YggdrasilShattered Realms

Development

Day 1 to day 51.

Yggdrasil: Shattered Realms is built in the open. This is every step so far, from the first ugly frame to the world as it looks today, and where it goes next.

51days of work
760+changes made
100screenshots below
Day 51: the game's very first screenshot against the town todayDay 2: the game's very first screenshot against the town todayDay 2Day 51

Every day in between

Press play.

All 100 screenshots as a time-lapse, from the first browser prototype to the game today.

The very first screenshot. A browser prototype: cone-shaped trees, a debug readout over the screen and a ring of stones by a lake.
Day 218 Aug
1 / 100

A prototype in the browser

The very first screenshot. A browser prototype: cone-shaped trees, a debug readout over the screen and a ring of stones by a lake.

Day 2 · 18 AugDay 51 · today

The journey

Chapter by chapter.

The same 100 screenshots, grouped by what was being built. Click any of them to see it full size, and use the arrow keys to step through.

  1. I

    Days 1–12 · 18 Aug to 27 Aug

    A prototype in the browser

    The first weeks built the parts nobody sees: a server that decides everything, a client that predicts your moves, and fifty robot players to test it. The world itself was cone trees, flat colours and debug text.

    Day 2 · 18 Aug

    The very first screenshot. A browser prototype: cone-shaped trees, a debug readout over the screen and a ring of stones by a lake.
    The very first screenshot. A browser prototype: cone-shaped trees, a debug readout over the screen and a ring of stones by a lake.

    Day 8 · 24 Aug

    Kaupholt appears in the browser build. Chunky trees, a tiny minimap and a bar that says your hands are empty.
    Kaupholt appears in the browser build. Chunky trees, a tiny minimap and a bar that says your hands are empty.

    Day 10 · 26 Aug

    The first market square, with the destiny panel open beside a hooded townsperson.
    The first market square, with the destiny panel open beside a hooded townsperson.

    Day 11 · 27 Aug

    An early forest: drooping blob trees and grass tufts.
    An early forest: drooping blob trees and grass tufts.

    Day 11 · 27 Aug

    The browser-era town square: pale cobbles, wells, benches and red rugs.
    The browser-era town square: pale cobbles, wells, benches and red rugs.

    Day 11 · 27 Aug

    The same forest at the game’s zoom, lumpy and olive.
    The same forest at the game’s zoom, lumpy and olive.
  2. II

    Days 13–20 · 29 Aug to 5 Sept

    A new engine

    The game moved to Unity and became playable in it the same day. It also lost half its town for a while.

    Day 13 · 29 Aug

    The first frame from the new Unity client: a meadow, orange-leaved trees and a very small hero.
    The first frame from the new Unity client: a meadow, orange-leaved trees and a very small hero.

    Day 14 · 30 Aug

    The Unity forest, with tall grass and a debug readout still on screen.
    The Unity forest, with tall grass and a debug readout still on screen.

    Day 14 · 30 Aug

    Tall yellow grass and pink flowers at the foot of a trunk.
    Tall yellow grass and pink flowers at the foot of a trunk.

    Day 18 · 3 Sept

    The market in Unity, with the first ability bar and a diamond minimap.
    The market in Unity, with the first ability bar and a diamond minimap.

    Day 18 · 3 Sept

    The well and benches of the square, still flat and dark.
    The well and benches of the square, still flat and dark.

    Day 19 · 4 Sept

    The first swings: a bare hero mid-attack by a stall and a bonfire.
    The first swings: a bare hero mid-attack by a stall and a bonfire.

    Day 20 · 5 Sept

    A low point: half the map stopped rendering and the town vanished.
    A low point: half the map stopped rendering and the town vanished.

    Day 20 · 5 Sept

    Still missing: a T-posed hero on a lonely disc of cobbles.
    Still missing: a T-posed hero on a lonely disc of cobbles.
  3. III

    Days 21–34 · 9 Sept to 19 Sept

    Monsters, gear and the first fights

    The Elderwood Guardian and the Ashen Acolyte arrived, every item got its own picture and 3D model, and the first real fights were fought.

    Day 24 · 9 Sept

    First sighting of the Elderwood Guardian among the trees.
    First sighting of the Elderwood Guardian among the trees.

    Day 24 · 9 Sept

    The Guardian sank into the ground. It took a while to stand him up.
    The Guardian sank into the ground. It took a while to stand him up.

    Day 24 · 9 Sept

    The Guardian beside a stone pillar, with the minimap’s view box.
    The Guardian beside a stone pillar, with the minimap’s view box.

    Day 31 · 16 Sept

    The forest fills in: purple flowers and a square minimap.
    The forest fills in: purple flowers and a square minimap.

    Day 33 · 18 Sept

    The bag opens for the first time: a sword in hand and the five gathering tools.
    The bag opens for the first time: a sword in hand and the five gathering tools.

    Day 34 · 19 Sept

    The first real fight with the Guardian, with damage numbers and a target plate.
    The first real fight with the Guardian, with damage numbers and a target plate.
  4. IV

    Days 35–40 · 20 Sept to 25 Sept

    The market, the guard and the gates

    Money and a market opened, the Blind Lantern Guard took the west gate, wolves moved into Ulfsholt, and the realms got gates of light between them.

    Day 35 · 20 Sept

    The market opens: the first order book over the cobbled square.
    The market opens: the first order book over the cobbled square.

    Day 35 · 20 Sept

    The Blind Lantern Guard takes his post at the west gate.
    The Blind Lantern Guard takes his post at the west gate.

    Day 35 · 20 Sept

    Before and after: the guard learns to hold his blade edge-on.
    Before and after: the guard learns to hold his blade edge-on.

    Day 35 · 20 Sept

    Mistmire’s gate: a beam of light across blue-grey ground.
    Mistmire’s gate: a beam of light across blue-grey ground.

    Day 35 · 20 Sept

    Kaupholt’s side of the same kind of gate.
    Kaupholt’s side of the same kind of gate.

    Day 37 · 22 Sept

    The Fenwolf pack at Ulfsholt.
    The Fenwolf pack at Ulfsholt.

    Day 37 · 22 Sept

    Wolves circle the hero among golden trees.
    Wolves circle the hero among golden trees.

    Day 37 · 22 Sept

    Surrounded: a three-wolf fight.
    Surrounded: a three-wolf fight.

    Day 37 · 22 Sept

    The training dummy by the stone gate.
    The training dummy by the stone gate.

    Day 37 · 22 Sept

    A sword arc streaks across the dummy.
    A sword arc streaks across the dummy.

    Day 39 · 24 Sept

    The world’s edge becomes a wall of mossy boulders.
    The world’s edge becomes a wall of mossy boulders.

    Day 39 · 24 Sept

    Vardholt’s northern entrance.
    Vardholt’s northern entrance.

    Day 39 · 24 Sept

    A gate as a faint veil of light over the road.
    A gate as a faint veil of light over the road.

    Day 39 · 24 Sept

    Too much: the veil fills the whole passage.
    Too much: the veil fills the whole passage.

    Day 40 · 25 Sept

    The gate beam sweeping through a boulder wood.
    The gate beam sweeping through a boulder wood.

    Day 40 · 25 Sept

    The final gate: a soft, sparkling veil between mossy stones.
    The final gate: a soft, sparkling veil between mossy stones.

    Day 40 · 25 Sept

    The same gate in Mistmire, among violet flowers.
    The same gate in Mistmire, among violet flowers.
  5. V

    Days 41–46 · 27 Sept to 1 Oct

    A living world

    The grove and the old wood were planted, light and mist came in, then day and night. The town was rebuilt piece by piece, with houses you can buy and a wall you can walk.

    Day 42 · 27 Sept

    The inventory in its new parchment look.
    The inventory in its new parchment look.

    Day 42 · 27 Sept

    All of Kaupholt from above.
    All of Kaupholt from above.

    Day 42 · 27 Sept

    Building the grove: a drift of pink flowers and young trees.
    Building the grove: a drift of pink flowers and young trees.

    Day 42 · 27 Sept

    The first grove pass. The hero is lost in it.
    The first grove pass. The hero is lost in it.

    Day 42 · 27 Sept

    A town corner in the new light: striped stalls, a banner and a lamp.
    A town corner in the new light: striped stalls, a banner and a lamp.

    Day 42 · 27 Sept

    Lily pads on the pond.
    Lily pads on the pond.

    Day 42 · 27 Sept

    The first resource nodes to gather: ore and cotton.
    The first resource nodes to gather: ore and cotton.

    Day 42 · 27 Sept

    A richer undergrowth among the boulders.
    A richer undergrowth among the boulders.

    Day 43 · 28 Sept

    The same spot after thinning the wood by four fifths.
    The same spot after thinning the wood by four fifths.

    Day 43 · 28 Sept

    The old wood at its densest, before it was thinned.
    The old wood at its densest, before it was thinned.

    Day 43 · 28 Sept

    Giant trunks, before and after their bark was repainted.
    Giant trunks, before and after their bark was repainted.

    Day 43 · 28 Sept

    Haze over the far wood, and sunbeams through a gap in the canopy.
    Haze over the far wood, and sunbeams through a gap in the canopy.

    Day 43 · 28 Sept

    Mist pooled in the hollows and dust glinting in the light.
    Mist pooled in the hollows and dust glinting in the light.

    Day 44 · 29 Sept

    Day and night arrive: the square at dawn, in an orange fog.
    Day and night arrive: the square at dawn, in an orange fog.

    Day 44 · 29 Sept

    The square at night, under blue moonlight.
    The square at night, under blue moonlight.

    Day 44 · 29 Sept

    The square at sunset.
    The square at sunset.

    Day 44 · 29 Sept

    The wood at night, with fireflies over the flowers.
    The wood at night, with fireflies over the flowers.

    Day 44 · 29 Sept

    Firefly trails in the dark wood.
    Firefly trails in the dark wood.

    Day 44 · 29 Sept

    Noon in the old wood among the giant trunks.
    Noon in the old wood among the giant trunks.

    Day 44 · 29 Sept

    A night forest, deep blue-green.
    A night forest, deep blue-green.

    Day 45 · 30 Sept

    Before and after: stalls in rings, then in rows facing the well.
    Before and after: stalls in rings, then in rows facing the well.

    Day 45 · 30 Sept

    The town square from above, before it was laid out properly.
    The town square from above, before it was laid out properly.

    Day 45 · 30 Sept

    The town rebuilt: palisade, houses and banners.
    The town rebuilt: palisade, houses and banners.

    Day 45 · 30 Sept

    A palisade you can climb, with a walkway along the top.
    A palisade you can climb, with a walkway along the top.

    Day 45 · 30 Sept

    The square at night: pools of lamplight on the cobbles.
    The square at night: pools of lamplight on the cobbles.

    Day 45 · 30 Sept

    A town corner by day: striped stalls and tiled roofs.
    A town corner by day: striped stalls and tiled roofs.

    Day 45 · 30 Sept

    The square at the game’s camera: the well and the new stalls.
    The square at the game’s camera: the well and the new stalls.

    Day 45 · 30 Sept

    A tiled-roof house beside the curving palisade.
    A tiled-roof house beside the curving palisade.

    Day 45 · 30 Sept

    The houses turn to face the square.
    The houses turn to face the square.

    Day 45 · 30 Sept

    Inside a house at night: the near walls are cut away so you can see the room.
    Inside a house at night: the near walls are cut away so you can see the room.

    Day 45 · 30 Sept

    A lit timber house at night.
    A lit timber house at night.

    Day 45 · 30 Sept

    Every house has a sign at the door, and can be bought.
    Every house has a sign at the door, and can be bought.

    Day 46 · 1 Oct

    A night fight with the wolves among the timber.
    A night fight with the wolves among the timber.

    Day 46 · 1 Oct

    The old world map.
    The old world map.

    Day 46 · 1 Oct

    The new world map, with roads to Vardholt and Mistmire.
    The new world map, with roads to Vardholt and Mistmire.

    Day 46 · 1 Oct

    The town at night with the redrawn minimap.
    The town at night with the redrawn minimap.

    Day 46 · 1 Oct

    The walkable palisade at night, under the tier II “Warded” tag.
    The walkable palisade at night, under the tier II “Warded” tag.

    Day 46 · 1 Oct

    The inventory over the night town.
    The inventory over the night town.

    Day 46 · 1 Oct

    A night fight with the training dummy.
    A night fight with the training dummy.

    Day 46 · 1 Oct

    Walking past a timber house in lamplight.
    Walking past a timber house in lamplight.

    Day 46 · 1 Oct

    The three realms’ maps, each with its own resource nodes.
    The three realms’ maps, each with its own resource nodes.

    Day 46 · 1 Oct

    Gathering: a pickaxe swung at an ore rock.
    Gathering: a pickaxe swung at an ore rock.

    Day 46 · 1 Oct

    Hover a tree to see what it yields and which tool it needs.
    Hover a tree to see what it yields and which tool it needs.

    Day 46 · 1 Oct

    A woodland meadow: tall trunks, sunbeams and drifts of flowers.
    A woodland meadow: tall trunks, sunbeams and drifts of flowers.
  6. VI

    Days 47–51 · 4 Oct to 6 Oct

    Today

    The wolf den was rebuilt, monsters got mana and portraits, and the world looks like this.

    Day 49 · 4 Oct

    Ulfsholt, the wolf den, cleaned up: before and after.
    Ulfsholt, the wolf den, cleaned up: before and after.

    Day 49 · 4 Oct

    The skull rock behind the cold fire pit, weathered and set into the ground.
    The skull rock behind the cold fire pit, weathered and set into the ground.

    Day 49 · 4 Oct

    The new target frame: portraits, health and mana. Monsters can run out of mana now.
    The new target frame: portraits, health and mana. Monsters can run out of mana now.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    The market square at noon.
    The market square at noon.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    The square at sunset, as the lamps come on.
    The square at sunset, as the lamps come on.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    The square at night.
    The square at night.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    Fighting the Fenwolves while the Ashen Acolyte casts.
    Fighting the Fenwolves while the Ashen Acolyte casts.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    A wolf fight in the old wood.
    A wolf fight in the old wood.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    The old wood: giant trunks, mushrooms and flowers.
    The old wood: giant trunks, mushrooms and flowers.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    The edge of the town at sunrise.
    The edge of the town at sunrise.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    The Elderwood Guardian among the standing stones.
    The Elderwood Guardian among the standing stones.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    The Blind Lantern Guard at the west gate.
    The Blind Lantern Guard at the west gate.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    The Great Board: nearly two hundred nodes of fame.
    The Great Board: nearly two hundred nodes of fame.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    The inventory, in its parchment ledger.
    The inventory, in its parchment ledger.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    The bell tower over the market.
    The bell tower over the market.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    The old wood in the morning mist.
    The old wood in the morning mist.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    The same giants at golden hour.
    The same giants at golden hour.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    Sunbeams through the canopy at golden hour.
    Sunbeams through the canopy at golden hour.

    Day 51 · 6 Oct

    Morning light over old standing stones in the wood.
    Morning light over old standing stones in the wood.

The road ahead

What the world will become.

Standing now

The foundation

  • A shared world of connected realms, with gates between them
  • Swords, bows, staves, warstaves and spears, and the tools of five gathering trades
  • Gathering, refining and crafting from tier I to tier VIII
  • Per-city markets, silver, and letters when an order fills
  • The Destiny Board, with spells chosen per weapon
  • Full loot, corpses and dropped bags in the dangerous realms
  • Houses to buy and guilds to found

Next

The wider world

  • Dungeons: common, repeatable, full of monsters and treasure
  • More realms, each with three or four gates, and a world map
  • More creatures, and more of the world for them to roam

Later

Guilds and their holds

  • Guild dungeons that appear in the world as rare events
  • A guild must conquer one before it is theirs, and can then rebuild it room by room
  • Rival guilds raid them; the owners can come home to defend
  • Territory, and the politics that follow it