Trollheim: Gnomes Revealed as Eight-Player Open-World Survival Game for Steam

Trollheim: Gnomes, a new open-world survival crafting game inspired by Nordic folklore, has been revealed for PC. Developed by Trollheim and Off-leash Interactive, the game supports solo play and online co-op for up to eight players. Players take control of tiny gnomes exploring a vast forest filled with mythical creatures, hidden dangers and opportunities to build a new home.

The game was unveiled during IGN Fall Fan Fest on October 14, 2026. Published by Trollheim and Fireshine Games, it is targeting a Steam Early Access release later this year, although an exact launch date has not been announced.

Trollheim: Gnomes follows the last Sprýg Gnomes of Midgård, who are driven from their home by Oden and his corruption. Forced into the mysterious Dark Forest, they must reunite with their lost companions and establish a new home among the creatures living there.

The game's small protagonists give exploration a different sense of scale. Towering trees, moss-covered rocks and forest vegetation become obstacles that players must climb or navigate. The world features procedurally generated environments with carefully designed biomes, caves and hidden locations to discover.

Survival involves managing hunger, cold and environmental threats while gathering resources. Players can collect materials such as blueberries and twigs, craft equipment and prepare supplies for journeys deeper into the forest.

Crafting extends beyond basic survival tools, with equipment ranging from arrows to musical instruments. The developers also plan multiple crafting and cooking tiers, giving players more options as they explore.

The Dark Forest is inhabited by Väsen, mythical beings drawn from Nordic folklore. These include trolls, faeries, sirens and other creatures, each with different behaviors. Unlike survival games where encounters with large creatures primarily lead to combat, Trollheim: Gnomes allows players to approach some inhabitants peacefully.

Certain Väsen may join players around a campfire, while others will attack on sight. The developers say players can calm or offer gifts to some creatures, potentially persuading them to live alongside their gnome community.

This approach makes encounters about more than defeating enemies. Players will need to learn how different creatures behave and decide whether to avoid, fight or attempt to befriend them.

Players can explore the Dark Forest alone or join up to seven friends in cooperative multiplayer. The game combines shared exploration and resource gathering with settlement building, allowing groups to develop their own homes in the wilderness.

Building locations include treetops, hollowed logs, rock crevices and areas beside forest lakes. Players can connect structures with bridges, decorate walls with moss and add lighting to their settlements.

The building system is designed to give players freedom over how their homes look and where they are placed. Settlements can blend into the surrounding forest or stand out through more elaborate designs.

The developers have confirmed that the planned Early Access version includes the core survival systems, crafting, cooking, treehouse building, vertical traversal and cooperative multiplayer. Players will also be able to explore multiple biomes and underground cave networks.

During Early Access, the team intends to introduce additional biomes, mythical creatures, building options and deeper gameplay systems. Player feedback will help determine which improvements receive priority.

The developers currently expect Trollheim: Gnomes to remain in Early Access for approximately 12 to 18 months, although that estimate may change as development progresses.

The game is available to wishlist on Steam, where players can also request access to its playtest and receive a notification when more participants are accepted. A confirmed Early Access launch date and pricing have not yet been announced.