The months of launching 1.0 survival/crafting games on consoles to legions of new players are here, and what a time it is for lovers of the genre. The latest in the hungry pack is Runescape Dragonwilds, which utilises the renowned Runescape IP for a lean into the survival/crafting space. This is no barrier to new players, as the game is very approachable and provides all the information needed to fall into the deep immersion of its world. I’ve spent dozens of hours navigating Ashenfall, building homes, tending to farms and slaying enemies to improve my build. Using an extremely intuitive and rewarding skills system that encourages natural progression, Dragonwilds manages to thrive both in its early and latter hours through varied gameplay and a graphical presentation that has charm. If you are planning to buy one of the survival/crafting games on the market to sink all of your time into, is Runescape Dragonwilds the best pick? Read on.
I begin my journey at the character selection screen. It is nothing overly detailed and does allow for quick transition into gameplay. As graphics are not realistic and take on more of a fantasy style, there is minimal stress in building your character. Within five minutes, you’ll wake up in an abandoned church wreckage and start your tutorial. For the purposes of review, I chose a normal solo world rather than one with friends or creative options in how it plays. I will eventually trial those options, but preferred the default solo outing to best assess how the game plays as a one-man adventure.
The opening hours may be a tutorial, but nothing feels limiting in the process. You’ll learn how to cook, fish, fight, cast spells, navigate the world and build your home (bed rolls are essential, for you will die and lose your gear many times in the opening hours if trying to push too far outward). NPCs will be littered across the starting area, asking you to engage with the mechanics for a reward. Every time you run, swing a sword, shoot a bow, cast a spell, catch a fish, cook food or do anything of merit, your stats will go up. Hit a new level in those fields, and you’ll receive a perk. Sometimes, you’ll gain a new magical spell such as setting your sword on fire and using wind to reach higher areas. This is a classic example of ‘the more you put in, the more you get’ and the natural boosts are a constant dopamine hit. Each function can level up to 99, and the progression does slow when you reach the latter numbers. This is all in line with previous Runescape games, though you’d be forgiven for thinking that this is perfect for survival/crafting.
Before diving too deep into combat, you’ll want a home. Not only does this provide a bed roll option (which is where you spawn when dying) but all your crafting, cooking and farming will also take place here. I am no maestro when it comes to building homes in games, yet Dragonwilds is very snappy and will allow for a strong early home even if you’re focusing on the basics. I went with a 4×4 elevated home (need to keep out those goblins) and set up a farm around the circumference. Do you need to farm? Yes, because your character gets hungry. Managing food and water is essential. If exploring, you’ll be surprised how depleted these meters can get if not managed frequently.
One minor early gripe is the inventory system, though I do find most survival/crafting games are meant to feel limiting. When leaving your home to explore the detailed world, you’ll pick up many different types of crafting items, weapons, food and more. Your inventory slots will fill quickly. Leaving items in your chest at home is wise, but you’ll still need to return to drop off the goods often. The middle and later game have further options for this, but for those starting out it is essential to leave slots open when dungeon diving or completing main quests. There were times that I had to destroy items to allow slots for new items, only to realise that destroyed item would have been handy for a new structure. Still, the point is to feel the challenge of survival and Dragonwilds achieves this well.
Combat, Oh yes, there’s combat. Survival is not just about staying full and hydrated. Your first engagement with combat will be with a club attacking giant rats. Soon, you’ll move up to daggers, swords, wands, bows and staffs. There’s another step beyond this, with weapons such as a whip (I won’t spoil any others). Now in most games, you’ll decide on a type and use that for most encounters. Here, moving between multiple ensures a consistent level-up of skills to unlock spells and perks. Rats are easy, but soon there are goblins in mobs. Delve into a dungeon and you’ll see mechanical beasts towering over you. Did I mention the dragons that often fly overhead, sometimes landing and spewing out acid? Combat operates with the mash of a button, but special attacks and the wide range of spells ensure it is never dull. In one of the early missions, you’ll storm a castle full of goblins to complete a task for an NPC. In the opening hours, you’ve already dealt with countless goblins to minimal fuss. Here, there are many and they operate with both ranged and melee attacks. This is a mini skill-check, seeing if you’ve thought to upgrade gear (which does play into builds) and explored enough of the area to have a strong understand of runes and their uses. If, during this raid, you fall into the swamp below, be ready for new enemies that operate at a higher level. For death can be frustrating, losing all your gear in a dangerous place. Returning to a grave with no gear (not even your weapons!) takes patience and also ensures you’re prepared next time.
In terms of performance, I played on the PlayStation 5 and found it ran smoothly at 60fps. It is not an overly demanding game in terms of graphics, using a simplified style that remains whimsical. The lighting really impressed me, especially when the sun rises and glimmers of the wet fields if it has been raining. The music was a particular highlight and I found the vibes to really add a layer of relaxation despite being a game that can get particularly challenging if under-levelled. Reaching 1.0, it is clear that this is a project full of passion that appeals to new and old fans alike.
Now, I did say that I would compare this to the other 1.0 releases that feature survival/crafting (and I will also group Dune: Awakening here as it’s a similar style of game releasing in the same window). I have played Valheim, Dune: Awakening, Grounded 2 (early access) and Palworld, and I know that Enshrouded set to release next month in 1.0. There is no answer in terms of best, for each does dabble in different lore and has a point of difference, such as Palworld’s creature taming. Still, I would rank Dragonwilds as equal to Valheim. I found the building in Dragonwilds to be much more user friendly and the early grind is nowhere near as challenging (the later grind IS challenging, depending on your focus). Dune’s world is very unforgiving and, while the sandworms add a great sense of dread, staring at sand for 50 hours can become less of a joy to Dragonwilds’ Ashenfall with its many biomes. At a reasonable entry price, you simply can’t go wrong here.
Runescape Dragonwilds is a joy to play. From its building, to crafting, to unique growth system and massive world, hours simply vanish before your eyes in every session. While the late game can become tiresome if constant raids are not your jam, many will thrive on the challenge and enjoy perfecting their build. I look forward to exploring even more of Ashenfall despite so many games in the genre releasing in this window.
Pros
Soaring yet relaxing score
Always feels whimsical
So much content!
Cons
Grindy in the late game
Early deaths can be frustrating, though expected in this genre
