Survival Games – Ms. Bella's World

Gus and I are on our second playthrough of Valheim. It took us quite some time to set up. The reason? We had to hash out the new, limited mods list. I was aiming for fewer mods but I also knew there were mods both of us wanted to continue incorporating into the game.

After much back and forth and cuts on both of our sides, including the loss of the Cats mod, here is what made it into the playthrough. Most were from the original, but a couple are fairly new and added new items but also new dangers.

I’d also like to note two things:
1) We’re not running the most current version of Valheim, as it broke some mods. In order to keep playing without the issues (at least until we’re certain mods are updated) we’ve rolled back to an older version.
2) I’m not including version numbers as these can change pretty rapidly

Advanced Terrain Modifiers
Adventure Backpacks
Azu AreaRepair
Azu BetterWards
Azu Config Manager
Azu Crafty Boxes
Azu HoverStats
Azu Instant Rune Text
Azu Misc Patches
Azu ModAge
Azu Remove Freeze Frame
Azu Ship Stat
Azu Third Eye
Azu Wear and Tear Patches
Azu Workbench Tweaks
Azu QuickTap Dodge
Badgers HD Terrain data
Better Archery
Better Networking
Bow Plugin
Build Restrictions Tweaks
Compass (for me, but I still get lost!)
Day Cycle
Digitalroot Better Wisps
Digitalroot Max Dungeon Rooms
Digitalroot Valheim Slope Combat Assist
Equipment and Quick Slots
Extra Snap Points Made Easy
HD Valheim Medium Texture Pack
Helmet Be Gone
Hotbar Switch
Improved Dvergr Circlet
Instant Monster Drop
Instantly Destroy Boats & Carts
JereKuusela Server DevCommands
JereKuusela World Edit Commands
Jotunn
Just Sleep
More Vanilla Build Prefabs
Odin Plus Bow of Frey
Odin Plus Odin’s Campsite
Plant Easily
Plant Everything
Seasonality
SNEAKer
Therzie Armory
Therzie Monstrum
Therzie Monstrum Deep North
Therzie Warfare
Therzie Warfare Fire & Ice
Therzie Wizardry
Timed Torches Stay Lit
Trees Reborn
Useful Armor Stands
Vikings Do Swim
XPortal

That is the full list as it stands. Much shorter than the original list which had grown to over 100+ mods! Most mods add very specific functionality, such as Slope Combat Assist making fighting on slopes a little more practical. Many add more challenge – Therzie Mods, Max Dungeon Rooms, Seasonality. And a handful were specifically related to building.

I am highly recommending the Therzie mods. These are the ones I mentioned earlier that add a lot of new items – crafting stations, armor, weapons, etc – but also add new dangers.

Foxes
Bears
Fire Mages (Black Forest)
Skeleton Mages (Swamp)

Those are the ones I know for certain are included in Therzie’s Monstrum. I’ll let you discover more for yourself. It also adds new bosses in each realm for you to find and defeat.

Happy sailing, Vikings!

3–4 minutes

Every so often, a survival game comes along that sinks its hooks into me—and Enshrouded is one of them. Developed by Keen Games, it’s a mix of crafting, exploration, and mystery, all wrapped in a world teetering on the edge of collapse. If you enjoy games that challenge your resourcefulness while keeping you curious about what’s around the next corner, this one might be for you.

In Enshrouded, you find yourself in a land destroyed by a strange elixir—an alchemical creation that corrupted everything it touched. Now, the world lies abandoned, with the remnants of civilization being consumed by the shroud. Survival here isn’t just about building a cozy base—it’s about figuring out how to navigate a world that wants to destroy you.

As the Flameborn, you must explore the world, push back the Shroud and rescue the remnants of society, sleeping in Cinder vaults. Each survivor you rescue becomes an NPC at your base, expanding you ability to craft items to help you survive in a harsh world.

The Red Shroud: Death’s Kiss
The shroud is an active threat that can turn a peaceful outing into a desperate scramble. Gus and I learned this the hard way, getting ourselves killed via missteps into the wrong places. While the blue shroud is survivable for short periods of time, the red shroud forces you to make every venture into the wild intentional—you can’t just gather resources at your leisure. A step into its territory is deadly, so be cautious where you go.

Enemies in a Broken World
Exploring outside your base means running into creatures affected by both the elixir and the shroud. Some are feral beasts while others seem like they were once human—but now they wander aimlessly, mindless and aggressive. These mobs aren’t just obstacles; they tell the story of a civilization that tried to harness magic and failed.

The elixir doesn’t just destroy—it mutates. Some enemies are stronger the closer they get to areas consumed by the shroud, making combat feel tense and unpredictable. What might start as a simple skirmish with a lone mob can quickly escalate in the shroud, amplifying their strength and turning the tide against you. The elixir’s corruption also hints at a deeper mystery. Who created it? And can the world be saved—or is it already too far gone?

Building a Base That Feels Like Home
Despite the chaos outside, there’s peace in base building. Gus and I spent time gathering materials and repairing the ruins we found, turning them into something livable. Progress doesn’t come easy, but every log placed or wall repaired feels like a small win.

There’s also a deeper satisfaction in building a base with a friend. When the world outside is falling apart, having a place to return to, built with your own hands, makes all the difference. With each repair, you reclaim a little bit of safety—a reminder that even in a world consumed by the shroud, life can still flourish.

Why Enshrouded Deserves Your Attention
Though Enshrouded is still in development, it already offers a compelling experience. The interplay between exploration, combat, and survival feels fresh, especially with the added danger of the shroud and the way it influences the enemies you encounter. There’s a constant tension between curiosity and caution, pulling you deeper into the world while reminding you that every step could be your last.

If you enjoy survival games that reward creativity and teamwork, this one’s worth a try—especially if you have a friend to share the adventure with. And if you love a bit of mystery mixed with your crafting, you’ll find plenty to uncover in Enshrouded.

Until next time … hold firm Flameborn and bye for now!