It's a single player survival game with co-op capabilities. NPC's are not in game due to the storyline currently but IGS is not done with the game because this is an "Early Access" title currently with a very small team, and the lead programmer worked on this game for 2 years solo.

Some people love to build, others explore, but I will say this, if you try to rush to the end of the game you will not have fun. This is more of a game to explore, chill and smell the cloudberries kinda thing while working for Odin.