictive potential. You fight, loot, farm, and build your way through a world that, despite the pixel graphics, looks really good and offers variety. Also, the combat system is reminiscent of the Souls series, including a dodge roll that protects you from damage.
If you like survival games, you should have Valheim on your radar. If the setting appeals to you, you can hardly go wrong here. The building system is very good and allows for fantastic buildings. Additionally, the combat system is solid, and the difficulty level increases significantly over time. Even fans of action games who enjoy wielding swords, shields, and bows will have their fun.
If you’re less familiar with the survival genre, you should know that Valheim has a high grind component. You’re basically constantly searching for resources for your progress, and as soon as an area no longer provides you with materials to improve, you head to the next biome to farm new materials.
Moreover, overall the game is purely PvE. While there is a PvP function, it must be manually activated by both fighters. Currently, it is more of a gimmick than an important feature.
How much time can you invest? The goal of Valheim is to defeat the five great world bosses. Each boss rewards you with important items that allow you to progress in the next biome. This can keep you busy for dozens of hours even in Early Access. MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus had explored only about 5% of the map after 50 hours, and there are even players who have already played more than 250 hours of Valheim despite being in testing.
How do the ratings look? The game is rated “Very Positive” on Steam, with 96% of the 164,472 reviews giving the title a thumbs up. (As of March 21, 2021)
What will happen next with Valheim? The developers showed a roadmap with 4 major updates in Early Access. These are to improve mechanics, introduce new biomes, and bring new bosses into the game. Due to the great success and high sales figures, the completion of the title seems highly likely. However, the developers have not revealed the specific content of the upcoming updates.
Valheim hits the right note of the time and can keep you busy for many hours in co-op. On the next page, we move on to a rather unusual co-op adventure. A grandmother and her hellish grandson spend a day home alone, and the rascal tries to keep his grandma from having a nice day.
