RuneScape: Dragonwilds dropped into Steam Early Access a llittle less than a week ago on April 15th, and despite little pre-launch marketing, the survival crafting spinoff of RuneScape 3 and Old School RuneScape has already proven it might have real staying power.
According to Executive Producer Jesse America, the game’s development began in 2021, and it launched during a period saturated with survival titles. Nevertheless, within weeks of release, Dragonwilds has surpassed 24-hour peak player counts of major competitors like Valheim and Ark: Survival Evolved, as per data from SteamDB.
While all-time peak records for Valheim and Ark still dwarf Dragonwilds' numbers, and the title is currently enjoying its "honeymoon phase," this early momentum is promising. On April 20th, Dragonwilds even beat live concurrent player totals of both titles — a feat for any new survival IP, let alone one with minimal pre-launch hype.
Community Hype, Streamer Support, and Long-Term Vision
The game’s fast rise can be credited in part to strong first impressions from some of the internet's most prominent gaming influencers. Content creators like Shroud, Asmongold, and Aztecross have praised the game in early coverage, helping Dragonwilds reach broader audiences via Twitch and YouTube.
What could separate Dragonwilds from the wave of failed survival games is Jagex’s established roadmap and experience in supporting long-term live service titles. While other survival games often falter due to inconsistent or lackluster post-launch updates, Jagex plans to avoid this common pitfall with consistent content drops and expansion plans.
Survival games live and die by their ability to evolve after launch. Dragonwilds faces stiff competition from genre titans like Rust, The Forest, and Valheim, but its combination of RuneScape’s iconic fantasy universe, engaging mechanics, and a loyal community could give it the edge it needs.
Dragonwilds introduces players to Ashenfall, a forgotten continent brimming with mystery, power, and threat. Dragons have awoken from their slumber, and a dark force led by the Dragon Queen looms large. Players—alone or in groups of up to four—must explore ancient ruins, uncover forgotten magic, and craft their way to survival as they prepare to challenge this ultimate enemy.
The real challenge lies ahead: whether it can retain its current player base and attract new ones after the Early Access shine wears off. For now, though, Dragonwilds seems poised to stand tall or fly high among survival game heavyweights.
Do you think it will pass the peak player marks of games and compete with the big dogs? Let us know how you are liking the game by leaving a comment down below!
As usual, stay tuned to Gamefragger.com for more video game news!