Smalland: Survive the Wilds — Everything We Know

Merge Games’ Smalland: Survive the Wilds is on the verge of shedding its PC exclusivity, and is now in line to launch across both Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 on December 7, 2023. That’s fantastic news for Grounded fans, what with the indie IP being on an almost identical wavelength as Xbox Game Studios’ bug-like domain. However, if you’ve yet to skulk about in either of the two gardens, then you’re in for a real treat this winter.

So, introductory words out in the open, what more do you really need to know about the console release of Smalland: Survive the Wilds? Well, here’s everything we can tell you based on the information provided by Merge Games to date. Ready for yet another whirlwind adventure between the reeds and the molehills? Then let’s dive right in.

What Is Smalland: Survive the Wilds?

Smalland: Survive the Wilds is a third-person action survival game, and quite possibly, the answer to Xbox Game Studios’ Grounded. Since the indie IP first launched in early access earlier this year, fans of the up-and-coming title have praised its world for its combat, crafting, and exploration elements. And that’s only scratching the surface, too. If all goes according to plan, then the console port should, theoretically, be thrice as slick and chock full of nodes as the core version. Here’s hoping, anyway.

Anyway, if you did miss out on the chance to explore Smalland: Survive the Wilds earlier this year, then one can only describe it as being a bug-like survival game—an experience in which players are invited to fill the boots of a humanoid creature that sits at the bottom of the food chain. As such, budding survivors must learn to adapt to a larger than life environment—a locale that hosts an entire network of bugs, viruses, and winged beasts. Easier said than done, of course, what with everything else being much bigger and more intimidating than you.

Story

It goes like this: you play as Vanguard, an itty bitty humanoid creature who’s been sent out to start anew in a gigantic garden-like homestead. The only issue is, you, among others of your species, are the lowest of the low on the food chain, and thus an easy target for those who also call the green haven home. As such, you will need to learn how to survive in the enormous world, and do all in your power to find a foothold on the ever-evolving food chain. How you go about doing that, of course, will be entirely up to you.

A snippet from Merge Games’ official site: “Before the time of the giants, we lived freely under the Sun and Moon. Centuries have passed, but those stories of the surface world have been passed down through the generations. Now the giants are gone, and you, Vanguard, must venture out into the wilds once more, on an urgent mission. Be brave, and do not falter…”

Gameplay

The gameplay style that Smalland: Survive the Wilds adopts isn’t all that different from Grounded. In short, it features an open world playground that’s based around a human-sized woodland area, and what’s more, an entire litter of bugs and other creatures. As a survival game at heart, players are invited to craft weapons, armors, and campsites, as well as master various styles of combat, all in the hopes of becoming a force to be reckoned with.

“Traverse lake sized puddles, scale skyscraper sized trees, scramble through cavernous cracks in roads, as you experience a huge open world from a new perspective,” reads an excerpt from the description. “Explore dense forests, hazardous swamps and strange ruins left over from the time before. Uncover lore and knowledge from hidden NPCs scattered throughout the world and learn to survive in this vast wilderness.”

As it stands, you can play through Smalland: Survive the Wilds either alone or with up to 10 other players. Whatever your choice, the game itself presents an an enormous selection of challenges, encounters, and locations to uncover. So, if you’re after that next big adventure, then you needn’t look any further than the wooded hills of Smalland: Survive the Wilds.

Development

Merge Games first brought the survival game to PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on March 29, 2023. Since then, the game has undergone numerous revisions, and has introduced a slew of new features, mounts, characters, and enemies. And from the looks of things, the upcoming console port will only be the beginning of a long journey for the project, as the devs themselves have already lifted the veil on a number of future updates. If all goes well, then there’s a good chance that we’ll be seeing the full release at some stage in 2024. But don’t quote us on that, though.

Trailer

Due to the game launching in early access earlier this year, we do have a fair amount of footage to share. But don’t let us spoil it for you. You can check out the latest trailer for the upcoming port in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Don’t sweat it — you can get ahold of Smalland: Survive the Wilds over on Steam and the Epic Games Store today. For Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, digital copies will be available from December 7, 2023. In addition to the digital version, there’ll also be a physical release on December 8, 2023. You can go ahead and add it to your wishlist on either of the respective storefronts today.

Interested in keeping up to date with Smalland: Survive the Wilds? If so, then be sure to check in with Merge Games’ official social handle for all the latest pre-launch updates here. If anything changes ahead of its winter launch, we’ll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Smalland: Survive the Wilds when it releases on consoles and PC? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.