Mandragora Whispers of the Witch Tree perfectly blends Soulslike challenge and Metroidvania exploration
It’s grim, deadly, and beautiful. Definitely my next dark fantasy obsession.
Some games straight-up define a genre, like Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree launched yesterday and is already trending on Steam – and it looks like one of those games. Plus, the visuals are absolutely gorgeous.
Mastering the Soulslike dance in a Metroidvania world
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree, developed by Primal Game Studio, is a dark fantasy action RPG with Soulslike and Metroidvania elements with over 40 hours of gameplay. We can pick from six unique classes and build our very own Inquisitor to face off against some really terrifying monsters. The world is huge and interconnected, filled with secrets and over 60 challenging quests to test our skills.
When it comes to combat, some people might argue it’s not truly a Soulslike if you can tweak the difficulty to match your skill level. But I think it’s more of a way to ease into the game. Get the hang of the usual strike, dodge, and parry rhythm, then dial it back up to really feel the challenge the devs intended.
And if that’s not our thing? No worries, we can still finish the game our way, then jump into New Game+ with all our skills sharpened and our character way stronger.
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree; Developer: Primal Game Studio
Now, let’s talk about the part that usually draws us in first, the aesthetics. I don’t know about you, but for me, the whole vibe is absolutely stunning. The art style and atmosphere just pull you in.
Animations are so smooth, especially in battles. Landing those perfect strikes is so satisfying to watch. I just love dark, moody visuals paired with a killer soundtrack and tight, rewarding combat. And Mandragora nails it.
If you're not quite convinced yet, the demo is still available on all platforms (Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox) so you can give it a try before spending your money.
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