5 reasons why Valheim is worth playing in 2025 (and 5 reasons why not)

Iron Gate Studio's Valheim will enter its fourth anniversary on February 2, 2025. The game has been received quite positively since its inception and the developers have been consistent in releasing patches and hotfixes. Still, as we enter the new year, players might be wondering if Valheim's Early Access is worth playing or not.

This article lists five reasons to enjoy Valheim in 2025 and five reasons to avoid it.

This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.

---

5 reasons why Valheim is worth playing in 2025

1) A unique art style

The game features lo-fi graphics (Image via Coffee Stain Publishing)

One of the most unique aspects of Valheim is its simplistic yet endearing art style. It not only adds to the title's charm but also fits right in with its setting. Moreover, the different creatures, enemies, and bosses you come across in your adventures are also pretty unique in their design, often leaving a lasting impression long after the battle's been won.

---

2) True Exploration

Exploration is engaging (Image via Coffee Stain Publishing)

Valheim is a game that doesn't hold your hand. It allows you to explore its intriguing world by yourself, even if you die doing so. This provides a sense of accomplishment to the player, as they can learn about the setting on their own terms.

---

3) An interesting setting

The world feels intriguing (Image via Coffee Stain Publishing)

Another reason to play Valheim in 2025 is if you're looking for an open-world survival crafting game set in the lands of the Vikings along with a touch of Norse mythology. This setting has allowed the developers to create a unique world that despite feeling primal, does have some elements that are ahead of its time.

---

4) A Slow Burn

Progress is slow but constant (Image via Coffee Stain Publishing)

If you want a game that takes its time to get going, Valheim is a great pick that you can steadily hack away at in 2025. The game gradually introduces new elements for player progression, allowing you to truly experiment with each mechanic before a new one is introduced.

---

5) Play it with your friends

Players can enjoy the game with their friends (Image via Coffee Stain Publishing)

Valheim also features a multiplayer component, where up to ten players can play together on player-hosted servers. They can also customize the intensity of various game mechanics, including the Death Penalty, Resource Rate, Portal Settings, Map Availability, etc. Surviving in the brutal world of Valheim with your friends offers a sense of satisfaction rivaled by few.

---

5 reasons why Valheim is not worth playing in 2025

1) Can take too long to get going

Its slow pace is both a boon and curse (Image via Coffee Stain Publishing)

If you cannot dedicate a lot of time to grinding, then Valheim might not be a good match for you. The game has its own pace that might feel like a slog for those, who can only play for a limited time. The game takes its own sweet time to introduce new mechanics, and rushing through the experience is not recommended.

---

2) Has a linear progression

The linear progression might turn some players away (Image via Coffee Stain Publishing)

Another aspect of Valheim that might be divisive is its largely linear progression. Once you start at a particular biome, the progression will largely see you level up, discover elements and put them to use, strengthen your base, and then move on to the next biome. This means that players will have very few reasons to return to locations they have already explored.

---

3) Is really grindy

It can take too long to mine materials in the game (Image via Coffee Stain Publishing)

Players will have to put in a lot of hours to explore all the content that Valheim has on offer. Although the slow pace is good for some, there are moments when the game feels too grindy, as if the developers have stretched it out just to increase the playtime. This can feel tedious when compared to other alternatives in the market.

---

4) Isn't completely optimized

The game can have some technical issues (Image via Coffee Stain Publishing)

The technical caveats that still plague the game can also irk players. While the game is currently more optimized than it was at launch, some can still suffer from frame drops or lags. This isn't out of place considering the game is still in early access, but it can detract from the overall experience.

---

5) Combat is brutal

Combat can be unnecessarily harder (Image via Coffee Stain Publishing)

Combat is an important part of the survival experience and Valheim takes inspiration from the Soulsbourne titles, requiring one to manage their stamina while parrying, striking, and dodging attacks. While this is challenging in itself, the game's bugs can cause the difficulty to skyrocket, leading to frustrating experiences. Hence, it is recommended to avoid Valheim until these issues are ironed out.