For Those Looking for a Survival Game, Here’s a Comparison of RuneScape Dragonwilds and Valheim

Survival games have become quite popular lately. Players’ options are expanding in direct proportion to the number of successful games on the rise. While games like Solarpunk allow you to simply sit back and focus on advancing your world, some games involve enemies, making things more complicated. Currently, two games seem to be leading the way in this genre. The choice between RuneScape: Dragonwilds and Valheim, both released in the same week, is a hot topic for many players interested in the genre.

RuneScape is a legend many people remember from their childhood. Dragonwilds brought Jagex’s 25-year-old RuneScape universe to the survival genre, and it seems to have been successful. On the other hand, Valheim, with its world drawing from Norse mythology, is one of the best-known examples of the genre in recent years. Both games share a resource gathering, building, and exploration cycle. However, they have different approaches to difficulty, crafting, and team building. Consequently, you’ll need to spend some time on pages of development and memorizing combinations in the crafting system. In such cases, using guides on www.gamer.org is a sensible approach. Thanks to such valuable information, you can at least make better progress in the early stages of the game. Co-op survival games can be frustrating in these areas at the beginning, and can even lead to giving up on the game.

According to Jagex, Dragonwilds, which was released on Steam in early access in April 2025, sold over one million copies during that time. The game was released in full on September 15th for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S and was included in the PlayStation Plus Extra and Xbox Game Pass libraries from day one. It’s safe to say that it’s a game that won’t let you get bored with its online and solo modes. Valheim, which has been in early access since February 2021, has sold over 10 million copies. Iron Gate’s 1.0 update, released on September 9th, added the Deep North region and brought the game to PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2. So, which of these two magnificent titles should you play? Let’s examine what you need to know before you start. With such valuable information, you can at least make better progress in the early stages of the game.

Dragonwilds Takes Survival to a Relatively More Forgiving Pace

In Dragonwilds, in addition to Valheim, thirst is also an indicator to watch. Low thirst directly affects your current stamina. The dirty water you collect needs to be boiled before drinking. Valheim, on the other hand, doesn’t have a thirst mechanic. Dragonwilds doesn’t deplete your stamina by doing this; collecting water is quite easy.

However, despite this mechanic, Dragonwilds is generally more forgiving. Compared to Valheim, your stamina regenerates relatively faster. Thus, the character can continue without running out of breath after a few steps. You also use this bar when using weapons.

Being forgiving doesn’t mean being easy, of course. Enemies have levels. These levels change according to the areas on the map. In fact, the game makes you feel this difficulty change very quickly. Options like normal and hard are also offered when the world is created. The green dragon hovering above the starting area doesn’t force the player into combat. But it constantly bothers you. A threat that makes its presence felt from afar, but which doesn’t yet need to be confronted.

Dragonwilds Saves Time in Construction and Crafting

Valheim’s construction system is deep. But aligning the pieces… Dragonwilds reveals angle errors during construction that might go unnoticed due to its depth perception. It wouldn’t be wrong to claim that building the same structure in Valheim takes 5 to 10 times longer.

The real difference lies in the crafting system. In Dragonwilds, you can craft directly with materials from chests. This feature was also present in Return to Moria, another masterpiece of almost the same genre, and it delighted players considerably. Unfortunately, this is absent in Valheim. Materials must first be moved to the inventory.

However, the system isn’t perfect. Chest crafting doesn’t work at every station. Points like campfires can’t pick up materials. The 10-slot quick access bar becomes insufficient as tools and weapons multiply. Flax, needed for bow making, reappears slowly and can significantly slow down progress.

You Don’t Need to Have Been Playing RuneScape for 20 Years

RuneScape has been around since 2001 and carries traces of the old game. This is the biggest distinguishing feature in Valheim. Players collect runes floating in the air, then transform this essence into many different runes, such as air runes. You can also collect items dropped from enemies you defeat and process them as runes. They’ve also created a mini-game where you seal cracks in the stone while crafting runes on your Altar. Of course, you can skip this step, but you’ll get fewer runes.

Spells make things easier but don’t disrupt the balance. You can fell multiple trees at once with an astral axe, but logs still need to be processed manually. However, mining ores with magic is a significant advantage.

RuneScape influences are everywhere in the game. Walking, cutting down trees, or fishing improves the relevant skill. A character who fishes with a net will switch to a fishing rod at level three. Classic RuneScape music and familiar damage numbers evoke serious nostalgia for veteran players. Story quests also add an RPG feel to the game.

The Biggest Difference: Party Size

On the multiplayer side, the numbers are clear. Dragonwilds offers co-op gameplay for up to four people, while Valheim accommodates ten players on a server. So it’s like a dungeon adventure where everyone takes on a different role. In Dragonwilds, you can also choose between Custom and Creative modes. You can play solo or with a group of friends. It’s also possible to create a server that your group can join at any time, but this option is paid.

Dragonwilds seems particularly suitable for the following types of players:

1. Those who play solo or in teams of two to four
2. Those seeking quest-giving characters and a compelling story flow
3. Those who want to spend minutes rather than hours building

Valheim, on the other hand, might be a better choice for the following types of players:

1. Those who play in groups of five or more
2. Those seeking a physics-based, intense survival experience
3. Those who want each new world to be different

Both Games Enter the Same Genre Through Different Doors

Dragonwilds and Valheim are certainly not interchangeable. Valheim rewards difficulty and a procedural world. The Deep North region also offers a new reason for veteran players to return. Dragonwilds, with its story, fast building system, and RuneScape legacy, opens a more accessible door to the genre. PlayStation Plus Extra or Xbox Game Pass subscribers can try Dragonwilds for free.

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