Trollheim: Gnomes Announced, Survival Crafting In Nordic Folklore

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Written by Andrew Otton

Published: October 15, 2026 9:00 AM

Nordic Folklore is all over fantasy, but it usually just forms the basis of inspiration into something wholly new. Trollheim: Gnomes will take us into the Dark Forest in its own interpretation of that folklore that is closer to the classic tellings.

The Spryg Gnomes have been forced from their homes by Oden and they take up residency in the Dark Forest. You play as one of those gnomes who will encounter all manner of fantastical creatures from trolls to faeries and more. 

Gnomes are just a few inches tall, and the vastness of the world reflects that. Trees aren't the size of skyscrapers, but mountains. Branches are roads, leaves are parachutes. 

Using the environment will be a big part of Trollheim: Gnomes. Leaves, twigs, branches, moss, and so much more around you will be used to make anything and everything from your shelters to your tools. 

The world will be procedurally generated with an emphasis on letting you shape the world as you wish. That means the crevice in a tree, among the treetops, or maybe a hollowed out log could be a shelter. You'll also have to build freely in the open as well.

The Dark Forest is also home to the Vasen, powerful beings that also live in the forest. You can make them friend or foe, which may lead to several different outcomes.

Trollheim: Gnomes is multiplayer, meaning you can craft these worlds with some friends if you wish. Of course, you can play solo as well.

In a press briefing for the game, we heard some from the development team at Off-leash Interactive. Some of the team are Ex-Mojang developers, so they bring with them some Minecraft pedigree and understanding of the genre.

In that vein, they mentioned Trollheim: Gnomes is one of those games they hope to have players return to over time. The next big patch brings you back and the additions maybe make it feel like a whole new game, or maybe you're just plodding along at your own pace as the updates come out. 

In other words, the expectation is that Trollheim: Gnomes will grow and change substantially over time, especially once they start to get player feedback.

Andrew Otton | Editor in Chief

Andrew is the Editor in Chief at TechRaptor. Conned into a love of gaming by Nintendo at a young age, Andrew has been chasing the dragon spawned by… More about Andrew