Hytale is a sandbox RPG that has been in development since 2015 by the studio under Hypixel, the team behind the largest Minecraft server ever built. After being acquired by Riot Games in 2020, it was hyped as the 'next Minecraft,' only for development to stall last June. Against all odds, the project was reclaimed by Hypixel in November of last year and brought back from the dead.

After a rather tumultuous journey, Hytale is set to launch in Early Access on January 13. The developers have been transparent about its current state, admitting it will be 'unfinished and buggy,' which is precisely why they have set a modest price point of $19.99 (approximately 29,000 KRW).

With the Early Access release looming, we decided it was high time to take a closer look at this sandbox RPG that has captured the attention of genre enthusiasts. While the visual aesthetic and combat feel quite similar to Minecraft, the crafting system feels more reminiscent of the survival hit Valheim.

As I mentioned, Hytale is a sandbox RPG at heart. You are free to roam the fields, harvest resources, engage in combat, or simply focus on survival—it is entirely up to you. The game supports several modes including Adventure Mode, Exploration Mode, and Creative Mode. Exploration Mode offers the classic survival-sandbox experience familiar to Minecraft players, while Adventure Mode is designed more like an MMORPG with a structured campaign.

The primary stage for your adventure is the planet 'Orbis'. It features a diverse range of biomes, from the lush forests of the Emerald Wilds to the desolate sands of the Howling Sands and the frozen expanses of the Whisperfrost Frontier. Each region boasts its own climate, flora, and unique monster ecosystems.

World generation relies on a combination of 'pattern scanning,' 'heuristic' techniques—relying on experience and intuition for efficient problem-solving—and procedural generation. The system automatically populates the terrain, but it is designed so that the placement of objects and geography feels logical and organic. For instance, certain trees might only spawn near cave entrances, allowing players to infer the presence of underground resources just by observing the landscape.

The world of Hytale is teeming with caves, enemies, crafting materials, and NPCs. There are various races and factions such as the Kweebecs, Troks, Ferans, and Scarak. These groups offer a distinct departure from human archetypes, adding depth to the lore. Take the Kweebecs, for example: a tree-like species that loves to sing, with adults often rooting themselves in one spot for long periods. Troks prefer raiding and conquest, while the Scarak are insectoid creatures that wear bark like armor.

A variety of monsters inhabiting dungeons and wilderness areas will pose a threat to players. In underground caverns, giant mole-crickets crawl along the floor to ambush you. On dark, snowy nights, skeleton soldiers roam in packs, and sky-bound tentacled horrors reminiscent of the 'Beholder' from Dungeons & Dragons patrol the air. To survive these threats, you will need to craft potions and gear or simply learn when to avoid dangerous territory.

The crafting system does not offer the same level of freedom as Minecraft; it aligns more with general survival games like Valheim. You will not find the grid-based crafting system or the complex 'Redstone'-style blocks that defined the innovative freedom of its predecessor.

Instead, the gameplay loop involves gathering basic materials and following recipes to create items. This is primarily done at crafting benches, which are tiered to allow for the creation of higher-grade equipment. Gathering is also standard for the survival-crafting genre: you equip the appropriate tool for the job—axes for trees, pickaxes for minerals—and get to work.

Combat consists of basic attacks, heavy attacks, and skills, demanding precise spacing and effective weapon utilization. At the start of Early Access, the available weapon types include daggers, longswords, heavy maces, heavy axes, and bows. Daggers offer the fastest attack speed but short range, while heavy maces and axes are significantly slower but pack a punch. The team is also working on magic for the Early Access period, and rifles and assault rifles have been teased.

Both heavy attacks and skills consume stamina. Heavy attacks require a charge-up period that varies by weapon type—for example, the longsword’s heavy attack features a short forward dash and thrust, while the dagger version allows you to close distance rapidly with a dual-wield strike. You can block enemy attacks with a shield, which also drains stamina. Furthermore, timing your block perfectly results in a parry, leaving the enemy stunned.

Skills are also unique to each weapon class. Equipped with a longsword, you can perform a rapid spin attack, while the heavy axe allows for a prolonged whirlwind maneuver. Skills are powered by a gauge that charges as you land hits, with the charge rate scaling based on the damage dealt.

Another major draw of Hytale is its focus on modding. From the start of Early Access, the game will provide access to creative tools that are on the same level as the game engine itself. With the 'World Editor,' you do not need coding knowledge to use the node-based editor to modify terrain generation rules or design entirely new biomes. All biome and terrain data is provided in an editable format, allowing you to remix existing content or craft an entirely new world.

Creative Mode, in particular, offers a quick settings panel and various modding tools. Features like flight speed, inertia, and the 'Script Brush' tool for placing assets allow you to procedurally shape the world to your liking. You can quickly and freely construct complex structures like pyramids, flower-covered mountains, or monster-infested caverns.

The game also features official integration with 'Blockbench,' a tool widely used for 3D modeling and animation. This allows you to create your own models for monsters and items and apply animations that can be imported directly into the game. The structure is intuitive enough that you can build models without needing to deal with complex rigging processes.

While official minigame services are planned for a later, more stable stage of development, players can use user-created mods during Early Access. This means fans can recreate iconic Hytale combat minigames like 'SkyWars' or 'BedWars' and play them on custom servers.

The Early Access version of Hytale will support Windows OS initially, serving as an invitation for players to provide feedback as the game continues to evolve. The developers have been honest that the early version will be rough around the edges, noting that some basic mechanics, such as knockback or collision effects found in other games, are not yet fully implemented.

Furthermore, the aforementioned official minigames and Adventure Mode will not be included in the initial Early Access release. Instead, players will have access to Exploration Mode, Creative Mode, and the modding toolset.

The Hytale Early Access version launches on PC on January 13.