If the prospect of a “hardcore survival game” fills you with intrigue then you’re going to want to direct your attention towards the upcoming Paleolith.
Developed by NatureGames, Paleolith is perhaps best pitched as Valheim meets Far Cry Primal, albeit with the difficulty turned up.
Paleolith is “a hardcore first-person survival simulator set in the unforgiving wilderness of humanity’s dawn”, in other words, 40,000 years ago.
“With nothing but your wits and primal survival skills, you must endure a world where nature is harsh but fair,” the game teases.
It probably won’t surprise you to learn that you’ll be dealing with all of the usual survival fare.
Players will have to control their hunger, contend with the elements, and see to any injuries or illnesses that surface.
Of course, there are also plenty of creatures that view you as food so staying agile and aware is of the utmost importance.
To stay fighting fit and safe, you’ll need to gather resources so that you can fuel yourself, build sufficient shelter, and create weapons.
The fact that “every fire you make is a hard-earned triumph” signals to me that Paleolith is the type of game where nothing is straightforward or easy.
Finding wildlife is key when it comes to gathering food, but running carelessly will lead to wildlife steering clear of you.
Stealth is important if you want to successfully hunt down your next meal, or you can build nifty traps.
The game will cycle through the four seasons, and you’re going to want to spend those more forgiving seasons preparing for the cold, harshness of winter.
Each season will also determine the animals you see, the plants available, and more.
When rivers freeze over, getting fresh water suddenly becomes far more laborious.
Players will also be required to figure out which plants are actually edible as some could see you off, so it’s not just deadly wildlife you’re threatened by.
You can find out plenty more about the game’s punishing mechanics by reviewing some of the dev logs out there.
One example is that whilst rest is important, your character will automatically wake up if they reach a critical thirst level, giving you a limited amount of time to find water before it’s too late.
For now, Paleolith is only targeting a PC launch although it remains without a release date.
The game is in pre-alpha with public playtests “planned to start no earlier than November 2025”.
If you want to be involved in those, I suggest you wishlist the game on Steam to be kept up to date.
