Don't Starve Together

Creepy and Cute?

Don't Starve Together is an online multiplayer-game follow up to Don't Starve. You arrive in The Constant through a portal from another deminsion, world, place--the game isn't clear. (The original game explains the lore and they don't spend any resources on that development in the multiplayer version. Depending on which character you chose to play, you may have a useful tool or skill.

The environment is rather desolate at first, but as you move away from the portal, you see edible plants, piece of flint, twigs and other useful items. As the title states, your challenge is not to starve to death. There are other dangers as well. Various mobs (mobile objects or NPCs) can attack you, and the longer you are in The Constant, the more unstable you become.The game mechanics reminded me a lot of survival mode in Minecraft. The loading screen includes tips, just like the Minecraft loading screen. The graphics are taking inspiration from Tim Burton. The music often reminds me of the Addams Family theme song. They seem to be going for a creepy but not scary feel.

When players join a game, they can choose from a variety of characters. Some characters have special characteristics. Willow is haunted by her twin sister, which is useful in fighting off monsters in The Constant. Wendy has a lighter. The lighter alone will keep you alive for several days. There's also Webber--a spider creature who is somewhat immune to MOBs. Webber can build a sleeping web and hide out safely in it until dawn arrives. 

It's a collaborative game, so new arrivals are often greeted with enthusiasm and taught how to get on in the game. It's always nice to have someone else to gather food and provide healing flowers while you start your farm. 

The story development in this version of the game is weak. If you haven't played Don't Starve, you'll have to look the game up online to find out the story. There's no direction given to you when you land in The Constant. The only direction comes from the title of the game itself. The player characters are described pretty well, giving the player enough information to understand each one's advantages and disadvantages. I liked the way tips came up when you mouse over different objects, giving you useful information for later. Though the visuals and music reflect a gothic mood, the online multiplayer version emphasizes cooperation.

Players can communicate through the chat system in the game. Some players choose to communicate through Discord instead. As a new player, I was happy to let the more experienced players suggest what to do. They were very collaborative, sometimes giving me food or healing flowers when they saw my stats were dropping. And I did the same for them. I found the chat feature a little clunky. You have to bring it up every time you want to say something, rather than it just staying up in the corner of the screen.

This game proves that collaborative games can be popular. Don't Starve Together provides a high-stakes environment for experiential learning. The in-game communication could be improved by having a running chat window. Don't Starve Together is a creepy and cute game. It's clear why it has captured the imagination of gamers and  is considered one of the best, if not THE best, survival games.