RuneScape: Dragonwilds

RuneScape: Dragonwilds, a bold new venture into the survival crafting genre set within the rich RuneScape universe, surprise-launched into Early Access on April 15, 2025. Developed and published by Jagex Ltd., this title for Windows PC via Steam offers players a fresh, co-operative (1-4 players) experience on the forgotten continent of Ashenfall, where dragons have awoken, and wild magic permeates the land. Blending classic RuneScape lore and skills with modern survival mechanics, Dragonwilds aims to carve out its own niche in the crowded genre, with a strong commitment to community-driven development.

Ashenfall's Awakening: Premise and Setting

The story of RuneScape: Dragonwilds unfolds on the long-forgotten continent of Ashenfall, a land ravaged by a mysterious force known as "Anima" and now besieged by awakened dragons. Players find themselves stranded in this untamed wilderness, tasked with a grand mission: to master survival, uncover ancient secrets, and ultimately confront and slay the formidable Dragon Queen. The journey involves following a trail of destruction, unraveling the mysteries of Ashenfall, and learning how to not just survive, but to overcome the draconic threat. Along the way, players will encounter both familiar creatures from RuneScape lore and entirely new foes like the fearsome Garou.

Survival Through Sorcery: Gameplay and Features

RuneScape: Dragonwilds reimagines the traditional survival crafting formula with a distinct RuneScape flair, emphasizing both classic skilling and dynamic magic.

Core Survival Loop with a RuneScape Twist

At its core, the game challenges players to gather, build, skill, and craft to endure the harsh landscape of Ashenfall. Players will chop trees, mine resources, construct shelters, and manage their needs. However, unique to Dragonwilds is the integration of RuneScape's iconic skill system and a vibrant magic system. Players can wield runes to shape the world around them, exploding ore veins with a snap of their fingers, conjuring spectral axes to fell entire lines of trees, or even turning bones into peaches. This "Survival through Sorcery" approach adds a powerful and efficient dimension to the often-grindy survival genre.

Combat and Exploration

Combat is an active and challenging element, featuring various enemies, including powerful Dragon Overlords that serve as progression hurdles. Players will gear up using crafted weapons and armor, and can delve into vaults – dungeon-like structures filled with traps, enemies, and valuable loot. The sprawling map of Ashenfall encourages extensive exploration, rewarding players with hidden secrets and vital resources.

Building and Progression

A robust base-building system allows players to create their own central operations, housing crafting stations and providing a safe haven. Progression is tied to leveling up classic RuneScape skills, which in turn unlocks new crafting recipes, spells, and abilities. The game also features a diverse gear system with various armor pieces and weapon types, allowing for customization of player builds.

Accessibility and Co-operative Play

Dragonwilds is designed for both single-player and online co-op experiences, supporting up to 4 players. Accessibility features include "Save Anytime," adjustable text size, custom volume controls, and stereo sound. It also offers partial controller support, including for Xbox controllers.

Community-Driven Development and Future Outlook

A significant aspect of RuneScape: Dragonwilds is its commitment to community-driven development. Jagex emphasizes that the game is being shaped by player feedback from its alpha phase through to its Early Access and beyond. They actively solicit input from Discord, Steam forums, and social media to guide the game's evolving roadmap, which promises a continuous stream of new content, skills (like Magic, Ranged, Farming, Fishing, Prayer, Agility), quests, enemies, seasonal events, and map expansions. The full 1.0 release is currently targeted for Q4 2026.

Reception: A Promising But Mixed Start

Since its Early Access launch, RuneScape: Dragonwilds has seen a "Very Positive" overall reception on Steam, with 82% of over 18,000 user reviews being positive. This indicates a strong initial interest and overall satisfaction from the broader player base. However, recent reviews (last 30 days) show a "Mixed" rating, with 54% positive reviews from over 800 users. This mixed recent sentiment often reflects the inherent challenges of Early Access: players weighing the game's potential against its current content, bugs, or specific design choices. Some players praise the unique blend of RuneScape lore with survival mechanics and the innovative magic system, while others express concerns about the depth of its survival mechanics or its divergence from traditional RuneScape gameplay. The game reportedly sold 600,000 copies shortly after launch and reached a peak of over 52,000 concurrent players in Early Access.

Conclusion: A Dragon's Roar in a New Genre

RuneScape: Dragonwilds marks an ambitious and intriguing pivot for the venerable RuneScape franchise. By venturing into the competitive survival crafting genre, Jagex is taking a calculated risk, but one that is bolstered by the game's unique blend of magical abilities, familiar skill progression, and a compelling, dragon-infested setting. The commitment to a community-driven development model is commendable, promising that the game will evolve in direct response to player desires. While its Early Access status means there are still features to be added and systems to be refined, Dragonwilds offers a promising foundation. For fans of survival games looking for a fresh, fantasy-infused experience, or RuneScape enthusiasts eager to explore a new facet of Gielinor, RuneScape: Dragonwilds offers a compelling adventure. The potential for this game to grow into a truly unique and expansive survival experience is immense, and its journey through Early Access will be one to watch.