Tribes of Midgard

Tribes of Midgard
Developer(s)Norsfell Games
Publisher(s)Gearbox Publishing
Director(s)Julian Maroda
Composer(s)Vibe Avenue
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)
Release
  • Windows, PS4, PS5
  • July 27, 2021
  • Switch, Xbox One, Series X/S
  • August 16, 2022
Genre(s)Action role-playing, survival
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Tribes of Midgard is an action role-playing survival video game developed by Norsfell Games and published by Gearbox Publishing. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on July 27, 2021, and was released for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on August 16, 2022.

Gameplay

Tribes of Midgard is an action role-playing survival game played from a top-down view. In addition to solo play, players can also form a tribe of 10 players and play cooperatively.[1] In the game, the player assumes control of an Einherjar, a Viking hero who must protect the seed of Yggdrasil from enemies such as Helthings, dark elves, trolls and giants.[2] During day time, the player explores a procedurally generated world, collecting resources used for crafting new weapons, armor, and village defenses. At night time, the enemies will attack the player's settlement in an attempt to destroy the seed of Yggdrasil, and players need to collect the souls of the enemies in order to sustain the seed's life. With each day survived, the enemies in the game will become stronger and more difficult to defeat.[3] The game features eight different gameplay classes, and each class has their own unique combat abilities.[4] The player may also collect runes, which further modify their stats and attributes. The game features two main modes: the story-driven Saga mode, and the more open-ended survival mode.[5]

Development

Development of the game started in 2018 by Norsfell Games. CEO of Norsfell, Julian Maroda, described the game as one that is set in a new genre. The team took inspirations from survival games like Don't Starve Together and action role-playing games like Diablo. Unlike other survival games, Tribes of Midgard does not feature permadeath in order to make the experience more accessible for new players.[6] Players only have one goal in the game: protect the seed of Yggdrasil and supply it with souls. When the seed is destroyed, Ragnarök arrives and the play session will end. The decision to remove common elements of survival games such as thirst and hunger was to further streamline the experience for new players.[7]

Tribes of Midgard was initially set to be released in 2020, though it was delayed by publisher Gearbox Publishing to early 2021.[8][9] The game was eventually released for Windows, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on July 27, 2021, and was released for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.[4][10]

Reception

Tribes of Midgard received "mixed or average" reviews for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 5, according to review aggregator Metacritic.

IGN liked the world and the combat, but criticized the time limit the day system imposed, writing "given how diverse, detailed, and intriguing the world can be... this hindered my ability to really explore and enjoy it".[14] Three individuals, Richard Alpert, Kudzu Ninja, and John Locke are known to be the record holders for the longest played game of survival on console version in 2023.

References

  1. ^ Wilson, Jason (June 12, 2021). "Tribes of Midgard is more than 'Valheim: The isometric action-RPG'". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  2. ^ Moss, Gabriel (July 10, 2021). "Tribes of Midgard: Hands-On With the 10-Player Co-Op Action-RPG". IGN. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  3. ^ Maroda, Julian (October 28, 2020). "Enter the world of Norsfell's Tribes of Midgard, a co-op action RPG launching July 27". PlayStation Blog. Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Livington, Christopher (June 12, 2021). "More co-op Viking action is headed your way in Tribes of Midgard this July". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  5. ^ Maroda, Julian (June 10, 2021). "Enter the world of Norsfell's Tribes of Midgard, a co-op action RPG launching July 27". PlayStation Blog. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  6. ^ Conditt, Jessica (June 23, 2021). "'Tribes of Midgard' blends survival, RPG and co-op mechanics for a new kind of Viking game". Engadget. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  7. ^ Weber, Rachel (June 12, 2021). "Tribes of Midgard wants to create a whole new genre, says creative director". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  8. ^ Gerbick, Jordan (June 13, 2020). "Gearbox is bringing Tribes of Midgard to PS5". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  9. ^ Chalk, Andy (July 27, 2019). "Co-op Viking survival game Tribes of Midgard is running an open beta this weekend". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  10. ^ "Tribes of Midgard coming to Xbox Series, Xbox One, and Switch alongside Season 3 update". Gematsu. 2022-07-12. Archived from the original on 2022-07-12. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  11. ^ "Tribes of Midgard for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2024-11-26. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
  12. ^ "Tribes of Midgard for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
  13. ^ Hafer, Leana (26 August 2021). "Tribes of Midgard Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  14. ^ Other players complained of missions that cannot be completed. pm, Leana HaferUpdated: 6 Aug 2021 4:55 pmPosted: 4 Aug 2021 10:54 (November 2021), Tribes of Midgard Review - IGN, archived from the original on 8 November 2021, retrieved 2021-11-30{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

"A blend of action, survival and roguelite": Julian Maroda, CEO of Norsfell, on Tribes of Midgard's Serpent Saga