Salem invites all to stake their claim with Open Beta release

Don't let the graphics fool you. Despite the admittedly rough around the edges look of the sandbox MMORPG Salem, the game offers quite a lot of depth for those looking for a non traditional MMO. It can be really hard to judge a sandbox MMO from a simple write-up or a few minutes of gameplay, which is why I encourage everyone to try Salem now that the game has transitioned into open beta.

For those of you unfamiliar with Salem, the game has you traveling back to colonial times when life was simple and death by small pox lurked around every corner. Your goal initial goal is straight forward, survive. In order to do this you will need to carve out an inhabitable area of your own amidst the vast untamed wilderness. To do this, you'll need to learn the vital skills necessary to scavenge for food, harvest natural resources, craft tools and a home, and eventually even establish your own in-game settlement.

Salem isn't just "Minecraft: the MMO" though. While banding together with other players will certainly help you establish yourself much quicker they can also be your undoing. There are few rules in Salem and players can and will attack other player at random. There are also wild animals and other perils present within the game which may cut your time in the newland short. Death is permanent in the game too although you can always find your way back to your house once you have made a new character. That is, if no one has swooped in to occupy your home while you were dead.

All of this is summed up quite comically in the new trailer shown above. You can play the game now by visiting the official site here.