Developer Nordic Trolls has shared a detailed look at one of its most important systems, creature taming, which sounds like it will play a major role in Under a Rock, a vibrant survival game first revealed in 2022.

The game is building around more than just gathering and fighting, but also asking players to learn the behavior of the island’s creatures, earn their trust, and decide how far they want to go with them. That includes everything from simple tames that help with resources to companions that can ride into combat beside the player.

Tames begin with a straightforward process: feed a wild creature its favorite item, bring it back to base, and keep it loyal through upkeep. In return, it can produce resources over time, including creature specific drops and, in some cases, eggs. Companions work differently and seem to sit at the top of the creature progression path. They are not simply pets that follow along. They can be ridden, carry gear, fight alongside the player, and grow stronger as the journey continues.

The taming process itself is built around patience rather than quick wins, where players use a taming box to lure nearby creatures by placing items inside it. Once a creature responds, the game tracks the taming attempt with visible bars that show both the remaining items in the box and the creature’s taming progress. That setup suggests the system is meant to feel active and readable instead of hidden behind menus. It also makes failure part of the process, since using the wrong item will cause the attempt to fail and send the creature away. The developers even call out the more stubborn creatures, like Snuggets, which should give players a sense that not every island animal will be easy to convince.

Creature handling is the skill that ties the whole system together. It affects how quickly players can tame creatures, how many resources are used, and which creature tiers they can handle. That means taming is not just a side activity but a progression path of its own. As players interact with creatures, hatch companions, and level them up, their creature handling skill improves naturally. It is a smart way to connect animal care to character growth, and it should make the island feel more alive as players spend more time in it.

Once a creature has been tamed, its behavior becomes a little more practical and a little more demanding. Tames can follow the player, stay at base, and drop useful resources over time without being harmed in the wild. They also need food to stay loyal, and if they go hungry for too long, they can revert to a wild state. That adds a layer of upkeep that should keep players paying attention. There is also a stable option for those who do not want to keep a creature active at all times, though stored tames will not eat or produce resources. Release them, and they are gone from the player’s control for good.

Companions can carry items, with five inventory slots at launch, and can be upgraded later. Some can be ridden, which should make travel across the island much easier, while all of them can be ordered with commands such as Stay, Follow, Attack, Stop, Mount, and Dismiss. Players can also set combat behavior to Aggressive, Defensive, or Passive. That kind of direct control gives the system more depth than a simple follower setup, and it should help players shape each companion around their own style.

The progression path for companions also adds a clear sense of growth. They have core stats such as mobility, ferocity, lifeblood, burden, and hardiness, all of which improve through use. They can also be tiered up in the hatchery, which changes both their strength and appearance. Combat is handled in a forgiving way too, since companions do not truly die when their health reaches zero. Instead, they are downed and recover after the danger passes. It is a useful choice for a survival game, especially one that wants players to build a lasting bond with their creatures rather than treat them as disposable tools.

Alongside the taming update, the developers also highlighted two new creatures, the Curse Eye and Giant Bees, both of which are still early versions and may change over time. They also noted work on environmental hazards, gliding, climbing, swimming, combat, creature attacks, and item lists for the lower tiers.

With more than 400,000 wishlists on Steam, Under a Rock already has plenty of attention behind it, and this latest update suggests that, even though the game was announced years ago, it is still actively in development and we will hopefully hear release news in the near future.