Why Enshrouded is so popular — and what its success says about the modern gamer

In January 2024, we saw two unexpected hits in the sandbox survival genre. First came Palworld, which sold 3 million copies in just three days, and then, just a week later, Enshrouded followed suit, also becoming a major hit.

The Essence of Enshrouded

The action of Enshrouded takes place in the ruins of a fallen kingdom called Emberveil, where people and the Ancient race once lived together. However, the lands have fallen into disrepair due to the Shroud, a mysterious plague that people unleashed in pursuit of power. Everything that enters this colorful mist irreversibly changes.

Does the game bring anything new to the genre

One of the key features of Enshrouded is the lethal Shroud, which turns the surrounding area into a poisonous wasteland. Players must explore these dangerous lands to reach important objects, obtain resources, and improve their abilities.

Other unique mechanics of Enshrouded include voxel-based building and the skill tree. Voxel-based building allows players to manipulate the virtual cubes of the world, construct buildings, and terraform the landscape. This provides players with the freedom to create fortified bases and homes.

What the success of Enshrouded says about the modern gaming market

The success of Enshrouded is also related to the fact that the game was developed by an independent studio with a small budget, allowing it to be sold at a reasonable price and without microtransactions. This reflects the preferences of the typical gamer, who seeks new experiences but prefers familiar mechanics and does not want to overpay for the gaming experience.

Successes like Enshrouded show that modern gamers appreciate original ideas packaged in a familiar format and offering a new gaming experience without unnecessary costs.