Niffelheim

Niffelheim is a decent 2D survival game that plays it all just a little too seriously to be called enjoyable. It looks pretty good, but the simple combat and finicky systems hold it back.

Niffelheim had plenty of good things going for it, without room for mistakes it kind of killed the flow of the game. With plenty of other good crafting action-adventure RPG games on the Switch, Niffelheim just failed to hold my attention.

Niffelheim's experience is one of 2D action and survival with RPG elements, though it doesn't quite succeed in all of them. There's a remarkable lack of customization choices, the combat is too simplistic and the difficulty level peaks suddenly but that doesn't mean Niffelheim doesn't do a good job on its survival angle, as well as on its art style and use of mythology in its lore and plot.

Niffelheim is a game determined to make each new step feel less like a monumental achievement and more like another box checked off on the way towards Valhalla.

Despite its issues, Niffelheim stands as a very competent hardcore survival game that players will be engaged with for hours on end.

If you’re looking for a new survival game with a heavy reliance on resource gathering and crafting then this could be a good consideration for you. If like me you want a fun Viking game, and don’t get on with those previously mentioned things, then it’s best to avoid this.

Unfortunately, Niffelheim does not possess enough visual appeal despite its gorgeous hand drawings, nor enthralling mechanics or ease of access for non-genre enthusiasts like myself.

Niffelheim is a deep and complex survival game that offers a wealth of gameplay and longevity. Though how long you ultimately spend playing it depends on how easy it is for you to overcome its flaws.

If you’re in for the grind or just enjoy repetitive actions, Niffelheim might be something for you (although I honestly don’t understand why). For someone like me, though, this isn’t a game that I would recommend.

Niffelheim will likely appeal to fans of survival games but could be a bit too repetitive and obtuse to those who aren’t.