The Thaumaturge

The Thaumaturge (earlier known as Vitriol) is an RPG set in an alternate 20th century Warsaw. The game was developed by the Polish studio Fool's Theory, previously known for working alongside the Belgian Larian Studios on games such as Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Baldur's Gate 3, as well as for creating Seven: The Days Long Gone.

Plot

The Thaumaturge is set in 1905's Warsaw. It's a multicultural metropolis, where while the upper classes hold lavish parties, the criminals deal in dark alleys. Reigned by the Russian Tsardom, the city is a melting pot, inhabited by Polish townspeople, Jewish merchants, Russian soldiers and many others.

It's also the territory of the titular thaumaturges - people with supernatural abilities, able to perceive and use Salutors, esoteric entities. The game's protagonist, Wiktor Szulski, is one such thaumaturge, here in Warsaw to handle family matters. Using his abilities, he discovers the secrets of the city and its people.

Though the story is mostly fictional, it features appearances of real historical figures.

Mechanics

The Thaumaturge is an isometric game. The player traverses the occupied streets of Warsaw, completing quests, talking to characters and making moral choices. We can wield the Salutors to our benefit while exploring, manipulating other characters and fighting enemies.

Combat is turn-based, letting us wield different weapons, firearms and supernatural abilities. The latter let us deal direct damage and inflict negative statuses on enemies. As we progress through the game, we develop the protagonist and face greater challenges. Wiktor must be cautious, as the stronger he gets, the more his thaumaturge powers drive him to madness...

Technical aspects

The Thaumaturge runs on the Unreal Engine 5. The game's atmospheric artstyle and soundtrack effectively recreate the feeling of living in an early 20th century city.

Last updated on 15 November 2023