Player choice has lasting effects.
Turn-based combat that is easy to learn.
World feels like a beautiful, expansive dollhouse that is truly alive.
The Thaumaturge features upgrade options for Wiktor’s attacks and salutors.
Visual quirks like character models clipping and NPCs t-posing in the background.
From Pokemon to Cassette Beasts and TemTem, there’s been a pretty standard aesthetic.
To a degree, we saw a break in this with thePalworld.
Combat is turn-based, with players selecting attacks from a suite of card-indicators.
The overall aesthetic, however, was still bright and relatively cheerful.
The Thaumaturge, however, cranks the dial on monster taming to “full gothic”.
But is this gritty and dark take on the genre worth shelling out $35 for?
The attack from a Bukavec during combat.
Disclaimer: This review was made possible by a review code provided by 11 bit studios.
The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.
What is The Thaumaturge?
Accessibility menu in The Thaumaturge.
Wiktor can travel via trams or carriage when moving from one district to another.
A suite of attacks is displayed over the heads of enemies as the player shuffles through them.
The player can choose between attacking with Wiktor or the Salutor, but moves are limited.
The Thaumaturge touches on societal commentary while maintaining the language and attitudes of its time period.
Once assigned to a single enemy Upyr can not attack another until the next turn, however.
The core gameplay loop for The Thaumaturge focuses on players exploring and interacting with the NPCs.
That’s not to say it is without flaws, however.
Acquiring flaws and salutors takes a toll on Wiktor’s mental health.
There were several instances in the pre-release version of the game where NPCs would clip through during combat.
In one sequence, a character model simply stood in the middle of Wiktor throughout the entire fight.
In another district, I would continuously run past an NPC who was just always t-posing.
In some cutscenes, character models would egregiously clip through one another when interacting.
There’s some room for polish here.
The game’s soundtrack fits the dark, moody feel and sets just the right atmosphere.
It’s the audio for the salutors that will stand out, the most.
It’screepyand that’s what makes itperfect.
Navigating the menus with a controller or a mouse is straightforward.
Shuffling between enemies in combat is as simple as pressing left or right on the left thumbstick.
The Thaumaturge also offers adjustments for color blindness.
The Thaumaturge: Should you buy it?
However, the setting of the game would inevitably include language and notions that are unacceptable.
The themes and stories embedded in The Thaumaturge deal with the dark depths of humanity.
But there’s something so much more in this gritty and grim world that is worth your time.
The Thaumaturge is just the latest game to be published by 11 bit studios.
Interested in more titles from 11 bit studios?
Check out ourreview of The Invincible.
In 2023, 11bit signed a deal with Microsoftto bring more of its catalog of games toXbox Game Pass.
Explore historical Warsaw, Poland and experience the world through the eyes of The Thaumaturge, Wiktor Szulski.
