Minecraft is still one of the most popular games in the world, and rightfully so. Various spin-offs and a hugely successful movie have expanded its audience, while the main game has continued to receive additional content and updates, from more biomes to overworked babies Minecraft mobs. But with players who have spent more than a decade tinkering with Redstone, building houses, nervously mining for diamonds in fear of falling into lava, and swearing at Creepers after they damage their building, some may be looking for an alternative. Fortunately, the upcoming Steam the game is called Crafter's Heaven could tick that box.
The success of the long-awaited Minecraft custom server spin-off named Hytale proves that there is room for Minecraft-like games for fun, especially if they accomplish things Mojang's games don't. While Hytale aims to address pain points like decoration and functional furniture (and eventually wants to introduce a real story mode), Crafter's Heaven lives up to its name by doubling down on the crafting mechanic. For those who love to build more than anything else, and wish to Minecraft offered more flexibility in what can be built, this Steam game could be perfect for them. Plus, its goofy-looking crash test dummy character models can add to the appeal for those looking for a laugh.
New game on Steam is nothing
Yes, you read that right, because a game released on Steam in just a few days is completely built around having no content whatsoever.
Crafters Heaven features at a glance
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EXPLORE a low poly open world with puzzles, secrets and surprises, like hidden chests.
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SURVIVE as you explore, manage health, hunger and stamina while facing weather hazards and wildlife.
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CREATE your own weapons, armor, tools and building materials from scratch.
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LEVEL UP skills, complete missions and customize your crash test dummy.
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BUILD your desired base, whether it's a cozy cabin or a formidable fortress.
Crafter's Heaven is a lowpoly RPG sandbox adventure that mixes survival, crafting and exploration. Build your base, fight wild creatures and discover an open world full of secrets!
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Crafters Heaven's Crafting Mechanics is its not-so-secret weapon
In the feature film for Crafter's Heaven which can be seen via the game's Steam page, there is a moment where the depth of the building is on full view. While anyone would expect one Minecraft-like having base building elements, what's especially cool about it Crafter's Heaven is that players build their own gear piece by piece. They can place a stick on a small grid before attaching and shaping pieces of metal to create an axe, and the same process can allow them to make a sword or a spade. From there they can cut down trees, mine rocks for minerals and so on, gathering materials to continue crafting whatever they want next.
As they acquire said materials, they will encounter hostile creatures such as snakes and potential food such as pigs, the like Minecraft (though with less awesome enemies). They'll manage their health, hunger, and stamina as they go, and there will apparently be secrets worth finding on their travels. An example of this is chests, which are shown in the trailer and screenshots. In addition to scavenging and crafting, players will be able to create farms, which should make it easier to keep their character fed. There is also the potential to make pipes, which should allow for an irrigation system if properly connected to a well. And while there aren't many details available about the RPG systems yet, the mechanics are confirmed to be present via the game's Steam description.
As is often the case with Minecraftis the goal of many players to complete whatever large construction projects they can cook up in their heads, something like Crafter's Heaven also allows. In one of the screenshots for the game, several large houses are shown side by side, and it will be interesting to see how much players can decorate them. In addition to rustic houses, log cabins and stone castles are mentioned as potential building types, and they may just be the tip of the iceberg based on how much freedom the weapon crafting mechanic seems to allow.
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Despite its similarities, Crafter's Heaven is not a Minecraft clone
Sure, the intentionally simple art style, the health, food, and inventory bars, and the sense of freedom to do whatever you want instead of following a structured story are all Minecraft staples, though Crafter's Heaven still have their differences. Its melee animations are a bit less polished than Mojang's games (though that may change when the game is fully released), and it offers blood and gore, two things that the family-friendly Minecraft avoids. Also, it is listed as a single player game and there is no mention of the world generation, so those who love to play in randomized Minecraft worlds with their friends might prefer Hytale as an alternative instead. For those who don't mind exploring a world completely on their own, however, this game should offer hours of enjoyment and tons of replayability.
Regardless, Crafter's Heaven looks interesting, as being able to craft your own armor and weapons is a cool concept that other sandbox games could learn from. Not only can interested fans add it to their wishlists, but a Steam demo is teased on the page, allowing players to try out the game before purchasing. Despite being made by a single developer named David Aust, Crafter's Heaven seems to have a lot of depth, and it's shaping up to be the latest in a long line of interesting indie games available on Steam.
