The release of version 1.0 on October 15, 2026, brought a new wave of players to Embervale. With the game's PS5 debut and the end of Steam Early Access, learning how to play Enshrouded has become even more important for newcomers.
Keen Games' survival RPG offers plenty of freedom to explore, build, and fight enemies. However, not every mechanic is explained right away, which can make the first few hours confusing.
In practice, how to play Enshrouded comes down to mastering four core activities: building a Flame Altar, exploring the Shroud, gathering resources, and upgrading your equipment to reach more dangerous areas.
This guide covers the first steps, essential beginner tips, available platforms, and what to expect from the full release.
What Is Enshrouded and What Should You Expect?
Enshrouded is an open-world action survival RPG that combines building, exploration, and cooperative gameplay. You play as a Flameborn, one of the last hopes for a civilization devastated by a corrupting fog.
The world of Embervale features forests, ruins, caves, and dungeons. Each region contains enemies, materials, and equipment that help your character grow stronger.
Gameplay revolves around three main pillars:
- Exploration: discover new regions, defeat bosses, and collect valuable resources.
- Combat: use weapons, spells, dodges, and blocks against different types of enemies.
- Building: reshape the terrain and create bases using a voxel-based construction system.
The game offers considerable freedom to explore, but not every area is accessible immediately. Some regions require you to upgrade your Flame before moving forward.
What's New in Enshrouded 1.0?
The 1.0 update completed Embervale's world map and introduced Cinder's Cradle, a new region that expands the game's exploration challenges.
Other major additions include raising the maximum character level to 50, introducing new areas, and improving the early gameplay experience.
As a result, newcomers get a more complete adventure, while returning players have new challenges to discover.
How to Play Enshrouded: Getting Started
Before exploring Embervale, you'll need to create your character and configure your world.
You can play solo or cooperatively. Enshrouded also offers difficulty settings and customizable world rules, including options that affect how long you can survive inside the Shroud.
Enshrouded doesn't lock players into fixed classes. Your combat style depends on the skills and equipment you choose, allowing you to experiment with different builds throughout the adventure.
How to Build Your First Flame Altar
The Flame Altar is the most important structure during the early stages of Enshrouded. It establishes a protected area, enables fast travel, and serves as a respawn point.
Here's how to get started:
- Collect five stones: you'll need them to craft your first Flame Altar.
- Choose a suitable location: look for flat terrain with easy access to basic resources.
- Set up your base: build a Workbench and place a bed inside the protected area.
- Rescue the Blacksmith: this survivor unlocks important equipment-crafting options.
- Strengthen your Flame: gather the necessary materials to improve your survival capabilities and unlock further progression.
Your first base doesn't need to be a massive fortress. Focus on creating a functional space where you can craft equipment, rest, and organize resources.
As you progress, you'll be able to place additional Flame Altars and use them as fast-travel points.
How to Survive the Shroud in Enshrouded
The Shroud is a dangerous fog that covers certain areas of Embervale.
When you enter it, a timer appears on your screen. Under default settings, your initial survival time is around five minutes. Once your protection runs out, your character dies.
That's why exploring the Shroud requires careful planning. Pay attention to your entry route, nearby enemies, and the time you have left.
How to Increase Your Time Inside the Shroud
There are several ways to extend your expeditions:
- Leave the fog: exiting the Shroud allows your protection timer to recover.
- Find Return Beacons: these locations help restore your remaining time inside the Shroud.
- Use consumables: certain items increase how long you can survive in the fog.
- Upgrade your Flame: strengthening it improves your ability to survive in more dangerous regions.
Avoid entering the red Shroud before reaching the required progression level. These areas are considerably more dangerous and can be deadly for unprepared characters.
Another important tip is to study the terrain before descending into a fog-covered area. Finding your way out isn't always as easy as getting in.
Essential Enshrouded Beginner Tips
Once you've built your first base, a few smart decisions can make progression much easier.
Five Tips to Get Started
- Prioritize the Glider: it makes traveling between regions easier and helps you cross large drops in the terrain.
- Activate Ancient Spires: these towers serve as fast-travel points and help you explore the map.
- Eat before exploring: food provides valuable bonuses to health, stamina, and other attributes.
- Take advantage of resting: keeping your Rested buff active makes combat and traveling easier.
- Experiment with different builds: you can respec your skill tree at a Flame Altar using Runes.
It's also worth storing the materials you collect during your expeditions. Many seemingly basic resources will become useful when crafting equipment and upgrading your base.
Early on, you don't need to defeat every enemy you encounter. If an area feels too difficult, return to your base, improve your gear, and try again.
Where to Download Enshrouded and Available Platforms
Enshrouded is available on PC through Steam and on PlayStation 5 through the PlayStation Store. The Xbox Series X|S version remains in development.
Here's where to download Enshrouded and how multiplayer support differs across platforms:
| Platform | Where to Download | Co-op Support |
| PC (Windows) | Steam | Up to 16 players |
| PS5 / PS5 Pro | PlayStation Store | Up to 8 players |
| Xbox Series X|S | Not yet available | To be confirmed |
On PC, Enshrouded also supports dedicated servers. On PlayStation 5, online multiplayer requires an active PlayStation Plus subscription.
The Xbox Series X|S release is planned for spring 2027 in the Northern Hemisphere, between March and June. No specific release date has been announced.
Does Enshrouded Support Crossplay?
No. In version 1.0, PC and PS5 players cannot join the same cooperative session.
Keen Games has confirmed that crossplay is in development, but the studio hasn't announced when the feature will become available.
Can You Keep Your Early Access Save?
Yes. Players who purchased Enshrouded during Steam Early Access received the 1.0 update without needing to buy the game again.
Existing save files are also compatible and are converted to the new format. However, the skill tree is reset when players first load the updated version.
What Do Player Reviews Say About Enshrouded?
Enshrouded player reviews indicate a positive reception on both PC and PlayStation.
As of October 22, 2026, Steam showed 82% positive recent reviews, while English-language reviews had an 87% positive rating.
On the Brazilian PlayStation Store, the Standard Edition also held an average rating above 4.7 out of five stars. These figures may change as more players submit reviews.
Main Praises and Criticisms
Players frequently praise the building freedom, exploration, and cooperative gameplay.
The voxel-based construction system is one of Enshrouded's biggest strengths. It allows players to create detailed structures and modify parts of the environment.
On the other hand, the lack of crossplay limits groups of friends split between PC and console. The ongoing wait for an Xbox release is another drawback for players on Microsoft's platform.
Games Like Enshrouded Worth Trying
If you enjoy survival, building, and exploration, several other games offer similar experiences.
| Game | Similarities to Enshrouded | Main Difference |
| Valheim | Cooperative survival and boss fights | Setting inspired by Norse mythology |
| V Rising | Base building and action combat | Vampire-focused gameplay |
| Palworld | Exploration, crafting, and co-op | Creature collection and base management |
| Minecraft | Building and terrain modification | Greater emphasis on creativity |
| Conan Exiles | Survival, building, and RPG elements | Servers with PvP options |
Among games like Enshrouded, V Rising is an interesting alternative for players who prefer action-oriented combat. Meanwhile, Valheim is a better fit for those who enjoy defeating bosses and building bases with friends.
For players looking for creative freedom, Minecraft remains one of the genre's biggest references.
How to Play Enshrouded Online Without Lag
Cooperative gameplay is an important part of Enshrouded, but connection problems can hurt the experience.
During group expeditions, high latency and packet loss can cause delayed actions and unstable communication with the server.
On PC, ExitLag uses optimized routing to look for more efficient network paths. Its MultiPath technology also uses route redundancy to help reduce issues related to network traffic.
Results depend on your connection conditions and the source of the instability. Local network problems or server-side issues may require other solutions.
Now that you know how to play Enshrouded, it's time to prepare your equipment, organize your base, and gather your friends to explore Embervale. To help optimize your connection during online sessions, download ExitLag for PC.
