Enshrouded - PS5 Review

Three characters; one armed with a bow, one with a sword, and one with a staff, stand atop a cliff face. In the distance we can see various ruins and a castle keep.

Enshrouded originally released into Early Access on Steam in January 2024. Since then, it’s seen several major updates and is currently sitting at a “Very Positive” user rating. Now, almost three years later, the survival crafting RPG has released into the full 1.0 version. Not only that, but the game is also available on PlayStation 5!

With this review looking specifically at the PS5 port, how will the console version fare against the very well-received PC one? Can developer Keen Games successfully capture console fans as they have done with PC players?

Enshrouded: One of the Best Survival Crafting Titles on PS5?

A view atop a hillside, with two players looking off at the mountains in the distance. Another is tending to a campfire. — Even the Shroud can look pretty.

The once thriving kingdom of Embervale lies in ruin, and humanity is on the brink of extinction. This is all mainly down to a strange miasma plaguing the land known as the Shroud. Corrupting everything it touches and turning living beings into monsters, all seems lost for Embervale. Enter your created character: The Flameborn. After awakening in a stasis pod after centuries of slumber, it’s time to get to work and rid the world of the Shroud.

How exactly do you go about saving the world? By building settlements and recruiting craftspeople! Oh, and using your Flameborn abilities to push back the Shroud and return Embervale back to how it once was, of course. I never found myself fully engaged in the story, which is a shame. I must admit, though, it’s nice to see a survival crafting game with more than a barebones story.

Gameplay

A player with a glowing blue sword faces off against a demonic-looking enemy below the Shroud. — The Shroud locals aren’t too friendly.

If you’re familiar with the genre, then you’ll quickly settle into a rhythm when starting out with Enshrouded. It’s got the usual mechanics like base building and item crafting, and yet, I found myself completely absorbed in the world. Things like traversal using a grappling hook and a glider make exploring easier and a whole lot of fun. Combat, whilst pretty basic, is fluid and has plenty of weapon varieties to test out. Base building, something I thought may be rather clunky using the DualSense, is so incredibly in-depth and rewarding. Every aspect of Enshrouded works very well. However, that’s just what’s in store for you above the Shroud. Delve into its depths, and things get tense…

Descending into the Shroud feels genuinely dangerous. You can only survive for a limited amount of time before your Inner Flame burns out, and the deadly mist kills you. However, it’s not just the toxic air that’ll get you, as plenty of monsters are looking to take you down. There’s less a sense of quickly exploring for gear and more a feeling of entering somewhere you’re not meant to be. Get in, grab the good stuff, and get out before you die. Just don’t forget to keep an eye on your hunger and thirst gauges; it’s not easy to find something to eat down there!

Finding your way through areas covered in the Shroud is more than just a way to find certain loot, though; it’s a core element of gameplay. In order to rebuild civilisation, you’ll need… civilians. Specifically, ones that can help you in building up your settlement. A blacksmith, a hunter, even a barber, are just some of the survivors who you’ll rescue from the Shroud. You’re constantly unlocking something new, making each quest and NPC task that much more rewarding.

Graphics & Audio

Artisans are helping the player construct their town. A cathedral has already been constructed in the background. — Teamwork makes the dream work.

Enshrouded‘s presentation in general actually surprised me with just how great it was. From the very beginning, when leaving the Cinder Vault and seeing the vast, vibrant world stretching out before you, I loved how everything looked. I was often reminded of the criminally underrated Kingdoms of Amalur, with the lush, colourful environments and slight cartoonish designs of the characters. That said, it definitely still has an identity of its own, making this fantasy world feel wholly unique.

In terms of sound, whilst the soundtrack is serviceable, there were no standout tracks that caught my attention. It does feel suitably fantasy-adventure-esque, so at least it fits within the game thematically.

Performance-wise, I had no issues with a stuttering frame rate or screen tearing. This is actually pretty impressive, as things can get quite busy on-screen! The voxel-based world allowing you to reshape large areas of the environment is something I assumed would cause issues with frame drops. But, thankfully, this was a non-factor. A very well crafted experience on PS5!

Longevity

A player using their grappling hook to traverse floating ruins. — Traversal is a surprising amount of fun in Enshrouded!

A casual playthrough of the main story takes around 50 hours to finish. However, if you’re looking to see and do everything Enshrouded has to offer, then you’re looking at 100 hours minimum. Best put some time aside for this one, especially if you’re a solo player! Co-op, naturally, also adds some length to the game due to just how fun it can be with friends. I wouldn’t mind replaying it all over again, this time in multiplayer!

Final Thoughts

A giant werewolf attacks a mage character, who is summoning a skeleton to assist them. — Even above the Shroud, you’re never truly safe.

I absolutely loved playing Enshrouded. It was both a fun, challenging RPG, and a relaxing time building every expanding settlements. My biggest worry was how well it would translate to the DualSense. And, well, it works pretty much flawlessly! A mouse and keyboard is surely the most ideal way to play, but Keen Games has clearly put a lot of thought into how Enshrouded plays using a controller.

Whether you’re looking for your next co-op adventure, or just want to build your kingdom solo, Enshrouded comes highly recommend from me.

Therefore, Enshrouded receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award!