Salem

Salem is a free-to-play, sandbox crafting MMORPG based on the times and trials of living in 17th Century New England. You know, a time when people were burnt at the stack for being a witch. In this version though, witchcraft and other things occult are very real and can pose quite a threat to your basic survival. And that’s what the game is mainly about: Survival. You’ll take on the role of a puritanical settler that crafts, gathers, and builds their way to a better life….well first you’ll be just trying to survive long enough to get some food, some water, and maybe a crude shelter.

While the city of Providence is a safe zone (allowing players to meet up, trade, buy items, and not have to worry about death, everything beyond its borders is wilderness that can be fully developed by players who can alter the game’s landscape permanently. Your specific character doesn’t have a pore-define role, either. Become what you want to become by mastering a plethora of skills and trades. Build things, combat threats, or hell, even dabble in a bit of Alchemy or Goat Rearing (yes, that’s a viable skill.)

Be careful though, outside the walls of Providence, anything goes. Since Salem features a permadeath mechanic, players will want to take their time before venturing too far. Skilling up a bit, discovering a few things you can make or build, and generally making some friends might be a huge boost to players right off the bat.

Salem’s art style is a bit unique and certainly won’t appeal to everyone. For the most part, the game adopts an isometric viewpoint similar to ARPGs like Path of Exile. The graphics themselves are quite simple and straight forward, even if they don’t tip the scales of realism in any way.

With innumerable materials, crafting combinations, and the challenge of in-game death ever-present, Salem offers a unique contribution to the sandbox MMORPG genre. Salem is developed by Mortal Moments and published by Paradox Interactive