Survival games embrace customization so much that you can even turn off zombies in Project Zomboid and pretend it’s Stardew Valley. There’s no wrong way to play if you’re having fun. Nightingale not only embraces that philosophy but incorporates it into its mechanics and lore. Realm Cards allow the player to reshape the Faewilds, increasing the drop rates of treasure, messing with gravity, or even making daytime permanent. This mechanic brings so many possibilities to the genre that I’m having a hard time returning to other survival games, and maybe that’s for the best.
Realm Cards Are a Game-Changer
Customizing survival settings isn’t new, obviously. Yet Realm Cards aren’t like activaiting permadeath in No Man’s Sky or adding Blood Moons in 7 Days to Die. They’re an integral part of the game’s story. Disabling nighttime with Utopia or increasing gem drop rates with Dragon’s Hoard Eminent simply feels better than accomplishing the same thing through a pre-game menu. Nightingale‘s Realm Cards allow me to adjust the difficulty and flavor of the game without breaking the suspension of disbelief. If anything, it draws me deeper into the fantasy of the setting. It says, “yes, even gravity is up for debate in the Faewilds.”
Of everything the devs have discussed adding throughout early access, new Realm Cards excite me the most. I’m tired of starting new worlds in Minecraft and Vintage Story only to abandon them days later. For years I’ve wanted a game that would provide a stable and coherent setting to build a home in without losing the thrill of exploration and the unexpected. Nightingale gives me the ability to tailor new Realms to my liking while still keeping me guessing about exactly what I’ll find. Yes, it’s early access, so some of the content is thinner than I’d like. Still, I don’t remember the last time I was this excited to see how a game would develop.
Nightingale’s Curated Experience
Do you want to catch more fish while worrying less about the dangers of the enchanted forest at your back? Try the Angler card. Is battle more your thing? The Deep Fae Wilds card will debuff your damage, health, stamina, and recovery speeds, giving you a more hardcore experience. Nightingale could grow into a truly endless survival game with the addition of more Realm Cards and biomes. It’s not there yet, but Inflexion Games has created something with tremendous potential, assuming Puck doesn’t stick a donkey head on it instead.
Nightingale is available for PC in early access.
