You know what's cool? Vikings. Vikings are cool — unless you are a poor farmer in the kingdom of Northumbria in the early Middle Ages, that is. And if you agree with that statement, you should be happy to know that in just three weeks, everyone will be able to play version 1.0 of Valheim, a Viking-themed exploration and survival game. If you don't agree, then let Odin smite you soon.

Coming from Swedish studio Iron Gate AB, Valheim was released in early access on Steam in 2021. Since then, the game has sold more than 12 million copies, won several accolades, and garnered a rabid fanbase that is waiting with bated breath for the full release. However, I have not played the game yet. Early access can be a great thing, allowing game developers to grow and fine-tune games in response to player tastes and feedback, but as I discovered Valheim relatively recently, I decided to wait for the full release to experience the game in its full glory on Sept. 9.

Comparing a brutal Viking survival game with Minecraft could seem a stretch at first, but the two titles actually have more in common than it may seem. Valheim takes place in a procedurally generated world inspired by Norse mythology, a purgatory filled with monsters where deceased Vikings have to prove their worth before moving to Valhalla. Players get to explore mysterious lands and gather resources to build settlements and bases, and to craft and improve their gear. However, rather than letting you swing wildly at pixelated zombies, Valheim offers a challenging dodge-and-block-based combat system, along with area bosses and a plethora of scary enemies. Every area, or biome, has a boss that needs to be defeated before proceeding to the next.

I admit, I have never played Minecraft. The game must be excellent, given its sheer popularity, but I just never saw the appeal in wandering around swinging a pickaxe at rocks to build fancy, Escher-esque architecture. I play games mostly for their story and setting, and while neither of these is the selling point of Mojang Studios' game, Valheim promises to be different. The rich mythology and folklore of Norse inspiration lend their depth to the game, and the Scandinavian horror vibes that I've seen in trailers and gameplay footage are just my jam. I can endure mining and building a house if, once the work is done, I can go hunting for trolls with my pals. Isn't this what kept the real Vikings going?

After five years in early access, Valheim has had time to refine and expand. Three major updates have been released during this time, each adding new biomes, bosses, items, and even roleplay elements such as NPCs. At the time of writing, only one biome remains unreleased, which players will finally be able to visit after the game's full launch. Many, including myself, will experience Valheim for the first time on Sept. 9. May Odin guide our spears.