While I’ve openly admitted before that in general survival titles don’t tend to be my jam, I’ll say that when they’re not quite as focused on the minutia of staying alive at all times I’ve found them to be far more enjoyable. Oppidum absolutely runs in this direction, going with a hybrid of adventure beats, plenty of crafting and resource gathering, and even giving it all a somewhat cozy feel in many ways, making for a pretty unique time.

Since the story in general is pretty boilerplate, if that’s an important element to you this may not be a great match. If, however, you like to explore, take on quests, build some things, do some cultivating, and even dabble in some reasonably-meaty periodic combat, you may find it works surprisingly well, at least if you keep your expectations in check. Don’t expect most assignments you’ll be sent out on to be terribly deep, with most meeting the standard of the “fetch quest” pretty plainly, but there are still at least some opportunities for trouble if you’re willing to go off the beaten path.

Since I tend to just enjoy going in a direction and seeing what happens, I was quite pleased to find myself in dire situations quite a number of times, trying for a moment to engage in combat but then realizing I was well out of my depth. The game absolutely isn’t afraid to mix and match small areas where you’ll be fine, with ones where you’ll need to learn to quickly run away, and that’s a trait I actually appreciate. I’m also a fan with the pretty clear set of resources that it tends to track pretty well for you on the screen, so when you’re trying to gather up a bunch of stuff you won’t need to keep looking up what you need, and how much of it, with the info usually right in front of you. The combat is hardly amazing, but it does at least get the job done, and even if your equipment isn’t quite up to scratch you will be able to surprise tougher enemies with some well-timed dodges and a bit of persistence. 

All in all, while there’s no doubt that this will have you grinding a fair amount to get the resources you need at times, if you’re willing to take some chances and explore off of the main path you can find all sorts of surprises, as long as you’re always ready to run away when the situation demands that response. While the story may not be inspiring, this is a title that feels ripe with opportunities to explore and play the game the way you’d like, taking your time to enjoy the more sim-like elements or go around trying to slash through anything that gets in your way. Throw in the ability to play it with some friends for a little variety, and this may not be a big-time experience, but it at least makes the most of what it has to work with.