Keen Games GmbH just fully released Enshrouded, their fantasy, survival RPG (role-playing game) on October 15, and it has taken over my life. I had watched some content creators play the game, listening to their gameplay in the background while I did other things, so I had some idea of what the game was about. Seeing that it was fully released, I decided to try out the game myself.
Enshrouded is a game that prides itself on exploration. Its open world map and verticality really highlight this point, and the game often rewards its players for exploring. I think one of its biggest strengths is in its puzzles. They’re not overly complex or difficult. It’s not asking for specific patterns, rhythms, or wanting players to solve a word puzzle. No, Enshrouded’s puzzles perfectly match what they want from players, for them to explore.
One of the main puzzles of the game is to find all the buttons to unlock a door. Sometimes it’s one, sometimes it’s five. The main point is that the buttons will be in the same area and have a golden glow that dims into blue once pressed.
Buttons can be trapped behind a bit of parkour, needing players to navigate jumps and glides past lava to reach them. Some buttons are up high or unreachable, needing players to equip a long-range weapon to hit them. Other buttons may be hidden and need another button pushed in order to reveal them. It’s a great way for players to actually look carefully at the world they have been plopped into and explore its crevices.
I had a great time with a recent temple I found in the game where the button was hidden somewhere very craftily. It took a few tries, but I finally found it clear and glowing at just the right angle! Enshrouded is a game that encourages players to look around, search above and below, and to realize that sometimes there’s a third path on a seemingly two-forked road.
I spend just enough time on the puzzles to be a little befuddled on where to go but not too long to be left frustrated at what I’m missing. It’s a great experience that makes the exploration a little more fun while also not taking away from that aspect.
At times, it feels like I’m playing a point and click adventure game. Not because things are stationary, but rather I have to carefully observe the world, look for strange marks and indentations, and realize there might be a secret entrance that I’ve missed. I enjoy that these kinds of puzzles exist both in the open-world in random locations, in the main and sub quests, and in the tall standing towers that act as fast-travel points. It’s been pushing me to explore the world more and to retrace my steps when I’ve gone through a path too fast.
What are your thoughts about how Enshrouded has shaped and set its puzzles? Do you wish that they added more guidance or made more difficult puzzles? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below or in our Boss Rush Discord!
Featured Image Source: Keen Games GmbH
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