Is Enshrouded 1.0 Worth It?

Enshrouded has finally left Early Access, with the new 1.0 update expanding the map and combat and closing out the game’s story. But is it enough for veterans and new players to jump in?

Enshrouded is an open-world action RPG with survival crafting mechanics. It combines RPG elements like NPCs, quests, dungeons, and character progression with the resource gathering, crafting, and base building you’d expect from a survival game.

But is the game good enough to invest $40 and, more importantly, your time? Well, here’s what we think.

Is Enshrouded 1.0 Worth It for Veterans?

For returning players, Enshrouded 1.0 is more about time investment. You have already bought the game, so the question is whether it’s worth jumping back in.

Well, the simple answer is yes. The 1.0 update finally gives you a complete story, a final boss, and a new biome to explore. The level cap has increased to 50, equipment can now reach level 55, and the combat system has received new spells, enemy types, and other improvements.

The biggest addition is Cinder’s Cradle, a new region filled with dangerous enemies, floating islands, and more areas to explore. The update also opens up previously inaccessible parts of the map and adds new dungeons and crafting options.

If you left during Early Access, there’s plenty of new content to work through. You don’t have to start over, either, as your existing save will carry over. However, the developers have improved the early game and recommend starting a new world if you want to experience those changes.

Why You Should Play Enshrouded: The Positives

If you have never played Enshrouded before, the 1.0 release is a good time to jump in. The game has a complete story to work through, a massive world to explore, and plenty of systems to keep you busy for dozens of hours.

You play as a Flameborn, exploring the ruined kingdom of Embervale, which has been consumed by a mysterious and deadly fog known as the Shroud. Your goal is to explore this dangerous world, fight the creatures that inhabit it, rescue survivors, and gradually reclaim the kingdom.

If you enjoy survival crafting games like ARK, Palworld, or even Terraria, Enshrouded has plenty to offer. You gather resources and use them to craft equipment or build up your base. The map is huge, so there’s a lot to explore. However, one of the game’s biggest strengths is the building system.

The game has a voxel-based building system instead of the traditional prefab system most games use. This means that you have a lot more freedom to shape your structures. You can pretty much build anything, from a small shed to elaborate castles. There are also plenty of different materials and shapes to experiment with.

Enshrouded is also an RPG, so progression goes beyond your base and equipment. You can develop your character around melee combat, ranged weapons, or magic, or mix different approaches using the extensive skill tree. There are plenty of bosses, dungeons, and tougher enemies to test your build against, giving you reasons to keep improving your character as you explore.

Lastly, the game also supports co-op, so you can explore Embervale with your friends.

What’s the Progression Like?

At its core, Enshrouded follows a gameplay loop that mixes elements of RPG and survival games.  A lot of the progression is tied to exploring. You venture out into the world, gather resources, fight enemies, and get better equipment. You then return to your base and use the resources you got to progress. 

At the center of that exploration is the Shroud. It’s a dangerous fog that covers vast areas of the map. It’s filled with enemies, gear, and resources that you will need to progress. However, you can’t stay in the Shroud indefinitely. So, you have to maximize your time in to gather as many resources as you can before returning. In short, craft equipment, venture into the fog, get resources or better gear, come back, and prepare for your next venture. 

But the best thing is that you can enjoy the game at your own pace. You can spend the first few hours building a house, and the game won’t penalize you for it. The quests will guide you through the early progression, but you’re not forced to follow them immediately. 

In fact, the game also has extensive world settings to tailor your experience. If you don’t enjoy gathering resources, you can increase the resource rate. If you’re a fan of combat, you can increase the difficulty. Enshrouded is pretty accommodating and lets players enjoy the game how they want to.

Why You Shouldn’t Play Enshrouded: The Negatives

Enshrouded has a lot of content and things to do, but it is a very grindy game. The main story takes about 35 to 45 hours, while a more thorough playthrough can easily go beyond 100 hours. That’s a lot of time to invest, and not everyone will want to spend that long in a single game.

The gameplay loop can also get repetitive. You’ll spend a lot of time entering the Shroud, fighting enemies, gathering better resources, upgrading your gear and base, and heading back out again. This is fun for a good chunk of the game, but it can start to feel repetitive as you approach the endgame.

There are also some technical issues to consider. While the 1.0 release brings improvements, performance and occasional bugs may still affect your experience depending on your system. The game also lacks crossplay at launch, which is a bummer if you want to play with friends on different platforms.

Speaking of consoles, Enshrouded is available on PC and PlayStation 5, but not Xbox Series X|S. The developers are working on crossplay, and the Xbox version is planned for Spring 2027. However, crossplay does not have a confirmed release date, so if you’re waiting to play with friends on other platforms or want the Xbox version, it might be worth holding off.

Verdict

Ultimately, Enshrouded 1.0 is worth playing if you enjoy exploring a massive world, building bases, and upgrading your character. The game mixes RPG progression with survival crafting, giving you plenty of freedom to decide how you want to play. The complete story, new biome, and expanded combat also make this a good time to jump in, whether you’re a new player or returning after Early Access.

However, the repetitive gameplay loop and grind-heavy progression won’t appeal to everyone. If you prefer shorter, more focused adventures, Enshrouded might wear thin before you reach the endgame.

For fans of survival crafting games, the $40 price is reasonable for the amount of content on offer. If you’re new to the game, 1.0 is a good place to start. Returning players also have plenty of new content to work through, although you don’t need to buy the game again if you already own it on PC.

So, put on your best armor and venture into the Shroud. Just be prepared to spend a lot of time there.