Originally posted by Daniel:

Playing solo is very hard after beating the first boss, going in the black forest (which is the next objective after beating the first boss) alone is very risky and part of it, is because the combat is not too good, it is hard to target effectively an enemy. If you are a casual player, you should pass on this game but if you don't mind investing a lot of time in increasing your statistics, upgrade to the max all your weapons, equipment and structures, and explore the whole map to find merchants and rare resources, etc. to be able to progress then you can give it a try but the game is overrated, playing solo is not that fun, the only thing interesting, is how some creatures behave in combat, it is funny to see.

I really can't understand how anyone could find the Black Forest too risky to endure. And the statement that it is hard to target an enemy is pure fantasy. It might be true if you were playing the game on an ancient computer that could barely handle it, but if you have any sort of adequate rig, the Black Forest is a trivial challenge. The swamp, the next biome, is worse, but if you take a systematic and meticulous approach to its dangers, they soon fade. I'm not in any way an "expert" player. My aim is terrible and I'm absent-minded. I wouldn't last ten minutes in some survival games, but Valheim is not only survivable, it's enjoyable.

There is literally nothing that the game can throw at you that can't be met successfully with a bit of forethought and planning. If you just go rushing into the Black Forest, or the Swamp, or the Mountains, or most of all the Plains, of course you'll get into trouble. If you prepare in advance and keep your eyes open, you won't. It's as simple as that. There was never a game that less deserved the term "brutal" than Valheim.

Is it "worth playing"? That's too personal a question to get any final answer. You may enjoy it; you may not. I can only say that after over 1200 hours in game, I still go back a few times a week to fiddle with my bases, and I'll be back playing regularly when there's a content upgrade.