Washing up from a shipwreck is not the worst thing in the world. You’re on an unfamiliar beach but at least you’re alive. But in the case of Beyond the Map, which mashes up the survival mechanics of Valheim with the action-RPG combat of Diablo 4, most of the island’s inhabitants want to murder you. Out now in Steam Early Access, it challenges you to juggle base-building and crafting with leveling up your character to the point where you’re not lunch for the nearest werewolf analog. What could possibly go wrong?
The good news is that Beyond the Map shares Diablo 4’s taste for fantasy, magic and elaborately named weapons. Playing this survival hack and slash game, you probably won’t last long with a club in your hand. But once you’re wielding the Slicing Ritual Blade of Flameborne Strikes, your survival odds should rise considerably.
There are a range of fantastical skills you can learn and employ, some gleaned from spellbooks scattered around the island. But base building is also a major part of Beyond the Map. There’s no hunting down a friendly blacksmith. If you want to craft new armor, it’s back to your base hoping that nothing eats your face along the way.
Developer Glitch Goblins also boasts that the game does away with traditional classes. It’s not the first game to do that – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, for one, adopted a similar approach and we’re curious to see whether Beyond the Map can pull it off.
It’s early days for Beyond the Map, which is currently in Steam Early Access. There are currently two distinct biomes, each with their own bosses to battle, but Glitch Goblins has already outlined its roadmap. You’ll mostly be battling above ground for now, but dungeons will arrive later this year. And if you enjoy getting someone else to do your dirty work, you’ll be happy to hear that there are plans to add summoning to the game.
Beyond the Map is out now in Steam Early Access. It’s currently 10% off, and you can buy it here. If you got a kick out of Diablo 4, Valheim, or both, it’s well worth investigating.
For more life-and-death encounters, we’ve rounded up the best survival games. If you’re more interested in the leveling and progression, give some of the best RPG games a whirl.
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