Exploring the world of RuneScape Dragonwilds
RuneScape: Dragonwilds is a bold new chapter in the RuneScape universe, shifting from the traditional MMORPG format to an open-world survival crafting adventure. Set on the uncharted continent of Ashenfall, this standalone co-op game (supporting 1-4 players) invites you to gather resources, build shelters, craft gear, and battle dragons to survive and uncover ancient secrets. Developed by Jagex using Unreal Engine 5, Dragonwilds blends iconic RuneScape lore, skills, and humor with survival mechanics, creating a fresh yet familiar experience. Launched into Early Access on April 15, 2025, the game is shaped by player feedback, with a roadmap promising new regions, skills, quests, and more. Whether you’re a RuneScape veteran or a survival game enthusiast, Dragonwilds offers a thrilling journey. Let’s dive into its world, mechanics, and what makes it stand out.
What is RuneScape: Dragonwilds?
RuneScape: Dragonwilds is an open-world survival crafting game set in the RuneScape universe, distinct from RuneScape 3 and Old School RuneScape (OSRS). Unlike the MMORPG roots of its predecessors, Dragonwilds focuses on survival, crafting, and co-op gameplay. You’re stranded on Ashenfall, a forgotten continent where dragons, led by the formidable Dragon Queen, have awoken. Your goal is to survive, level up skills, build bases, and uncover secrets to defeat the dragon threat, either solo or with up to three friends.
The game retains RuneScape’s core elements, skill progression, quests, and lore, while introducing survival mechanics like resource gathering, crafting, and base-building. Built in Unreal Engine 5, it boasts stunning visuals and immersive environments. Dragonwilds is in Early Access on Steam, priced at $29.99 / £24.99, with plans for a full release in 2026. Jagex emphasizes community-driven development, with player feedback shaping the game’s roadmap.
Key Features of RuneScape: Dragonwilds
Here’s a breakdown of the game’s core features, highlighting what makes Dragonwilds unique:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Open-World Survival | Explore Ashenfall’s hand-crafted landscape, featuring two regions with five unique biomes, each with distinct challenges, resources, and enemies. Survive by gathering, crafting, and building. |
| Co-op Gameplay | Play solo or team up with 1-3 friends for cooperative adventures. Multiplayer requires a Steam account; no Epic Games account is needed, contrary to early reports. |
| RuneScape Skills | Level up iconic RuneScape skills (e.g., Woodcutting, Mining, Combat) and unlock magical “skill spells” like the spectral ‘axetral’ to streamline resource gathering. |
| Base-Building | Construct shelters using a robust building system with snapping pieces, roof valleys, and free-cam mode for precise placement. Ideal for creative players. |
| Combat & Classes | Choose from three archetypes, knight, archer, or mage, each with unique skills and gear. Fight familiar RuneScape creatures (e.g., warped rats, trolls) and new foes like the Garou. |
| Quests & Lore | Embark on quests infused with RuneScape’s humor and lore. Uncover Dragonkin vaults and interact with iconic characters like Death in future updates. |
| Magic & Anima | Wield runes and harness Anima to manipulate the environment, enhancing crafting and exploration. Magic spells add flair to survival tasks. |
| Early Access Roadmap | Regular updates planned every 3-4 months, adding new regions (e.g., Fellhollow), skills (Magic, Ranged, Farming), quests, gear, and a hardcore mode. |
Gameplay Mechanics
Survival and Crafting
Survival in Dragonwilds revolves around gathering resources (wood, stone, etc.), foraging, and crafting tools, weapons, and gear. Unlike traditional survival games, Dragonwilds reduces grind with magical twists. For example, the ‘axetral’ spell lets you chop multiple trees at once, making resource collection efficient and visually spectacular. You’ll need to manage hunger and health while exploring Ashenfall’s biomes, each with unique resources and dangers.
Crafting is central, with a detailed system for creating weapons, armor, and building components. The Early Access version includes core survival mechanics, with plans to expand crafting options, including Dragon Slayer gear and masterwork weapons.
Base-Building
Dragonwilds’ building system is a standout, praised for its intuitive design. Pieces snap together seamlessly, and you can rotate, raise, or lower them for flexibility. Rare structural pieces, like roof valleys for perpendicular gabled roofs, cater to creative builders. A free-cam mode, unlocked via a skill, lets you place pieces in hard-to-reach spots without climbing, enhancing the building experience. Early player feedback highlights its polish, comparing it favorably to Valheim.
Combat and Classes
Combat is challenging, blending melee, ranged, and magical attacks. You can choose from three class archetypes:
- Knight: Melee-focused, with strong armor and weapons.
- Archer: Ranged specialist, excelling in precision and mobility.
- Mage: Magic user, wielding runes and skill spells for versatile combat.
Enemies include familiar RuneScape creatures (rats, trolls, dragons) warped by Ashenfall’s wild magic, alongside new foes like the Garou. The first dragon boss, General Velgar, is available in Early Access, with more to come, including the Dragon Overlord Imaru in the Fellhollow region.
Skill Progression
RuneScape’s skill system is adapted for Dragonwilds, with progression tied to actions like chopping trees (Woodcutting), mining (Mining), or fighting (Combat). Skills unlock passive buffs and abilities, such as the free-cam building mode or enhanced combat moves. Early Access includes melee skill trees, with Magic, Ranged, and Farming planned for future updates. This grind-heavy system feels rewarding, staying true to RuneScape’s “Scaper” spirit.
Quests and Lore
Quests drive the narrative, blending RuneScape’s signature humor with high-fantasy storytelling. You’ll explore Dragonkin vaults, uncover lore books, and interact with iconic characters. The upcoming Fellhollow region introduces Death as a quest giver, guiding players through a spooky biome suspended between life and death. Lore ties into RuneScape’s broader universe, with familiar items, monsters, and references that delight longtime fans.
The World of Ashenfall
Ashenfall is a visually stunning continent, built in Unreal Engine 5 for immersive landscapes ravaged by Anima, a wild magical force. It features two regions with five biomes, each offering unique flora, fauna, and challenges. Early Access includes the first few regions, with dungeons, resources, and the dragon boss General Velgar. The roadmap promises Fellhollow, a ghostly region with undead enemies and new quests.
The continent feels alive, with warped versions of RuneScape creatures and new threats like dragons. Exploration is rewarding, with hidden vaults and lore books deepening the narrative. Players have noted the atmosphere captures RuneScape’s essence while feeling fresh, though some wish for more iconic Gielinor locations like Varrock or Lumbridge.
Early Access and Roadmap
Launched on April 15, 2025, Dragonwilds’ Early Access offers a solid foundation with:
- Initial regions and biomes
- Core survival, crafting, and building systems
- RuneScape skills and magic spells
- Dungeons and the General Velgar boss
Jagex’s roadmap, revealed during a developer deep-dive livestream, outlines ambitious updates every 3-4 months, targeting a full release in winter 2026. Key additions include:
| Update | Details |
|---|---|
| Fellhollow Region | A spooky biome with ghosts, skeletons, and the Dragon Overlord Imaru. Features quests guided by Death. |
| New Skills | Magic, Ranged, and Farming skill trees, adding abilities and passive buffs. Farming enables food cultivation. |
| Quests & Lore | More quests, lore books, and familiar RuneScape characters to deepen the narrative. |
| Gear & Weapons | Dragon Slayer gear, masterwork weapons, and new armor to enhance combat and style. |
| Hardcore Mode | A challenging mode inspired by RuneScape’s Iron Man mode, increasing difficulty. |
| Ongoing Improvements | Polish for UI, performance, and mechanics based on player feedback. |
Jagex emphasizes flexibility, with no fixed dates to ensure quality. Updates during Early Access are free, though post-launch content may include paid DLC.
Community Feedback and Development
Dragonwilds is a community-driven project, with alpha testing in late 2024 shaping its direction. Players praise the lore, building system, and RuneScape-inspired mechanics but note areas for improvement, like combat polish and UI clarity. Some feel the game looks “generic” without enough Gielinor landmarks, though others appreciate its unique take on the survival genre.
Jagex actively engages via Discord, Reddit (r/RSDragonwilds), and livestreams, encouraging feedback to refine the game. The roadmap reflects this, prioritizing player-requested features like new skills and modes.
Platforms and Accessibility
Currently, Dragonwilds is available on PC via Steam, with partial controller support. Jagex hints at future console releases (PlayStation, Xbox, possibly Nintendo Switch 2) in 2026, leveraging Unreal Engine 5’s scalability for cross-platform play. System requirements are modest, not requiring ray tracing, making it accessible for “potato gamers.”
The game costs $29.99 / £24.99 in Early Access, with a planned price increase at full launch. Updates during Early Access are free, ensuring value for early adopters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is RuneScape: Dragonwilds free-to-play like RuneScape 3 or OSRS? A: No, Dragonwilds is a paid game, currently priced at $29.99 / £24.99. The price will increase after Early Access, but updates during this period are free. Post-launch DLC may be paid.
Q: Do I need an Epic Games account to play multiplayer? A: No, Jagex clarified that multiplayer only requires a Steam account. You can use a “dummy” Dragonwilds-specific tag for online play, removable later.
Q: Is Dragonwilds connected to RuneScape 3 or OSRS? A: It’s a standalone game set in the RuneScape universe, with no direct connection to RS3 or OSRS. It shares lore, skills, and creatures but is a separate survival adventure.
Q: What content is available in Early Access? A: Early Access includes initial regions, survival and crafting systems, RuneScape skills, magic spells, dungeons, and the General Velgar dragon boss. More content is planned via updates.
Q: Will Dragonwilds come to consoles? A: It’s currently PC-only, but Jagex plans a 2026 release on consoles like PlayStation and Xbox, with potential cross-platform play.
Q: How does the community influence development? A: Jagex uses alpha testing, Discord, Reddit (r/RSDragonwilds), and livestreams to gather feedback, shaping the roadmap and prioritizing features like new skills and regions.
Q: What’s the release date for the full version? A: The full release is estimated for winter 2026, following Early Access updates driven by player feedback.
Conclusion
RuneScape: Dragonwilds is a daring evolution of the RuneScape franchise, blending survival crafting with the series’ iconic lore, skills, and humor. Its Early Access launch on April 15, 2025, delivers a polished foundation, with intuitive base-building, rewarding skill progression, and a vibrant world in Ashenfall. While combat and UI need refinement, Jagex’s commitment to community feedback ensures a dynamic development journey. The roadmap, featuring new regions, skills, and modes, promises a rich experience by the 2026 full release.
For RuneScape fans, Dragonwilds offers nostalgic touches, familiar creatures, lore, and humor, while introducing fresh mechanics that appeal to survival game enthusiasts. Its accessibility, modest system requirements, and co-op focus make it inviting for both solo players and groups. As Jagex iterates based on player input, Dragonwilds has the potential to become a standout in the survival genre, honoring RuneScape’s legacy while forging a new path. Wishlist it on Steam, join the community on r/RSDragonwilds, and embark on this dragon-slaying adventure today.