Merge Games and Maximum Entertainment are introducing players into the fantasy realm of Smalland: Survive The Wilds, where they assume the role of a diminutive Vanguard on a mission in a wilderness teeming with giant insects. Released on Steam and Epic Games in Early Access earlier and now available on consoles including the PlayStation 5, this survival adventure offers a unique perspective and a blend of fantasy elements with survival mechanics.
In Smalland, players explore a vast and imaginative world, encountering towering trees, colossal insects, and distinctive NPCs. Despite its survival focus, the game incorporates elements of storytelling, allowing players to immerse themselves in a richly detailed environment where humanity has vanished, leaving behind a world ripe for exploration. This makes it an especially compelling experience for relative newcomers to the survival genre, as Smalland doesn’t go too hard on survival mechanics.
One of the standout features of Smalland is its accessibility to players of all skill levels. Those new to the survival genre will find the game’s systems easy to grasp, thanks to helpful in-game guidance. Whether navigating temperature changes, crafting essential items, or taming creatures, players can quickly adapt and enjoy the challenges of survival without feeling overwhelmed by a wide range of mechanics – though that also means that hardcore fans of the genre can be underwhelmed.
The perspective of controlling a dwarf smaller than an insect adds a unique perspective and layer of immersion to the gameplay. Exploring the world of Smalland from such a perspective offers a sense of wonder and discovery rarely experienced in other games, evoking memories of films like A Bug’s Life. The ability to tame creatures, from using them as vehicles to employing them as companions, adds depth to the gameplay and evokes a sense of wonder and fantasy as well.
As you’d expect from a survival game, crafting plays a significant role in Smalland, with players able to create weapons, tools, potions, and equipment essential for survival. While this aspect of the game can be time-consuming, it adds a satisfying layer of progression and immersion. However, the crafting process can start to feel repetitive over time, detracting from the overall experience – as do a few rough edges at a technical level.
Smalland offers multiplayer support, allowing friends to explore, fight, build, and survive together – though we didn’t test this extensively. Smalland: Survive The Wilds delivers an original kind of survival adventure set in a beautifully realized world. With its blend of fantasy elements, accessible gameplay mechanics and multiplayer support, it offers a promising experience for newcomers to the genre. Veterans might not be as impressed, but as more casual fans of survival games we had a good time with this one.
Score: 7.0/10
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