Conan Exiles

Survival, open-world sandbox

Conan Exiles is an open-world survival sandbox set in the brutal world of Conan the Barbarian. Players gather resources, craft gear, build fortified bases, and capture thralls to automate production and combat roles. The core loop revolves around survival progression, dungeon exploration, and pvp or pve server dynamics. Its tone is harsh and systemic, emphasizing environmental danger, territorial control, and long-term base development.

Conan Exiles
0
Developer:
Funcom
Publisher:
Funcom
Release Date:
May 8, 2018
Platforms:
PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (backward compatibility), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Who Should Play:
Players who enjoy survival crafting systems, base building, and persistent online server dynamics.
Who Should Skip:
Players who dislike grind-heavy survival loops, open-world pvp risk, or live-service style content updates.

Ratings

Monetization

55
Microtransactions

Solo Friendliness

70
Yes

Grind

30
Heavy

Complexity

40
Deep

Time Commitment

Main Story Hours

N/A

Completionist Hours

N/A

Gameplay

Monetization

• The base game is a premium purchase with numerous paid cosmetic DLC packs.

• The game transitioned to a battle pass and cosmetic store model for ongoing updates.

• Monetization focuses on cosmetic and building set content rather than direct power sales.

Solo Friendliness

• The game can be played entirely solo in single-player or private servers.

• However, official servers and PVP environments strongly favor group cooperation.

• Solo players may progress more slowly when tackling high-level bosses or defending bases.

Grind

• Resource gathering and base construction require sustained farming of materials.

• High-tier crafting stations and equipment demand rare materials from dangerous zones or dungeons.

• Server wipes and PVP raids can force rebuilding efforts, extending progression loops.

Complexity

• Crafting tiers, thrall management, and building systems add layered progression mechanics.

• Combat blends stamina management with weapon specialization and environmental hazards.

• Server rule variations significantly alter progression pacing and risk exposure.

Gallery

Full Verdict

Conan Exiles delivers a demanding survival sandbox centered on resource gathering, fortress construction, and dungeon exploration within a persistent online world. There is no traditional campaign endpoint, and long-term engagement comes from base expansion, thrall management, and server-driven dynamics that can stretch into very long play sessions. The grind is significant, especially when pursuing high-tier gear or recovering from pvp losses, though solo play remains viable through private or single-player modes. Its premium foundation combined with cosmetic dlc and battle pass systems creates mixed value perceptions, making it best suited for players committed to survival crafting and server-based progression.

Ideal For

• Players who enjoy survival base-building with meaningful risk and territory control.

• Fans of the Conan universe seeking a harsh sandbox environment.

• Groups looking for cooperative survival progression or competitive PVP servers.

Potential Drawbacks

• Heavy resource farming can slow pacing significantly.

• Technical performance and server stability can vary.

• The shift toward battle passes may reduce perceived value for some players.