The official description bills Wildmender as a “desert gardening survival game”. It’s not wrong: it’s certainly all of those things. But it doesn’t exactly paint a full picture of what Wildmender actually is. We expected a quaint game about growing our desert garden. Sure, that’s part of it. But there’s also exploration, magic, combat and a whole lot more. This is a game for the curious and adventurous, and to get to grips with everything it has to offer is going to take some serious time.
Starting off alone in a vast desert, Wildmender first introduces you to a mysterious spirit. It teaches you the basics of survival out in this arid land: you’ll need to keep yourself hydrated, and you’ll need to find food to top up your hunger level. Thankfully, there’s a fresh water spring nearby and you already have a water bottle nearby. There are some plants, too, but they need a bit of care before they’ll give you some fruit. But that’s at least the basics covered.
Before long, Wildmender introduces you to the magical powers its hiding up its sleeve. You initially can shield yourself and send out a damaging beam of light – something that comes in handy as not all the spirits in this world are as friendly as the one you’ve just met. You’ll need to learn to protect yourself as you explore, then. And exploring is a big part of the game as you hunt down the magical mysteries of the desert.
This isn’t just an adventure game, though. Key to Wildmender is seeing your tiny desert garden thrive. Starting from just one seed, over time it’ll become a luscious, green wonderland. It’s going to take a while, however, so you’re going to have to be fully committed to the cause.
We’ve only scratched the surface of what Wildmender has to offer, but the promise of changing the world around us alongside being embroiled in a magical adventure has us seriously intrigued. This is a survival game, though, which means it’s rich with mechanics, not all of which are easy to get to grips with. You have a suite of tools that you’ll need to learn how to use, and there are multiple ways to interact with the environment. You could simply cut down a plant, for example. Or you could tend to it in order to see it thrive.
You don’t have to learn the ropes alone: Wildmender supports up to four player co-op, allowing you to team up with friends online. You only need to play a very short section by yourself before online play opens up, which is great. With multiple players existing in the same world, you can not only fight together, but all work together to shape the garden in record time. Of course, more players also means more mouths to feed, so you’ll need to account for finding more resources, too.
Wildmender launches on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC tomorrow, 28th September. If you’re a fan of player-led exploration, crafting, and like the idea of cultivating the world around you, this is one worth keeping your eye on.
Check latest prices of Wildmender
