'Raft': A Simple Yet Brilliantly Elegant Ocean Survival Game

Among the plethora of survival games on Steam, “Raft” stands out as one of the more popular choices that are worth praising. It’s no Viking simulator, but much like “Valheim,” this game is an Early Access survival title that knows how to be fun.

The premise of “Raft” is simple. Players are stuck in the middle of the ocean on a small 2x2 raft with nothing but a hook and some very convenient floating debris. Instead of punching trees per the usual survival game start, players will hook debris and turn them into useful equipment.

The game’s simplicity is deceptive. Once players set up a basic food and water source, they’ll eventually unlock the Research system of the game that unlocks even more craftables. This includes better tools, structures and navigation methods that will help players survive in the ocean much more efficiently.

“Raft” isn’t nearly as much of a thalassophobic nightmare as “Subnautica,” but there are some dangerous animals in the game. Upon spawning, players will immediately notice the shark that’s circling their small raft. This shark will attack players who dive into the water, and occasionally, it will chomp off a portion of their raft as well.

Players will also occasionally drift toward random islands that can be farmed for resources, but staying on them is not an option unless players have oars and anchors, since everything seems to despawn after the raft floats a certain distance away.

“Raft’s” Second Chapter update also introduced more terrestrial biomes: Caravan Town and the abandoned city of Tangaroa. Both feature fully explorable areas filled with goodies to loot and enemies to face.

At heart, “Raft” is all about survival and base-building, which should be perfect for players who want a new game similar to “Valheim.” “Raft’s” stylized visuals are rather charming, and its atmosphere is somehow able to make the otherwise empty ocean look stunning and sublimely peaceful, especially at night.

“Raft” ditches the epic boss fights of “Valheim” and the unending zombie horde of “7 Days To Die” in favor of a more calming experience, making it a great game to play for those who want to relax to the serenity of the sea.

“Raft” is an Early Access title, but it still receives plenty of love from its developer in the form of content updates and patches.