The Thaumaturge invites you to embark on a mysterious journey into the mystifying realm of dark magic and demons, interwoven with the rich historical tapestry of early 1900s Warsaw. As the titular Thaumaturge, players find themselves at the crossroads of a city steeped in shadowy secrets and supernatural turmoil. The game is spectacularly interesting, with deep lore and no time to hold the player’s hand through it—even when you might wish it did.
One of The Thaumaturge’s most unique and interesting aspects is its setting, which combines historical realism with magic.
Set against the backdrop of tumultuous times, where war looms on the horizon, and societal tensions such as prejudice run high, your quest to resolve family matters unfolds like a haunting tapestry of the times’ desperation, fear, and avarice. Wiktor Szulski, armed with ancient knowledge and mystical abilities, is one of the only ones capable of seeing the dreadful beings feasting on the human misery around him.
The streets of Warsaw serve as a stage for encounters with deeply flawed and haunted individuals, each grappling with personal demons that manifest as Salutors, malevolent entities born from the shadows of the human soul. Wiktor’s quest takes him through the twisted alleys, forgotten corners, and opulent halls of the city, unraveling a tale of unresolved sins.
In this atmospheric adventure, players are passive observers and active participants in a morally ambiguous narrative. The choices they make influence not only the trajectory of the Thaumaturge’s journey but also the fates of those they encounter. Some decisions may involve sacrificing one for the greater good, while others present the temptation to delve into darker realms for personal gain. Wiktor’s personal flaw, Pride, haunts him throughout the narrative and becomes a tempting but dangerous tool used to progress the story.
Personally, I find the decision to set the game in historical Warsaw to be a genius move on behalf of the developers. Navigating this world, which is so close to ours but with just a little magic, easily grounds you into the story and immerses you into the life of a Thaumaturge, being not too far outside the realm of our actual possibility. Making historical figures, such as Rasputin, adds a layer of fun on top of everything as we see familiar faces and watch how the developers characterize them.
The game’s cast of characters, including its historical figures, is as interesting as its setting. The game features a cast that is as diverse culturally as they are in motivations, each phenomenally interesting. The writing is deeply interesting, and if you like sitting down for long, enthralling conversations about politics and magic, you’re in for a real treat.
That is the game’s draw: its characters, dialogue, story, and setting. It is visually interesting and tells a compelling narrative that takes you right back each time you start to get bored. However, as strong as the writing is, I feel the gameplay is lackluster in comparison.
Gameplay in The Thaumaturge is pretty standard for an RPG, seeing you run around and complete quests by interacting with objects and talking to people. Many of these quests are mysteries to be investigated, with each piece of evidence collected slowly building to the bigger picture of what’s going on. However, the game can, at times, be too unclear with how to go about your objective, and at times, I was totally lost with how to continue.
This was true even though the game has a waypoint system pointing you more or less towards what you needed to interact with to proceed, which I followed frequently.
The combat in the game is also pretty standard. The turn-based system sees you using several kinds of attacks, some from you and some from the Salutors attached to you, to damage your would-be pursuers. Again, while it’s pretty standard, it was inoffensive and fun enough and was presented uniquely, keeping it interesting alongside the rest of the game.
Though the gameplay can be tiring at times, chasing waypoint to waypoint as you find leads in your quests, it’s always the story and dialogue that pull your interest back in. It can also be said that the most interesting points of the gameplay are how it ties back into the narrative.
Not only does The Thaumaturge’s story branch into different paths based on your decisions, but Wiktor changes as a person based on how you play. Certain elements of the soul and flaws can be unlocked that affect how you solve cases and give you new dialogue options in discussions. These options both change how the story plays out, giving you access to multiple endings through your, at times, morally ambiguous or outright dark decisions.
The Thaumaturge stands out as a captivating blend of historical realism and dark magic, with intricate storytelling that transports players into the mystifying world of a near-historical turn of the century Warsaw. The atmospheric adventure features a cast of diverse and intriguing characters, including historical figures, adding an extra layer of fascination to the experience.
While the standard RPG gameplay may occasionally fail to excite, the game compensates with a unique setting and a compelling narrative that effortlessly draws players back into its enigmatic depths. The marriage of historical accuracy and magical elements, coupled with the nuanced character development tied to player choices, elevates “The Thaumaturge” beyond its gameplay limitations, making it a captivating journey through a realm where every decision leaves an indelible mark on both the story and the protagonist himself.
The Final Word
Despite its occasionally uninspiring gameplay elements, the story, dialogue, and exciting setting make “The Thaumaturge” an enthralling and unforgettable gaming experience.
9
Try Hard Guides was provided with a PC review copy of this game. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles in the Game Reviews section of our website! The Thaumaturge is available on Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, and PlayStation.