Aska's Steam Early Access Comes Out in June, Will Bring Co-op Viking Survival Gameplay

Aska is an upcoming co-op Viking survival game that is coming out with its early access version on Steam on June 20, 2024.

The game lets players take control of a lone survivor marooned on a mysterious Viking continent. You will have to survive and will be able to build things such as a campfire, a shelter, and a rainwater collector.

Aska Brings Co-op Viking Survival Gameplay

Aska's Steam Early Access Comes Out in June, Will Bring Co-op Viking Survival Gameplay — Aska is coming out on Steam in early access on June 20, 2024, and will feature co-op Viking survival gameplay of up to four players.
(Photo : Sand Sailor Studio / Screenshot taken from Steam)

There is also something called The Eye of Odin, which is a stone orb that projects a glowing beam into the sky that would summon a friendly Viking NPC to your location. What makes Aska unique is that random NPCs will eventually join you on your survival quest.

At first look, Aska seems to be inspired by Valheim but makes some noticeable differences to attract more players. At its core, the game features a ton of settlement-building and management systems.

While players can dive into the game with a handful of friends in multiplayer scenarios, the majority of the Vikings in your village will be NPCs. They are able to be given tasks such as gathering wood and stone, collecting food, building structures, fighting monsters, and mass-crafting items, according to PCGamer.

Aska's building system is blueprint-based and not freeform, which means that structures are placed as glowing outlines. They are then filled with materials such as logs, sticks, and rope and a hammer is used to put it all together.

The mechanic is a time-consuming process and that game features standard survival systems that slow things down even more. These include the need to gather food, drink water, and stay warm.

However, once players have successfully recruited an NPC, they will automatically contribute to the building of any incomplete structure as long as they have the necessary materials nearby. The game's developer, Sand Sailor Studio, said that they took inspiration from the Fall of Numenor from The Akallabeth in The Silmarillion.

Managing Your Villagers

In a demo two weeks ago, the developer said that the villagers themselves would have the same survival loop as players. This means that they would also need to eat, drink, sleep, and more in order to survive, said MMORPG.

Every single NPC in Aska will also have their own specialization, which will make them particularly good at a specific task. Some could be better at foraging for food while others might be more suited for combat against monsters.

Aska is more than just your standard city builder as you will be responsible for assigning tasks to your villages and matching them with shelters so they could sleep. Some of them will also follow you out of the gate and fight against enemies.

Aska also features both dynamic weather and a day-night cycle that spans the four seasons. After a few days in-game, players should prepare for the arrival of the blood moon, which covers the region in an ominous red hue.

It also causes hostile creatures to come to your encampment, including wights, skeletons, and other mythical enemies. They have all come from the darkness to lay waste to your structures, particularly the Eye of Odin, according to Shacknews.