10 Games Like Valheim: Survival Picks on Steam

If you are hunting for games like Valheim, you probably loved the same things many players did: sailing into a biome you are not ready for, building a longhouse that feels like yours, and finally taking down a boss with friends after three failed attempts. The good news is that survival games with building and bosses have never been more varied.

Below are ten picks on Steam, grouped by what kind of fit they are, with the player modes Steam lists for each. The quick table comes first so you can skim.

What makes Valheim what it is?

Valheim is a collaborative exploration and survival game for 1-10 players, developed by Iron Gate AB and published by Coffee Stain Publishing. Steam lists its release as Sep 9, 2026, and its user reviews as Very Positive across more than 560,000 reviews. It is set in a procedurally generated world, meaning the map is built by the game rather than hand-drawn, inspired by Norse mythology and Viking culture.

The loop is easy to describe. You gather resources, craft better gear, build bases that give you a safe place to return to, and push into new biomes, each with its own resources and enemies. Progress is gated by the Forsaken, mighty regional bosses you must defeat to advance. You can sail the open seas alone or with up to nine friends.

When you look for games like Valheim, it helps to decide which of those pieces you want most. Some games below copy the boss-gated progression, some focus on base building, and some just share the feeling of a small group surviving something much bigger than they are.

Which games like Valheim have the closest build-and-fight loop?

Enshrouded

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This is the pick most players will name first, and it earns it. Enshrouded is a solo and co-op survival action RPG set in Embervale, a kingdom being devoured by a corrupting fog called the Shroud. You gather, hunt, farm and fish, rescue survivors so your hut grows into a settlement, and build in a fully terraformable land.

The combat leans on skills and a talent system, so you can be a heavily armored fighter, a ranger, a battlemage, or a mix. A grappling hook and gliding make exploring more vertical than in Valheim.

It suits players who liked Valheim’s building and gear progression and want a more RPG-style character. Steam lists Single-player, Multi-player, Co-op and Online Co-op, with Very Positive reviews, and a release of Oct 15, 2026.

V Rising

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V Rising swaps the Viking for a weakened vampire who wakes after centuries of sleep. You hunt for blood in nearby settlements, avoid the scorching sun, build a castle, and convert humans into thralls who serve it. Supernatural bosses are the big obstacles, and drinking their blood lets you steal their power.

The action is hands-on and the base matters more than you might expect, because the castle is your power base as well as your shelter. It is a good fit if you enjoyed Valheim’s boss fights and want a darker, gothic mood.

Steam lists Single-player, Co-op, Online Co-op and LAN Co-op, plus PvP (player versus player) modes if you want to test your castle against other people. Reviews are Very Positive.

Necesse

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Necesse takes the survival-building idea into a 2D, infinite procedurally generated world. You establish a settlement, recruit settlers who farm, tend animals and gather resources, and lead expeditions against pirate kings, dragons and fallen wizards. Between trips you crawl through dungeons, mine ores and craft gear for your preferred playstyle.

If you liked the loop of “prepare, go out, fight a big thing, come home and upgrade,” this has it in a lighter package. It suits groups who want something easy to start and a bit less demanding on the eyes and the hardware.

Steam lists Single-player, Co-op, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op and PvP, and the store text mentions dedicated servers for hundreds of players. Reviews are Very Positive. If you like this style, our list of games like Terraria goes deeper into 2D sandbox crafting.

Which games like Valheim give you a Viking or medieval settlement?

ASKA

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ASKA keeps the Viking setting but changes the scale. Instead of a lone warrior with a few friends, you lead a tribe. Intelligent NPC villagers work, craft, hunt and fight alongside you, and they need food, water and rest. You design homes, workshops, altars and fortifications, and you assign roles and train villagers in skills.

The store text describes a land ruled by ancient terrors and unforgiving seasons, so survival pressure is part of it. It suits players who enjoyed Valheim’s longhouse building and want a management layer on top.

Steam lists it as Early Access, with Single-player and Online Co-op for solo or up to three friends. Reviews are Very Positive, and Steam lists the release as Jun 20, 2024.

Bellwright

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Bellwright adds a story to the survival loop. You play someone framed for the murder of the Prince, and you slowly lead a rebellion against the Sovereign. You establish and expand settlements, help villagers, recruit followers and command your forces in combat.

It is a good match if you want your base to have a purpose beyond staying alive. The building is practical, and the rebellion gives a direction that Valheim leaves to you.

Steam lists it as Early Access with Single-player, Co-op and Online Co-op. Reviews are Very Positive, with a release listed as Apr 23, 2024. For more medieval worlds, see our games like Skyrim picks.

Soulmask

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Soulmask is a large survival crafting game set in ancient civilization open worlds, with two realms: Cloud Mist Forest and Shifting Sands. Your soul is tied to a mysterious mask, and you recruit tribespeople, each with their own talents, then possess them to act through them. Your tribe can build up an automated civilization.

It suits players who like systems and want a big sandbox, and who are happy to settle into a long project. Steam’s review summary is Mostly Positive, a notch below most picks here, so it is one to read about before committing.

Steam lists Single-player, Co-op, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op and PvP, with a release of Apr 9, 2026.

Which survival games with a twist pair well with Valheim?

Palworld

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Palworld is an open-world survival and crafting game where mysterious creatures called Pals fight, farm, build and work with you. Pals can also be ridden across land, sea and sky, and set to work in factories, so base automation is a big part of the fun.

It is a fit if the part of Valheim you love is building and the slow growth of a camp into something impressive. The tone is looser and funnier, and the store text mentions a ruthless poaching syndicate as the threat.

Steam lists Single-player, Co-op, Online Co-op, Cross-Platform Multiplayer and Steam Workshop. Reviews are Very Positive and the release is listed as Jul 9, 2026.

Grounded

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Grounded shrinks you to the size of an ant and drops you into a backyard full of giant insects. It is a first-person survival adventure where you explore, build and survive, and a story answers how you got so small. Creatures roam the yard in places like the pond, the termite den and the sandbox.

Co-op here is easy to jump into. You can play with up to three friends, and the Shared Worlds feature lets you keep playing your shared world even when the original host is not online. That makes it handy for groups with mismatched schedules.

It suits players who want Valheim’s crafting and base building without a Norse theme. Steam lists Single-player and Online Co-op, with Very Positive reviews and a release of Sep 27, 2022.

Smalland: Survive the Wilds

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Smalland also plays with scale, but with a fantasy slant. You are one of the small, venturing out into a world of lake-sized puddles and skyscraper-sized trees. You craft weapons and armour, build encampments, and tame and ride critters such as a grasshopper, a damselfly or a spider.

The standout for Valheim fans is the group size. Steam’s store text lists support for up to 10 players in multiplayer, which matches Valheim’s own ceiling. If you have a big friend group, that counts for a lot.

Steam lists Single-player, Co-op and Online Co-op, with Very Positive reviews and a release of Feb 15, 2024.

What about survival horror games like Valheim?

Sons Of The Forest

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Sons Of The Forest sends you to a remote island to find a missing billionaire, and you end up in a cannibal-infested hellscape. It is a survival horror simulator where you craft, build and fight mutated creatures with pistols, axes and stun batons. The seasons change, so food you collect in spring and summer matters when winter arrives.

No NPC gives you missions you do not want, which echoes how Valheim lets you set your own pace. The mood is far scarier, though, so it is best for players who like tension with their base building. If that appeals, our best horror games on Steam list has more.

Steam lists Single-player, Co-op and Online Co-op, with Very Positive reviews and a release of Feb 22, 2024. Its predecessor, The Forest, is also on Steam with a very similar premise and Overwhelmingly Positive reviews.

Which co-op games like Valheim suit your group?

Many of the best multiplayer games like Valheim are really about who you play with. Here is a rough guide based on the modes Steam lists.

• A big group of up to ten: Smalland matches Valheim’s 1-10 range on paper, so it is the easiest choice for a large crew.
• A trio or foursome: Grounded and ASKA both list solo or up to three friends, which fits a small regular group.
• Two to four friends who want bosses: Enshrouded and V Rising both list Online Co-op and put combat and progression up front.
• Friends who want PvP as an option: V Rising, Soulmask and Necesse list PvP modes alongside co-op.
• Big shared servers: Rust and ARK: Survival Evolved are both listed as MMO and aimed at many players at once. Rust is heavily about player conflict, so it feels very different from Valheim.

If you also want other survival options, ICARUS is a PvE survival game with missions and an open world mode for up to eight co-op players, and Medieval Dynasty mixes farming, hunting and village-building in a medieval setting. They did not make the top ten, but both list Single-player and Online Co-op.

Are there games like Valheim you can play alone?

Yes. Most of these list Single-player on Steam, so you do not need a group. Enshrouded is a good one for solo play because it is described as a solo and co-op survival action RPG, and you rescue survivors who grow your settlement. Bellwright gives you a story and recruits, and ASKA fills your world with villagers.

For a quieter solo experience, Sons Of The Forest is built around surviving alone or with friends, though it is the tensest option here. Rust is the exception: Steam lists it as Multi-player only, with no Single-player mode.

If you came to Valheim for the building alone, our list of games like Minecraft is a good next stop.

What mistakes do people make when choosing games like Valheim?

• Expecting the same tone. Valheim is moody and calm between fights. Palworld is playful, Sons Of The Forest is frightening, and Grounded is lighthearted. Pick the mood first.
• Ignoring Early Access. Steam lists ASKA and Bellwright as Early Access, which means they may change and may not be finished. That is fine if you enjoy watching a game grow, less so if you want a complete experience.
• Overlooking the review summary. Most picks here are Very Positive, but Soulmask is Mostly Positive and ICARUS is too. Read recent reviews if you are buying for a group.
• Forgetting the group size. A game that takes three friends will leave out your fourth. Check the player count before you buy for everyone.
• Playing everything at once. These games reward long sessions with the same world. Pick one, give it a few nights, and only then try another.

Where should you start?

If you want the most direct step from Valheim, start with Enshrouded for building and combat, or ASKA if you want to stay in a Viking setting. Choose V Rising for a darker base-and-boss game, and Smalland or Grounded when your group wants something different but still cooperative.

Browse more in our games like the ones you love collection, check upcoming co-op games for what is on the way, or see the best RPG games on Steam if the character progression is what hooked you.

Questions and answers

What are the best games like Valheim?

Enshrouded, V Rising and ASKA are the closest fits. Enshrouded gives you a fantasy world with building and skill-based combat, V Rising turns the base into a vampire castle, and ASKA keeps the Viking setting while adding a village of NPC workers.

What are good co-op games like Valheim?

Smalland lists support for up to 10 players, matching Valheim's own 1-10 range. Grounded takes up to three friends, ASKA up to three, and ICARUS up to eight. Enshrouded, Palworld, Necesse and Sons Of The Forest also list online co-op on Steam.

Why did people stop playing Valheim?

There is no single reason. Valheim is built around beating a set run of bosses, so groups often reach the end of what they planned to do and drift away until an update. Steam still lists it as Very Positive from over 560,000 reviews.

Are there games like Valheim you can play alone?

Yes. Enshrouded, V Rising, Sons Of The Forest, Grounded, Palworld, ASKA, Necesse and Bellwright all list Single-player on Steam. Enshrouded and Bellwright suit solo play well because companions and settlements give you help as you grow.

What are the top 3 survival games on Steam?

It depends on your taste, but a strong starting trio is Valheim for Viking exploration, Enshrouded for fantasy building and combat, and The Forest for survival horror. All three list Single-player and Online Co-op on Steam and are rated at least Very Positive.