RuneScape: Dragonwilds Early Access Review
RuneScape: Dragonwilds is Jagex’s big swing at blending the RuneScape universe with survival crafting vibes straight out of Valheim. Dropped into Early Access on April 15, 2025, this co-op adventure (1-4 players) plops you in Ashenfall, a dragon-riddled continent buzzing with wild magic. You’ll chop trees, build bases, level skills, and unravel ancient mysteries while dodging fire-breathing beasts. After sinking hours into it, here’s our take on what’s hot, what’s not, and whether it’s worth your time.
The Rundown
- Developer: Jagex
- Platform: PC (Steam, Early Access)
- Price: $29.99 / £24.99 (expect a price hike post-Early Access)
- Release Date: April 15, 2025 (Early Access)
- Full Release: Aiming for early 2026
In Dragonwilds, you’re a survivor in Ashenfall, tasked with crafting, exploring, and eventually taking on the Dragon Queen and her scaly crew. It’s got that RuneScape charm—skills, quirky NPCs, and a hand-crafted world—mixed with survival staples like base-building and resource grinding. Jagex is leaning hard on player feedback to polish this gem before its 1.0 launch, so let’s break down where it stands.
What’s Awesome: A Solid Start
Building That Slaps
The building system is straight-up fantastic. It’s smooth, intuitive, and gives Valheim a run for its money. Snap pieces together, rotate them freely, or tweak their height with a quick Ctrl hold. Fancy roof valleys and flexible walls let you craft cozy cabins or sprawling fortresses without wrestling clunky mechanics. Unlock a magical free-cam build mode through the Construction skill, and you’re placing beams like a wizard—no sketchy ladders required. Whether you’re a casual builder or an architect wannabe, this is pure fun.
RuneScape Vibes
If you’ve ever grinded RuneScape, you’ll feel right at home. Skills like Woodcutting, Cooking, and Runecrafting are back, but with a magical glow-up. Cast a spell to chop multiple trees with a ghostly axe or whip up buffs with Cooking that’d make Gordon Ramsay jealous. NPCs like the Wise Old Man and Vannaka pop up with quests, dishing out that nostalgic RuneScape humor and lore. The world’s five biomes (two fully open so far) look gorgeous in Unreal Engine 5, with golden forests and creepy dungeons bursting with color.
Grind That Feels Good
Leveling skills is the heart of Dragonwilds, and it’s a blast. Each skill-up unlocks spells that make life easier—think gliding with air runes or transfiguring logs into planks. It’s classic RuneScape progression but less soul-crushing. Quests give you goals, so you’re not just aimlessly punching trees like in some survival games. Whether you’re slaying mobs or perfecting your stew, there’s always something to chase.
Chill Survival
Survival mechanics here are light and forgiving. Hunger and thirst won’t kill you in five minutes, and gear doesn’t break every other swing. It’s perfect for RuneScape fans dipping their toes into survival or casual players who don’t want a hardcore slog. You can focus on exploring Ashenfall or building your dream base without sweating constant upkeep.
What’s Rough: Early Access Woes
Combat’s a Bit Meh
Combat is the weakest link right now. Melee feels stiff, like you’re swinging a foam sword, and magic and ranged aren’t fully cooked yet, so you’re stuck with basic hacks and slashes. Dragons, especially early on, are a pain—their attacks clip through walls and floors, and they’ll chase you to the ends of Ashenfall while ignoring other mobs. Toss in random goblin ambushes that teleport out of nowhere, and fights can feel unfair and messy. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it needs serious TLC.
Not Enough Meat on the Bones
The world is big and pretty, but it’s a bit empty. Quests fizzle out fast, and after a few hours, you’re left wanting more. Only two of the five biomes are fully explorable, and the Dragon Queen boss fight is MIA, leaving the story hanging. Jagex’s roadmap teases new areas, skills, and hardcore modes, but right now, it feels like a tasty appetizer, not a full meal.
Tech Hiccups
Performance is hit-or-miss. It runs decently on modest rigs (GTX 1060 or RX 5600 XT, 25 GB storage), but lower-end PCs and Steam Deck chug, with frame rates dipping to 25 fps. Controller support is janky in menus, visuals can look fuzzy, and mob AI sometimes bugs out (think wolves stuck in rocks). These are fixable, but they pull you out of the magic.
Multiplayer Growing Pains
Multiplayer’s a bit of a hassle. You need an Epic Games account (even a throwaway one linked to Steam), which feels like extra homework. Co-op has lag spikes and connection issues, which stings for a game built around teaming up. Jagex is patching things, but it’s not seamless yet.
What Players Are Saying
Steam’s sitting at “Mostly Positive” (80% of 3,463 reviews), with fans raving about the building, RuneScape nostalgia, and skill grind but grumbling over combat and thin content. On X, folks call it “Valheim with RuneScape soul” but warn it’s rough around the edges. Some say it’s a “7/10 gem in the making,” while others think $30 is steep for what’s here. The community’s hopeful, but they want Jagex to deliver on those roadmap promises.
The Bottom Line: Worth a Shot, But It’s a Work in Progress
RuneScape: Dragonwilds is a fun, ambitious mashup of RuneScape’s charm and survival crafting. The building system is a home run, skills keep you hooked, and the world’s got that old-school Jagex magic. But clunky combat, a thin story, and tech hiccups remind you it’s Early Access. For RuneScape diehards or survival fans cool with a game that’s still growing, it’s a solid pickup at $29.99. If you want a finished product, maybe wait for the 2026 glow-up.
Score: 7/10
Dragonwilds is a dragon egg with serious potential—give it time to hatch, and it could soar.
Check out more reviews, guides, and survival tips at Gamescore.gg! Watch the trailer below: