- Trollheim: Gnomes is a Nordic folklore co-op survival crafting game for PC on Steam
- The Dark Forest is a living world where trolls are neighbors, not just enemies
- First priority: establish a foothold, gather basics like berries and twigs, build shelter
- Co-op scale: solo play or online co-op with up to 8 players
- Mindset: observe before acting — big creatures are not automatically hostile
What Trollheim: Gnomes Beginners Need to Know First
Trollheim: Gnomes drops you into the Dark Forest as a tiny Sprýg gnome in a world built on Nordic folklore. You gather resources like blueberries and twigs, craft tools and items ranging from arrows to instruments, and build shelters suited to your small scale — including treetop homes. The forest is populated by Väsen: trolls, faeries, sirens, and other beings drawn from Scandinavian tradition, and the developers treat them as residents of the world rather than simple enemy mobs.
The game is currently in a pre-release stage on Steam, planned for Early Access with an estimated 12–18 month development cycle, so mechanics may evolve. As of October 2026, the official announcement trailer premiered at IGN Fall Fan Fest 2026, and the Steam page supports single-player and co-op for up to 8 players.
Genre & Platform
- Co-op survival crafting
- PC via Steam
- Solo or up to 8 players
- Early Access planned
Setting
- The Dark Forest
- Nordic folklore world
- You play a tiny Sprýg gnome
- Scale shapes every decision
Core Loop
- Gather berries, twigs, wood
- Craft tools, arrows, instruments
- Build shelters and treehomes
- Encounter trolls, faeries, sirens
Trollheim: Gnomes has not fully launched yet. Details on recipes, biomes, and creature behavior come from official Steam and studio materials and may change during Early Access. Follow the official Steam community hub for the latest confirmed information.
Your First Day: A Step-by-Step Opening Routine
A strong opening in Trollheim: Gnomes follows a simple survival loop: find a foothold, gather what is close, explore in short trips, and expand your shelter as you learn the forest. Rushing into deep, unfamiliar woodland early is the most common beginner mistake.
Establish an Initial Foothold
Pick a practical spot for a temporary shelter — somewhere defensible, easy to reach, and close to accessible resources. Your first base only needs room to organize materials, craft basics, and return to safely after short trips. Avoid committing to dramatic locations before you can survive the walk home.
Gather Nearby Resources
Collect common materials near your starting area before traveling deeper. Official materials confirm basics like blueberries and twigs, and the crafting system covers everything from arrows to instruments. Build a repeatable gathering route so you can restock without unnecessary risk, and return to shelter regularly to deposit what you carry.
Explore in Short, Planned Trips
Expand outward gradually. Use familiar paths, keep your shelter as a return anchor, and treat new clearings as scouting destinations first. Pause at the edge of unfamiliar areas to read changes in visibility, sound, and vegetation before crossing. Mark paths and resource spots as you go.
Improve the Shelter and Prepare for Co-op
Spend your first stockpile on essential shelter functions: storage, crafting space, and a safe return point. If playing with friends, assign roles — gatherers, scouts, builders — and coordinate so materials go toward shared priorities instead of scattered projects.
Keep your first exploration loop small enough that you can walk it back before dark. A gnome who knows one safe route home survives longer than one who has seen ten distant landmarks.
Survival Priorities and Resource Management
Survival in the Dark Forest is about managing what you gather against what you risk. Separate building supplies from general survival items, and keep a buffer of basics at camp so a failed expedition never leaves you with nothing.
| Priority | Resource Focus | Beginner Action | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Food basics (berries) | Pick blueberries near start, note regrowth spots | Low |
| 2 | Crafting basics (twigs, wood) | Establish a short daily gathering route | Low |
| 3 | Shelter materials | Store building supplies separately from food | Low–Medium |
| 4 | Deeper forest resources | Scout first, gather second, only with a return route | Medium–High |
| 5 | Cave and underground materials | Attempt only after solid gear and group support | High |
| Storage Habit | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Split supplies by category | Faster crafting decisions, less wasted time |
| Deposit after every trip | A death or bad encounter never wipes your stockpile |
| Keep shared chest order in co-op | Prevents duplicated gathering and confusion |
| Maintain a home buffer | Guarantees recovery after a failed expedition |
The most reliable beginner pattern is a short daily loop: gather, deposit, quick scout of one new area, return before overextending. Consistency beats ambition in the early hours.
Meeting the Väsen: Trolls, Faeries, and Neighbors
The Väsen are the mysterious beings of Trollheim — trolls, faeries, sirens, and other Nordic folklore creatures. Some may be friendly, some hostile, and the developers have explicitly framed trolls as "neighbors" rather than enemies to be killed. For a beginner, this changes encounter logic: proximity, movement, and territory are signals to read, not just triggers for combat.
| Encounter Type | Typical Behavior | Beginner Response |
|---|---|---|
| Trolls / giant creatures | Territorial, dangerous by scale, not automatically aggressive | Keep distance, observe, avoid treating as a standard PvE enemy |
| Faeries | Folklore beings, situational behavior | Watch before approaching, expect unusual outcomes |
| Sirens | Forest dwellers with their own agendas | Stay alert near water and unfamiliar sound sources |
| Neutral forest residents | Context-dependent, part of the living world | Leave room for non-combat interaction |
Approaching every large creature with a weapon drawn wastes opportunities. The Dark Forest rewards curiosity and caution equally — observe behavior first, then decide whether to approach, avoid, or withdraw.
Beginner Milestones and Co-op Basics
Whether solo or with up to seven friends, your first sessions should end with measurable progress. Use the checklist below as session goals, and remember that in co-op, one shared central base beats scattered individual shelters.
First Week Goals:
- Establish a temporary shelter near starting resources
- Build a repeatable gathering route for berries and twigs
- Craft your first basic tools and equipment
- Complete at least three short scouting trips with safe returns
- Set up organized storage for shared or personal supplies
- Observe (without engaging) at least one large Väsen encounter
- Upgrade shelter essentials before any deep-forest expedition
| Co-op Role | Main Duty | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Gatherer | Runs the resource route, keeps stocks full | New players, safe contribution |
| Scout | Maps new areas, tracks creature activity | Confident explorers |
| Builder | Expands shelter, manages construction | Detail-oriented players |
| Quartermaster | Organizes storage, plans expeditions | Coordinators and hosts |
Agree on the base location, first route, and priority materials before leaving the starting area. Groups that plan the first ten minutes together rarely scatter and lose their first night.
FAQ
Q: Is Trollheim: Gnomes out yet?
As of October 2026, the game is listed on Steam as coming soon, with plans for an Early Access phase estimated at 12–18 months. Follow the official Steam page and community hub for release and playtest announcements.
Q: Can beginners play Trollheim: Gnomes solo?
Yes. The Steam page lists single-player support alongside online co-op for up to 8 players. The core loop — gather, craft, build, explore — works solo, though group expeditions make deeper exploration safer.
Q: Should I fight trolls when I first see them?
No. The developers describe trolls as neighbors rather than standard enemies. Beginners should observe from a distance, read territorial signals, and disengage rather than assume combat is required.
Q: What resources should a beginner collect first?
Start with confirmed basics like blueberries and twigs near your starting area, then branch into wood and building materials. Keep a short repeatable route and deposit supplies at camp after every trip.