Terraria
Developer/Publisher: Re-Logic | Genre: Survival-Crafting | Steam Release: May 16, 2011 | Peak Players: 489,886 | Type: Singleplayer with Co-op and PvP
What is Terraria? In Terraria, you play a self-created character who can explore a large world with various biomes. You gather different resources, expand your home, craft and upgrade equipment, and face dangerous monsters and bosses.
Terraria is a sandbox game, so there is neither a fixed story nor tasks that players must complete. Everything is optional, and it’s up to you what you make of the world.
Terraria is often dubbed “2D Minecraft,” but it’s even more than that. Due to special events like the Blood Moon and bosses that attack your home, you are often forced into action. For a rough idea, the term “2D Minecraft” does fit quite well.
How did it explode? Terraria was able to attract tens of thousands of players regularly shortly after release. The interest in survival games is high, and games that come with a well-thought-out concept are often very popular among fans – like Terraria.
However, the sudden explosion came in May 2020. During that time, Terraria celebrated its 9th birthday and released the content update “Journey’s End,” which was supposed to be the last update of Terraria. A kind of farewell message for the community.
Similar to Among Us, the pandemic may also be a reason for the sudden interest. Terraria offers an open world that you can shape as you wish, a distraction from frustrating reality.
Valheim
Developer/Publisher: Iron Gate/Coffee Stain | Genre: Survival | Steam Release: February 2, 2021 (Early Access) | Peak Players: 502,387 | Type: Singleplayer with Co-op and consensual PvP
What is Valheim? After your death as a Viking, you are brought to Valheim by a Valkyrie. In this fictional world, you must fight against the enemies of the Allfather Odin to prove yourself worthy of being among his warriors.
You start almost naked, gathering weapons, tools, food, and mead. You continuously prepare to defeat the next boss of the story, because only by defeating it can you become even stronger.
In the process, you also diligently build your longhouse, create your own home alone or with friends, and even engage in agriculture. A classic survival crafting game.
How did it explode? Valheim is a survival game. The genre plays on the primal instincts of humans and the will to survive. That alone is a motivation for many fans of the genre to play.
However, Valheim cleverly combined story with survival gameplay and made the game concept accessible to the masses:
- You need food but don’t have to eat to survive – it just makes you stronger
- Bosses are necessary to progress, but you can take your time to prepare
- Other players can only kill you if you allow it. Newcomers won’t be immediately killed
Especially newcomers to the genre were able to explore a world that is harsh yet doesn’t kill you at every corner. This made Valheim quickly one of the best survival games ever.
Additionally, Valheim benefited from the Viking boom at the time, which was partly due to blockbuster titles like Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla. The fascination with the Nordic warriors and their religion spread at the release of Valheim and inspired many new games.
By the way, Valheim is even coming soon to Xbox and Game Pass.
