2024 was awash with new survival experiences, and even though I feel it gets overlooked and flies under the radar a lot of the time, Enshrouded emerged as one of the best. Part survival game, part fantasy RPG, it may still technically be in early access, but it’s been putting out some pretty big updates at an impressive pace. Its sixth major update has now landed, and not only does it add some excellent new features and mechanics, but it brings plenty of eerie, horror game-esque vibes.
From the title alone, Thralls of Twilight, you get the sense that there’s a dark fantasy theme going on here. Enshrouded has transformed the look and feel of the survival game with freaky new enemy types, more night time gameplay mechanics, new customization options, and some dense, atmospheric fog that’ll bring a smile to any Silent Hill fan’s face.
There are six new enemies that you’ll be facing in Thralls of Twilight – some are modified versions of existing foes, but others are entirely new. The Depthdweller, for example, is a giant floating creature resembling a jellyfish that will fire smaller versions of itself at you. While they are mega creepy, the environment they roam looks to be even creepier. That’s largely thanks to the visual overhaul carried out on the Shroud itself – that’s the corrupting fog that curses Enshrouded’s lands. It is now much thicker, making it more of a challenge to explore, and new lighting tech will see “spooky yet gorgeous god rays” cut through the fog to add to the atmosphere.
With this update’s focus on darkness, night time gameplay has also been given an overhaul. The first thing you’ll notice is that there are more enemies patrolling at night now, and they’ll be scavenging for some very rare loot and resources that you’ll probably want to beat them to. Special plant types that will emerge only at night have been added as well to give you another reason to venture out once the sun goes down. Across every region of Enshrouded, you’ll also find new Night Temples, which can only be accessed at night and contain some lucrative rewards. However, they’ll also be filled with traps that you’ll need to expertly navigate if you want to grab the goods.
When it comes to combat and survival, things have been fleshed out even further. New resources can now be found in the Shroud that can be used to craft new items such as confusion grenades and mobile repair kits for fixing weapons while out in the field.
On the weapons side of things, a new Gems system also gives you another way to power up your gear. Gems, which drop from high-level enemies, contain buffs and effects that can enhance your weapons. High-tier weapons that you acquire have a chance of rolling with a Gem slot that you socket these new stones into. However, you can only do so at a Gem Forge, and you’ll find these new locations hidden deep within the Shroud.
Elsewhere, you can now change your character’s hairstyle thanks to the new barber, Elio. You have to complete a dedicated questline to unlock Elio and bring him to your settlement, but once there he’ll be on hand to get you a fresh trim whenever you please. Another new feature is Armor Tinting, which lets you customize the colorway of your armor pieces. You can find or craft color palettes, which can then be applied to armor items at a new work station in your base.
There are loads of other improvements and fixes in this update, and you can check out the full patch notes here, but that’s an overview of the really big stuff. Enshrouded’s Thralls of Twilight update is live right now for all players.
If you’re holding out for 1.0 before jumping into Enshrouded, then maybe take a look at our list of the best RPGs. If the spookiness of this new update is right up your alley, then our best horror games guide may even be a good fit for you.
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