There are very few titles that do Norse mythology as well as Iron Gate Studio's Valheim. From the ever-present colossal branches of Yggdrasil to appearances by Odin himself, Valheim transports players to a world that not only celebrates Norse culture, but does so at every turn, and even delves into oft-overlooked, niche aspects of its mythology.
Valheim is not alone in its celebration of Norse mythology. In fact, it's just one of many recent titles that fit the bill. With titles like God of War Ragnarok, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice out there, gamers have no shortage of Norse-inspired games to experience. Naturally, as Valheim continues to expand into 2023, one place it could look for inspiration is a crossover with one of these other major titles.
Valheim Could Offer a New Look at Beloved Franchises
There's no question that there are already a ton of similarities between Valheim and a title like God of War Ragnarok, but at their cores, the games offer entirely different experiences. They're both populated with epic difficult boss fights, sweeping fjords, and a myriad of Norse influence, but that's about where the comparisons stop. Their lack of similarity in terms of gameplay is what makes a title like God of War the perfect crossover into a title like Valheim.
Valheim could easily pluck bosses straight from the God of War series, but a far more successful route may be to subtly introduce a crossover event with minor changes. For instance, Valheim fans have been calling for fashion options since the game's inception, and God of War may be the perfect source to draw on. From Kratos' signature base look to the late-game powerful armor sets, God of War could offer plenty of inspiration for armor sets and cosmetics in Valheim.
Since base building is such a massive part of Valheim, that aspect may be the perfect place to focus in any potential crossover. While God of War may not be the ideal series to draw on in terms of architecture, Valheim could look to others like Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Specifically, a crossover that included DLCs like the Siege of Paris could be an inventive way to bring in a broader selection of building choices.
Valheim Could Benefit by Incorporating Other Franchises' Bosses
While presenting crossovers in unexpected ways could be the best route for Valheim, it might be a better strategy to pull inspiration directly from boss encounters of other franchises. A title like God of War Ragnarok which is known for incredible combat and grandiose boss fights is the perfect source of inspiration for enemy encounters. As an example, a crossover could see an iconic boss like Nidhogg makes its way to Valheim, and finally open up Yggdrasil to players. Alternatively, enemies like the Hateful or the Berserkers could already slot perfectly into Valheim within the Swamp biome given the existence of Draugr in that area.
Since Valheim's latest Mistland updates aim to add content to its newest biome, Valheim may want to look for inspiration that fits the mysterious, dark feel of the Mistlands biome. A boss like Valravn from Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice could make the perfect addition to Valheim. A boss fight focused on illusion not only opens up the pathway to exciting new abilities in Valheim but is also perfectly suited to both single-player and group experiences. There's no reason that Valheim can't pull more mundane aspects for a crossover, either. Since the title remains focused on expanding its map and offering new areas to explore, Valheim could find inspiration for common enemies, resources, and the like from other titles as well.
Valheim is available now for PC and releases March 14, 2023 for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.