Soulmask – Video Game (PC)

A Brutal Yet Brilliant Survival Experience

(223.4 Hours Played)

After spending a good chunk of time with Soulmask, I can confidently say this game is a fantastic addition to the survival genre. If you’ve ever wanted a game that feels like a blend of Conan Exiles, Valheim, Green Hell, Necesse, and Palworld, then Soulmask is exactly what you’re looking for and then some.

At first glance, Soulmask looks like your typical survival game: gather resources, craft weapons, build a base, and fend off enemies. But what sets it apart is the mask system. A mysterious power that lets you take control of other characters, expanding your options for managing a tribe, commanding workers, and fighting smarter. It adds a unique layer of strategy and progression that makes you feel like more than just another scavenger in the wild.

The setting is absolutely gorgeous, but don’t let that fool you it’s also merciless. Everything from wild animals to barbarians to your own poor planning can wipe you out. The game strikes a fine balance between difficult and rewarding, forcing you to adapt, plan, and learn from your mistakes rather than brute force your way through.

The ability to recruit and manage NPCs is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it’s amazing to delegate tasks like gathering, farming, and defending your base. On the other, NPCs can sometimes feel like adorable yet infuriating toddlers, forgetting how to do basic tasks or standing around while a jaguar mauls them. It’s a work in progress, but when it works, it makes the game feel like a living, breathing society.

The combat is fast, brutal, and satisfying. It has a mix of melee, ranged, and tactical options that encourage smart fighting rather than button mashing. Blocking, parrying, stunning, sneak attacking, executing, and dodge rolling to name a few all help flesh the system out quite a bit.

Exploring the world is equally engaging, with hidden ruins, dangerous territories, and the constant thrill of discovery. The game rewards risk takers, and every adventure feels like it could be your last… because sometimes, it is…

Soulmask is an addictive, immersive, and incredibly fun survival experience. It takes the best elements of other survival games, mixes them into something fresh, and delivers a world that constantly challenges you. While there are some rough edges, the foundation here is solid, and if the developers keep improving it, this could become one of the best survival games in years.

If you love difficult but rewarding survival games, building and managing your own tribe, and occasionally turning poop into bombs (yes, really), Soulmask is absolutely worth playing.