Deal | Vast Steam multiplayer open-world survival-craft game that turns you into a demigod with giant swords gets best-ever discount and free DLC
Soulmask is a Steam Early Access game that launched in 2024, promising everything from engaging RPG mechanics and fun melee to in-depth base-building and colony simulation gameplay. Now, as part of the Soulmask anniversary celebrations, it has been discounted to $20.99, down from its usual price of $29.99. Soulmask, like Valheim, builds on the typical base-building formula, with in-depth combat, character progression, and a surprising amount of variety, both in terms of in-game cultures and activities for players to engage in. A new free DLC also includes a host of flashy cosmetics and unlocks new capabilities for players.
Soulmask also features a Platinum rating on ProtonDB, meaning it should run flawlessly on the Steam Deck and other handhelds, like the Lenovo Legion Go (curr. $699.99 on Lenovo US) running SteamOS.
Soulmask reviews and gameplay
At its surface, Soulmask seems like a run-of-the-mill survivalcraft game, akin to Valheim or even Ark. Players escape becoming a human sacrifice and find an ancient mask that essentially turns you into a god among men. You are tasked with establishing and leading your tribe, eventually growing it to be a powerhouse in the primitive world. As you play, you will discover new masks — there are 10 in total — each with its own perks and abilities, and you will develop your character's skills and power. Progression is also achieved through crafting, research, and exploration to expand your civilisation's capabilities as well as your own.
Soulmask offers players a variety of NPCs to recruit, from craftsmen and farmers to barbaric warriors and skilled hunters. These NPCs will also continue to fulfil their duties while you're off exploring or expanding the base. Base-building isn't all there is to the game, though, and it offers a lot of diversity in its combat mechanics, with myriad weapons and combat styles to learn and embrace. These will come in handy as you explore the landscape to discover ancient civilisations, hunt wildlife, search for resources, and make friends — or enemies — with neighbouring settlements. Combat encounters will range from 1v1 battles of spectacle and skill to full-scale tribal warfare, where tactics and logistics are vital.
Soulmask features online and local multi-player, with both PVP and co-op gameplay options, and it can also be enjoyed as a single-player game. PVP mode is totally optional, and enabling it will allow you to discover nearby villages established by other players and challenge them for regional dominance. Players are given quite a lot of freedom when it comes to character customisation and the visual style of their residence in their village. The vast open world features a complex weather system, multiple biomes, and plenty of scenery to explore.
Soulmask has a Very Positive review rating on Steam, with 80% of the game's reviews giving it a positive rating. This is despite Soulmask's Early Access status and an incredibly active development team, which has managed to deliver a wealth of updates over the game's life. The majority of the reviews praise Soulmask for its impressive blending of survivalcraft, base-building, and third-person melee combat mechanics. There is also a lot of positivity for the exploration and base automation, the latter of which has been a more recent addition, suggesting the developer knows what its audience likes and sticks to it. Soulcraft also won the 2024 Nyx Survival Game of the Year award, which should be a testament to its quality.
Source(s)
Soulmask on Steam
