I don’t usually like survival games. I like the idea of survival games – the idea of making a safe home out of the wilderness and learning to make my own boots out of rabbit skin, and so on. I would never be able to do this in real life, obviously, because I am small and fragile and I don’t really enjoy even the most glamp of glamping. Sadly it usually turns out that I can’t do it in games, either.
But Among Trees, a woodland survival sandbox released into early access during this year’s PC Gaming Show, is different. It doesn’t seem so hostile. And, joy of joys, it has three different difficulty settings and a “Zen” mode that removes dangerous creatures like bears. For the hardened survival game veterans that might be a turn off, but for me it means Among Trees is a game that can be many things to me when I need it. And you don’t have to make it easier; you can make it harder if you want. Fill yer boots with poisoned mushrooms. Except not, because the harder difficulty makes food more scarce.