Valheim’s Lore Setup is Too Good to Not Pay Off

Valheim tackles the vistas of Norse myth headfirst, with its tenth realm sporting an ancient history beyond the vikings settling there to prove their worth. However, as the game looms closer and closer to leaving its early access state, players still need answers to the questions provoked by Valheim‘s lore.

Valheim‘s survival gameplay is enveloped by Norse mythology, with its tenth realm setting an addition to the nine realms of Yggdrasil. The game’s plot, though not overly present throughout gameplay, revolves around Odin—the head of the Aesir gods. The whole reason the player, taking on the role of a dead viking, is in the tenth realm is for Odin to judge their worthiness by having them do battle with the enemies he imprisoned there long ago. Among these stirring foes are boss creatures like Eikthyr and The Elder, but also creatures like draugr and fulings—which are said to have been rivals of the Allfather in ancient times.

Related

Valheim Damage Type Tier List

Valheim’s damage mechanism is divided into multiple subcategories, and some outstrip others in terms of the number of enemies they can affect.

Valheim’s Lore Needs To Be Building To Something

With all that Valheim has established, a rich world filled with ancient evils damned by hubris, it would be a waste for it all to become set dressing. The game’s opening text crawl establishes how Valheim‘s monsters are getting out of hand in some way, saying that Odin’s enemies are ‘growing once again in strength’. It’s implied, therefore, that this is why Odin is sending dead vikings down there—to keep things in check. This leads players to wonder why these rivals are stirring now and why Odin needs vikings to get involved. A bigger threat might be on the horizon, and Iron Gate should take advantage of such an opportunity.

Norse Gods Are Vulnerable Enough To Be Threatened

The lore found on Valheim‘s runes describes the power of the gods, telling stories of how they leveled the cities and salted the fields of ancient peoples who warred with them. Though this power is undeniable and incredible, gods in Norse mythology aren’t the omnipotent beings found in many monotheistic religions. There are many legends where Thor, Loki, and others are compromised, and the death of the god Baldr is one of the main touchstones of the mythology. Ragnarök, the apocalypse-type event in Norse myth, is said to be a time when many gods—including Odin—will die.

This explains how this mighty pantheon could be threatened by Valheim‘s bosses, as they are, in a sense, mortal. There’s also an explanation as to why the gods have only been seen getting involved in onlooking cameos, with one of the game’s runes saying ‘the Vanir cannot come in arms to this world but still they watch from afar’. The Vanir are the other part of the Norse pantheon and, though Thor and Odin are not members but have still only looked on at the player, it could be assumed that the same principle goes for the Aesir.

Haldor And Hildir Could Play A Role In A Climax For Valheim

Haldor and Hildir have long been a mystery in Valheim, but clues such as their Odin-related runes, lack of hostility, and merchant presence in a world with only one buyer suggest that they may be agents of Odin. If they’re both in the tenth realm explicitly to help the player, it’s all the more reason for the game to build toward some grand climax. Whether it be in the form of an army event, a boss, or something greater, the game is hinting toward something big if Odin needs not only the player, but allies to ensure the player’s success.

Valheim’s Showstopper Shouldn’t Be Ragnarök

Whatever’s being built up to with the skirmishes against Odin’s nemeses in Valheim, it probably shouldn’t be Ragnarök. The concept is a bit too predictable, especially considering Valheim‘s deep and inventive use of the mythology. It could still be fun if Iron Gate wants to go that route, but the idea is a little played-out.

Valheim

Valheim is a multiplayer survival sandbox game developed by Iron Gate Studio. It was released in early access on February 2, 2021.

Released

February 2, 2021

Developer(s)

Iron Gate AB

How Long To Beat

75 Hours

X|S Enhanced

Yes

File Size Xbox Series

1 GB (November 2023)

Platforms That Support Crossplay

PC, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

Steam User Rating

95%