The Necromancer's Tale

About

The Necromancer's Tale is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Psychic Software and was released on July 17, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

The Necromancer's Tale is a narrative-driven top-down RPG where you play the role of a minor noble in the 18th Century, drawn into the Dark Necromantic Arts as you seek knowledge and revenge. Great power awaits... along with the weird, the morbid, and a gradual descent into madness.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 609 reviews

story185 positive mentions

grinding33 negative mentions

Deep and compelling narrative with strong writing and well-developed characters.
Unique and immersive depiction of necromancy showing a slow, believable descent into darkness.
Meaningful player choices with consequences and multiple ways to solve quests, encouraging exploration and roleplaying.

Clunky and simplistic combat system that many find tedious and lacking depth.
Somewhat slow pacing, especially in early and late game phases, with repetitive fetch quests and backtracking.
UI and quality of life issues including awkward controls, limited fast travel beyond city, and occasional bugs.

story
545 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
63%
3%
The game's story is widely praised as a richly detailed, dark, and atmospheric gothic narrative centered on a gradual descent into necromancy, with complex characters and meaningful player choices that impact the unfolding plot. While the storyline is compelling and immersive, with multiple branching paths and replay value, some players note a slow start, occasional quest design frustrations, and minimal hand-holding, requiring patience and exploration. Overall, the story is the game's standout feature, often compared favorably to classic narrative-driven RPGs, making it a must-play for fans of story-heavy, choice-driven experiences.
- “Right from the prologue, it’s clear that this product was created by people who really know their stuff when it comes to storytelling and worldbuilding, allowing the player to experience a narrative that rivals masterpieces of the genre like Planescape: Torment and Disco Elysium.”
- “The story is fantastic, with multiple solutions to every quest, different quests depending on your stats, and a slow descent into increasingly dark enchantments set in an alternative 18th century gothic setting.”
- “This is primarily a story-driven RPG with exceptional writing, a compelling plot full of intrigue, subterfuge, and dark magic, giving the player true narrative autonomy and a deep, relatable journey into necromancy.”
- “The storyline is frankly disappointing - the main character is a bit too stupid for my taste, behaving bone-headedly for plot reasons (yes, let's put a black magic trap in the front door of my house, where any visitor will trigger it, that sounds like a great idea) and seemingly incapable of putting one and one together even when the situation is obvious (the hospital 'fever').”
- “But it uses an ancient quest mechanism, where it's unclear what action triggers the next plot event, or whether it even triggers.”
- “The quest guide fails to indicate which quests are urgent and which aren't resolvable until much later, leading to lots of running around trying to figure out if person X is even available in this chapter (four chapters I've been waiting for someone to come along to the seance; will it be this chapter? No idea, but the guide insists I keep trying, frustratingly).”
gameplay
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
77%
5%
Gameplay in this game is heavily narrative-driven with a strong focus on dialogue, exploration, and puzzle-solving, complemented by necromancy and army-building mechanics that, while thematically solid, are often described as simple, clunky, or underdeveloped. Combat tends to be basic and repetitive, serving more as a backdrop to the story rather than a deep gameplay element, with some players finding it uninspired or frustrating, especially in the late game. Overall, the gameplay supports the rich story and atmosphere well but lacks mechanical depth or innovation, making it best suited for players who prioritize narrative over complex combat or gameplay systems.
- “The gameplay overall is quite interesting with necromancing, creating skeletons etc. to fight for you.”
- “Gameplay is classic CRPG dialog/choices/finding solutions and items plus building an army which is more fun than you think.”
- “The necromancy mechanics are engaging, and the dialogue is well-written with solid voice acting that pulls you into its grim and magical world.”
- “Combat is rather simple; as mentioned before, don't play this for the combat mechanics or you will be disappointed.”
- “The necromancer's tale is a curious RPG with attributes but no level ups, featuring combat that boils down to overpowering the enemy with sheer numbers or simply skipping it by comparing the combat strength of your undead army with that of your opponents, with equipment that is mostly cosmetic and gameplay that is 90% walking, talking, and reading.”
- “The gameplay can be fairly boring and vague, with game mechanics introduced in a vague way that misleads you into thinking it's the right approach, only to send you in the wrong direction.”
graphics
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
64%
15%
The graphics of the game are clearly indie and modest, often described as basic, rough around the edges, or subpar, with simple 3D models contrasted by well-designed 2D portraits and a distinctive art style that grows on players. While not technically impressive or polished, the visuals effectively complement the game’s dark fantasy setting and narrative, though the UI and some graphical choices may feel generic or janky to some. Overall, the graphics serve the story well but are not a highlight compared to other aspects like writing and voice acting.
- “The graphics are a major plus for my tastes; they’re detailed where they need to be and simple elsewhere, playing to the strengths of an isometric perspective by making sure the big picture is generally appealing to look at.”
- “Zooming in reveals very basic character models, but their overall shape is well done, the clothing you can access is appropriate yet fetching, and the litany of character portraits shore up any weaknesses in the graphics themselves.”
- “I don't know if that's actually the case or not, but the more I played, the more I fell in love with the graphics and I feel that the art was perfect for the setting and feel of the game - I wouldn't have it any other way now.”
- “The 3D graphics are, sadly, extremely underwhelming, especially when compared to the portraits and rich character voicing with different accents.”
- “Mechanically it's a bit rough around the edges and graphically it's pretty subpar.”
- “Ignoring the rough visuals and god awful painterly effect, that you can luckily turn off, the game felt interesting initially but soon gave way to frustration and tedium.”
atmosphere
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
23%
6%
The game boasts a richly immersive and consistently ominous atmosphere, enhanced by gothic writing, detailed world-building, and evocative sound design that effectively conveys themes of necromancy and forbidden knowledge. Despite some rough edges in polish and combat, the storytelling and mood create a captivating, slow-burning experience that deeply engages players in its dark, mysterious world.
- “On one level the atmosphere is enchanting; exploring tombs is appropriately unsettling, entering a tavern is disarming, walking the streets feels like being part of a world: the music, lighting, models and storytelling go a long way in setting chills up your spine or relaxing you.”
- “All that being said I have a profound love of this game, it has an extremely palpable atmosphere and you truly do get immersed in the world that it offers.”
- “Great storytelling, immersive world that does so much to create an atmosphere of slowly building tension and unfolding threads of intrigue taking you down a questionable but believable path.”
- “There are a few times, however, where it feels disconnected from the world and atmosphere; exploring the farmland feels unnaturally drear and oppressive for some reason, which kind of matches the opening narration but not the subtle depression and fatigue of the city.”
- “All this to say that the actual atmosphere and adventures into the occult hold up really well, and I did ultimately care for the town and the characters, so I would recommend with the caveat of needing to save often and be able to tolerate and work around jank.”
- “It's not for everyone - you'll have to put up with janky animations, minor bugs, googling/independent research to find out exactly how to progress sometimes, and it gets a bit fetch-questy, but the atmosphere and the world kept driving me forward.”
music
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The music is widely praised for effectively setting the game's atmospheric tone, enhancing feelings of tension, unease, and immersion with an appropriate blend of ambient and thematic tracks. While generally memorable and well-crafted, some players note occasional repetitiveness and abrupt transitions between tracks. Overall, the soundtrack complements the story and visuals, contributing significantly to the game's immersive and evocative experience.
- “On one level the atmosphere is enchanting; exploring tombs is appropriately unsettling, entering a tavern is disarming, walking the streets feels like being a part of a world: the music, lighting, models and storytelling go a long way in setting chills up your spine or relaxing you.”
- “The story, writing, sound, music and art style fit together perfectly.”
- “The music elegantly captures the insecurity, distance, anxiety, and dread of the situation you're in.”
- “Music tracks will just start and stop on a dime moving from one area to the next.”
- “The music, good as it is, gets repetitive after a time playing the game while walking around the city (at least it's memorable though).”
- “The music cues are also a bit abrupt, as you'll go from walking with an adventurous beat playing, then step on a stairway to the graveyard and immediately cut to a bleak and dour track.”
grinding
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is often described as tedious, particularly due to frequent running around, slow combat, and micromanagement of numerous minions which becomes cumbersome in late-game battles. While progression through story-driven necromantic abilities helps keep some momentum, repetitive combat and inventory handling dampen pacing and player engagement. Despite these frustrations, the game's narrative strengths help mitigate the impact of tedious grinding for many players.
- “I'm going to be a little bit generic to avoid spoilers, but it gets really tedious when you need to actively use an ability and spend mana to control every single one of your companions (which, by the way, you'll have around 50 in the late game).”
- “In the last few chapters I went directly to story to automate the combat because in the end you will have an enormous amount of minions and it gets so tedious.”
- “But individually commanding each singular undead is tedious at best, and not worth the effort at worst.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
66%
13%
The game offers strong replayability through multiple endings, diverse character backgrounds, and meaningful choices that impact the story's progression. While some choices and combat mechanics are limited or inconsistent, the open-ended mission design and variety of quests encourage multiple playthroughs to explore different paths and achievements. Overall, it is designed with replay value in mind, appealing to players interested in experiencing varied storylines and character builds.
- “A decent amount of replayability, I assume, from the vast amount of options throughout and the clear consequences of choices.”
- “Lots of replayability for sure; your background choices seem to make a significant difference.”
- “The sheer number of ways the story can progress leaves plenty of room for replay value.”
- “There are some elements of choice and consequence, but they're quite limited in general, so it might be best to temper your expectations if you want something with a lot of replay value.”
- “Combat ranges from outright bad to mediocre and I think it's definitely the most disappointing area, especially since it undermines what would otherwise be an admirable degree of replayability.”
- “Again, this does add to replayability but it also threatens to get the player bogged down as they may not realize that they are missing something that could make their game much easier.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game’s humor shines through its clever contrast of a serious, grounded setting with chaotic and quirky character choices, like playing a necromancer in a noble society. Players enjoy humorous moments from unit pathing glitches to witty, subtle jokes embedded in writing, enhancing immersion and laughter. Overall, the humor adds depth and charm, blending dark themes with lightheartedness in a way that feels natural and emotionally engaging.
- “One of my favorite things is the contrast in tone: the setting is surprisingly grounded, with court intrigue and class conflict between nobles and workers… and then you can roleplay someone whose main goal is basically, “I just want to make zombies.” That chaotic character concept crashing into a serious world can be hilarious in the best way.”
- “It made me laugh out loud with a bunch of very subtle jokes, with the in-game author's clear prejudices coloring the description and providing a great deal of insight into the world.”
- “Living a double life as a noble by day and necromancer by night is hilarious and makes you put thought into every social interaction.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits frequent bugs and glitches, including character inconsistencies and occasional quest issues, but none appear to be gamebreaking. Despite these stability problems, many players find the overall experience solid and enjoyable. However, frustration arises when the bugs severely impact gameplay or save functionality.
- “Glitches and oddities are common, and though I didn't encounter anything game-breaking during my playthrough, there were multiple story and choice oddities—for example, characters that were killed showing up alive later.”
- “There are a few glitches; I've had several of my undead just stop following me and disappear randomly in the forest.”
- “Sorry, but if the game glitches out into a straight-up unplayable state 5 minutes into the actual gameplay and bricks the save, that's a refund.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
Character development in the game is generally praised for being immersive, detailed, and integral to the story, enhancing player investment in characters and their arcs. However, some users note the lack of traditional RPG elements like leveling or equipment progression, which may limit conventional character growth. Overall, the narrative-driven development and emotional depth are key strengths.
- “They crafted a beautiful world, full of great characters and some really nice romance and character development.”
- “The character development is satisfying, immersive and I felt very invested in Mandel and his descent into necromancy and black magic.”
- “The character development is very detailed and the story is amazing and tells a very dark mystery.”
- “Actually, even the RPG status of this game is slightly questionable, as there is no character development: you don't gain XP or levels, and you don't even find much new equipment (there are a few weapons, but no armor at all).”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a richly emotional RPG experience with heartfelt character development and a compelling, if sometimes unconvincing, narrative descent into dark necromancy. While the story is well-written and occasionally humorous, some players wished for deeper character insights, such as a journal or more believable progression of the protagonist's transformation. Overall, it succeeds in delivering meaningful emotional moments alongside its narrative twists.
- “An RPG with rich, emotionally resonant choices (finally).”
- “Well written descent into the macabre filled with twists and lots of heartfelt character.”
- “The game is funny, interesting and even properly emotional at times.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game’s optimization is a mixed experience, with initial performance issues and underwhelming graphics that may deter players early on, but it improves as players become more familiar with the mechanics. Despite some hit-or-miss voice acting, the overall narrative quality remains strong.
- “Now, truth be told, I very nearly gave up on the game upon seeing the in-game graphics and then the performance of the first combat, which happens immediately after character creation.”
- “The game does take some shortcuts to quicken the rituals as you become more accustomed to the performance, but it’s never going to be as easy as ‘wave hand; skeleton rises.’”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization is well-balanced and feels genuine, reflecting a labor of love rather than an attempt to quickly extract money from players.