Dungeon Crawler Carl Meets Valheim In New RPG You Can Play Free Now

Published Oct 12, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT Tom Wilson is a Gaming Features Writer at Screen Rant. Over the past five years, Tom has worked as the Editor-in-Chief at The Game Crater, as a Staff Writer for GamingIntel, a List Writer at TheGamer, and, of course, as a Senior Writer at ScreenRant. Tom has experience writing reviews, guides, news, and features, and has been responsible for teams of writers, training them and editing their work. Tom graduated with a Masters in Multimedia Journalism, and has since gone on to build up his portfolio of games journalism work. It isn't terribly surprising that we've seen an influx of games attempting to replicate the success of the breakout indie hit, Valheim, or, at the very least, pay homage to it. Its compelling gameplay loop, utterly unique art style, and modernization of decade-old ideas made for a compelling yet ultimately familiar experience that set the bar rather high for future competitors while offering a completely accessible entry point for newcomers. Sure, it has its trying moments, but Valheim's low price point, focus on multiplayer, and relatively cozy vibes made it approachable in a way most survival games simply aren't. Which is why it feels perfectly suited to match up with the ever-lovable and immediately accessible Dungeon Crawler Carl, the similar indie breakout success story that delivered easy entertainment for those craving something fresh within the realm of fantasy. Fortunately, a recently released RPG that's playable for free dares to combine the best aspects of both for a one-of-a-kind experience fans will adore. Dungeon Crawler Carl Meets Valheim Makes For A Fun RPG Valheim is inarguably one of the best open-world survival games on the market, and so, following it up with a spiritual successor was always going to be a near-impossible task. Fortunately, Wyldheart, the debut title from indie developer Wayfinder Studios, isn't attempting to ape every last morsel of Valheim's juicy gameplay. Rather, it's adopting its best, most compelling aspects and transforming them into something entirely new that will, nevertheless, still appeal to fans. In Wyldheart, players take on the role of a very Dungeon Crawler Carl-esque nobody, a hero not destined for the role, but one who will nevertheless adopt it. You'll venture across a vast fantasy world made up of a hybrid of handcrafted towns and procedurally generated dungeons (utilizing rooms designed by the team) that's connected via a hex-based overworld. Within each dungeon are enemies to fight, treasure to loot, and quests to complete. What sets Wyldheart apart from games like Dungeon Crawler Carl, and skews it closer to Valheim, is its focus on multiplayer, on forging one's path with friends by their side and the emergent stories that are told through that lens. It also puts a premium on survival mechanics, with players capable of crafting items designed to help them work their way through the next dungeon. With a more in-depth combat system and a greater focus on quests, Wyldheart ostensibly serves as the RPG version of Valheim in many ways. Wyldheart Is Completely Free Right Now Wyldheart is scheduled to launch into Early Access sometime in late 2026, but before then, players can play it for free via its expansive demo. This isn't a mere slice of the base game's experience, but rather its own standalone adventure with several hours' worth of content to play through. It allows players to create their own character, venture with up to three other friends (or solo, should they choose), across four different dungeons, explore a town filled with NPCs, and contend with random encounters. Wyldheart's demo is available via Steam and will take players roughly five hours to beat, although, with it playable entirely with friends, it's possible that runtime could be increased through multiple runs. Wyldheart's demo is designed to showcase everything the game has to offer while providing those who eventually intend to come back when the Early Access period begins a fresh experience. It's a great illustration of what is shaping up to be a phenomenal game, one that doesn't always take itself too seriously but nevertheless provides an engaging and thrilling experience from start to finish. Wyldheart is truly set to be a great RPG, one perfectly suited for fans of both Dungeon Crawler Carl and Valheim. Systems Developer(s) Wayfinder Studios Publisher(s) Wayfinder Studios Multiplayer Online Co-Op Number of Players 1-4 players Steam Deck Compatibility Unknown Platform(s) PC Genre(s) Action, RPG, Action RPG, Survival, Crafting