Trollheim: Gnomes Looks to Redefine Survival Crafting with Optional Combat

A new survival crafting title for PC, Trollheim: Gnomes, is looking to cut through a crowded genre by emphasizing cozy, optional combat and Nordic-inspired folklore. As reported by IGN, the game is being developed by a team of ex-Mojang developers who are drawing directly from their own experiences with Scandinavian forest legends and creatures like the Sprýg Gnomes.

The Shift Away from Constant Combat

While players will still face survival threats like hunger, cold, and wetness, the game aims to offer a fundamentally different experience by making combat entirely optional. According to game director Jojje Dalunde, players can reach the same objectives through friendly interactions as they would through hostility. The massive creatures known as Väsen, which tower over the player’s three-inch-tall gnome character, will not attack on sight. Instead, players can choose to befriend them by offering food or necessary items, or they can choose to engage in combat if they prefer a more challenging path.

Studio founder Bjorne Larson emphasizes that combat is designed to be intentional and opt-in, ensuring that players who prefer a cozy, non-hostile experience aren’t forced into combat they don’t want to handle. The gameplay loop focuses on building intricate structures—climbing higher into the trees as players level up—and surviving the environments of the proceduraly generated Dark Forest.

Co-op Exploration and Transmedia Expansion

The game will feature co-op support for up to eight players, with the Dark Forest itself serving as a dynamic, procedurally generated backdrop to ensure every session feels new. Players will have a unified health and stamina bar and will gain access to tools like wingsuits to traverse the world more efficiently. Beyond the game itself, the team is building an interconnected narrative universe that includes books, film, and other collectibles, starting with the recently released 288-page book, *Trollheim: Tale of Sýstir*.

Why it matters

For players who feel burned out by the typical “survival at all costs” loop, the ability to prioritize befriending creatures over killing them offers a fresh take on the genre. By removing the requirement for combat to progress, *Trollheim: Gnomes* provides a more inclusive experience for those who prefer building and exploration over typical survival-game aggression.

Players interested in following the development can currently wishlist *Trollheim: Gnomes* on Steam. With its focus on Nordic folklore and a “cozy-if-you-want-it” approach, it is a project to keep an eye on, especially if the developers follow through on their plans to bridge this game with a broader multi-platform narrative experience.