Enshrouded

Game images by RAWG

Enshrouded

Keen Games

PC; PlayStation 5; Xbox Series X|SPremium purchase (early access on some platforms)

Health Score

DECENT

Official Website Watch Gameplay

About This Game

Super Review

Enshrouded blends survival crafting, base building, and action RPG combat into a co-op experience. Players explore a ruined, mist-shrouded world, gather resources, and build shelters, often working together to overcome challenges. While it offers deep creative potential and shared goals, the survival pressures and online interactions require careful consideration for families.

Super Review

Parent verdict

Enshrouded is a qualified fit for families whose players enjoy a demanding survival-crafting loop, especially when playing cooperatively. Its "Decent" rating reflects a strong foundation of creative building and exploration alongside potential stressors from combat and resource management, as well as the inherent social risks of online multiplayer. It works best for players mature enough for strategic planning and with parental oversight for online interactions and session length.

What players actually do

Players gather raw materials like wood, stone, and ore from the environment to craft tools, weapons, armor, and base structures, exercising resource management and planning skills.
Players build complex bases with various structures and crafting stations, utilizing creative design and spatial reasoning to create functional and defensible shelters.
Players engage in melee and ranged combat against fantasy creatures within the dangerous Shroud and in the open world, requiring tactical positioning and understanding of character abilities.

Where it shines

The game strongly encourages collaborative base-building and shared resource gathering in co-op mode, fostering teamwork and communication as players work towards common goals.
Players have significant freedom in designing and constructing their bases, allowing for extensive creative expression and problem-solving in creating functional and aesthetically pleasing structures.

Parent watch-outs

Combat encounters can be challenging, and survival elements like hunger and the encroaching Shroud create constant pressure, which might be stressful for some players.
Online co-op means exposure to other players' chat and potential server-related issues, requiring monitoring of interactions and awareness of who players are engaging with.

Family rules worth setting

Establish a 'buddy system' or play together in co-op, especially for younger players, to manage challenges and monitor online interactions.
Set clear time limits for play sessions, as the open-ended nature of survival crafting can easily lead to extended play times.

Talk about this

Discuss the importance of teamwork and communication when playing cooperatively, and how different roles can contribute to success.
Talk about safe online behavior: what kind of information is okay to share, and what to do if an online interaction feels uncomfortable or inappropriate.

Play style

Enshrouded features a dynamic session rhythm, blending periods of calm resource gathering and intricate base construction with intense combat and urgent exploration, particularly when venturing into the deadly Shroud. Difficulty can vary, with survival pressure from hunger, resource scarcity, and challenging enemies creating friction. The game supports both solo and co-op play, with co-op being highly recommended for a more social and shared experience. Younger players, especially, may need help managing resources, understanding crafting recipes, and strategizing in combat.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

3/5

Creativity

4/5

Pro-Social

3/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

2/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

3/5

Social Risk

3/5

Content Intensity

3/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

3/5

While not explicitly educational, the game encourages problem-solving, resource management, and strategic planning for survival and base construction. Players learn to prioritize needs and optimize resource gathering effectively.

Creativity

4/5

The game offers extensive freedom in base building and crafting, allowing players to design and construct intricate structures and custom gear. This high degree of player agency directly contributes to a strong creativity score.

Addictive Monetization

2/5

As a premium purchase title, Enshrouded avoids many common addictive monetization tactics. There are no present in-game purchases, though PEGI notes indicate this could change, which requires ongoing monitoring.

Social Risk

3/5

The online co-op component introduces social risks common to multiplayer games, including exposure to unpredictable player interactions and chat. While primarily cooperative, unmoderated communication can present challenges.

Content Intensity

3/5

The game features fantasy violence against various creatures, with combat being a central element of survival. The desolate world and deadly mist also contribute to an atmosphere that can be intense for some players, justifying a moderate intensity score.