Before we'd even heard of Valheim, there was Tribes of Midgard. It's a co-op Viking survival RPG for up to 10 players, though it can be played solo as well. Its procedurally generated world is filled creatures based on Norse mythology. You can explore the world, battle monsters, and craft gear, and build a sweet Viking base.
I know, that all sounds pretty much like Valheim. But Tribes of Midgard has been in development for a while, with open beta sessions as far back as 2019, and there are some interesting differences here such as eight different character classes for your Vikings and powerful abilities you can unlock—exactly the sort of thing people have modded into Valheim to make it more of a class-based RPG.
In Tribes of Midgard, your Vikings is trying to stave off Ragnarök, the end of the world. Powerful creatures are trying to reach Asgard for the final showdown, but their warpath takes them through the human realm. By day you explore the world and battle monsters, collect resources, and craft gear, and by night you defend your Viking village from invading legions. It sounds a bit like Fortnite's Save The World mode, or a mash-up of Minecraft and tower defense.
The nightly raids on your Viking village aren't the main threat in Tribes of Midgard. Every few days a truly massive giant will spawn in the world and make a beeline for your base. This towering boss won't stop until it's destroyed your village completely or it's been defeated. If you fail to kill it, you're finished, so make sure you've spent lots of time preparing both your Viking and your village for a major throw-down.
Maybe Valheim stole a bit of Tribes of Midgard's thunder by coming out first, but I feel like anyone who likes Valheim (and we're talking millions of people) will be pretty interested in giving Tribes of Midgard a look. I certainly am.
Plus you can fist-bump your friends. Can Valheim say that? Tribes of Midgard launches for PC on July 27. If you've made some friends from all that Valheim you played this winter, grab 'em and get ready.
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