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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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 432 reviews

story122 positive mentions

grinding26 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging narrative that explores the descent into necromancy, with well-developed characters and meaningful choices.
The atmosphere is immersive, with a gothic aesthetic and a strong sense of place that enhances the storytelling experience.
The mechanics of gathering materials for rituals and the gradual unlocking of spells create a satisfying sense of progression and power.

Combat is simplistic and can feel tedious, especially when managing a large number of undead minions, which detracts from the overall experience.
The pacing can be slow, particularly in the early game, leading to moments of frustration as players navigate quests without clear direction.
There are some technical issues, including a clunky UI and occasional bugs, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.

story
377 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
66%
2%
The game's story is a central highlight, featuring a rich narrative that explores themes of necromancy, moral ambiguity, and character development, often drawing players into a dark and immersive world. While many reviews praise the writing and the depth of choices available, some players express frustration with the linear progression and occasional lack of clarity in quest objectives. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate story-driven experiences, despite its combat mechanics being secondary to the narrative.
- “The story is fantastic, the way there are multiple solutions to every quest, and even different quests depending on your stats is amazing.”
- “The story is rich, the decisions matter, and the ambiance is great for Halloween.”
- “The writing and the narrative storytelling is on another level from what I'm used to in video games.”
- “The developers seem to have misunderstood what 'roleplaying game' means, because you have shockingly little control over anything that happens in the story.”
- “You don't have any choice or influence on the story whatsoever.”
- “The game consists mostly of fast traveling to the same locations within one city over and over again to talk to people to get the next plot coupon.”
gameplay
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
74%
5%
The gameplay of this title is primarily narrative-driven, featuring simple mechanics that often feel rudimentary and repetitive, particularly in combat and questing. While the game excels in storytelling and character interactions, many players find the gameplay loop—centered around crafting and ritual performance—lacks depth and can become tedious. Despite its shortcomings, the unique themes and engaging narrative elements may appeal to fans of dialogue-heavy RPGs, though those seeking complex mechanics may be disappointed.
- “The story is fantastic and the simple-yet-deep mechanics really give you the feeling of mucking your way through as a self-taught novice necromancer.”
- “The gameplay loop frequently allows you to complete that objective in several different ways.”
- “The necromancy mechanics are engaging, and the dialogue is well-written with solid voice acting that pulls you into its grim and magical world.”
- “The gameplay can be fairly boring and vague.”
- “The real problem is that a lot of the actual gameplay can be busywork or fetch quests that you endure in order to get to the good parts, which are common enough that I never lost interest, but good lord some of it can be mind-numbing.”
- “The combat is uninspired - relying on carrying as many guns as you can afford, avoiding having to reload before all enemies are dead - and the core gameplay is mostly fetch quests.”
atmosphere
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
25%
7%
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its immersive and ominous qualities, effectively enhancing the storytelling and player experience. Reviewers highlight the strong writing, attention to detail, and the ability to evoke a sense of tension and intrigue, particularly in its exploration of dark themes like necromancy. While some mention rough edges in gameplay and combat, the overall atmospheric design and narrative depth are seen as standout features that make the game worth playing.
- “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.”
- “A very immersive and atmospheric experience with a lot of attention to detail.”
- “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.”
- “However, through the narrative, writing, and atmosphere, this game absolutely nails the fantasy of slowly losing yourself to forbidden knowledge and ambition.”
- “There are a few times, however, where it feels disconnected from the world and atmosphere; exploring the farmland feels unnaturally dreary 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.”
graphics
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
64%
12%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are simplistic and reminiscent of low-budget indie titles, often likening them to "HD RuneScape." While some appreciate the unique painterly effect and find the visuals grow on them over time, others criticize the aesthetic as janky and unpolished, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these graphical shortcomings, many players feel that the engaging narrative and gameplay compensate for the visual limitations.
- “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 devs use a painterly effect that makes the indie graphics look quite nice actually.”
- “The game is very indie, full of all sorts of jank and it always feels like it should have a larger scope, more outcomes and follow-ups, more features but it does ultimately provide a good narrative experience and a satisfactory necromancer fantasy thanks to competent writing and its modest but effective art style.”
- “But even with the painting filter, the graphics feel far too much like Unity stock assets and continuously pulled me out of the experience.”
- “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.”
- “Honestly, if it just had the budget for better graphics, controls, and overall polish, I think it would be one of the best games I've ever played.”
grinding
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly in combat and managing large numbers of minions. While the gradual unlocking of abilities adds meaningful progression, the battle system and inventory management can feel clunky and slow, especially in late-game scenarios. Despite these drawbacks, many appreciate the narrative focus, which helps mitigate the tedium associated with grinding.
- “The only significant drawback is the combat, which felt tedious and repetitive after a while.”
- “This really kills the pacing and makes much of the early game more tedious than it should be.”
- “But individually commanding each singular undead is tedious at best, and not worth the effort at worst.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
38%
12%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the narrative and emotional tone, effectively capturing the game's atmosphere and character development. While the soundtrack is generally well-crafted and memorable, some players noted that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music complements the storytelling and character experiences, contributing significantly to the game's immersive qualities.
- “The music elegantly captures the insecurity, distance, anxiety, and dread of the situation you're in.”
- “The music is also really well made and really captures the areas and moments in the story well.”
- “Visually it’s stylish in a low-key way, and the music fits the vibe perfectly.”
- “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).”
- “My only real criticism thus far, I mean, the graphics, music, audio, and voice acting are all... very amateur, which is totally fine, but often serves to take me out of what could be, writing wise, a very in-depth character exploration and horrifying experience all around.”
- “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.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The game offers significant replayability, with players noting that different background choices and character builds can lead to varied story outcomes and questlines. Many reviewers plan multiple playthroughs to explore the various paths and endings, although some express concerns about the combat mechanics potentially detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game is designed with replayability in mind, encouraging players to revisit it to uncover missed content and achievements.
- “The sheer number of ways the story can progress leaves plenty of room for replay value.”
- “Replayability-wise, I plan to do at least 3 runs, as that is obviously the intent of the designer to see the various quest-lines and general character builds.”
- “It's also definitely a game that's designed for replayability so you can see how different backgrounds and choices affect the plot.”
- “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.”
- “The story feels expansive, and there seems to be significant replay value in approach, although having not finished the game yet, I can't swear to the endings.”
- “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
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its clever writing and unique scenarios, often leading to hilarious outcomes as players navigate social interactions and unexpected character dynamics. Players appreciate the blend of dark themes with comedic elements, highlighting moments of absurdity and wit that evoke genuine laughter. The game's ability to balance humor with emotional depth and intricate world-building enhances the overall experience, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
- “I had some hilarious moments of getting played by almost everyone around me as I largely failed to play the detective; basically, everyone thought I was a rude weirdo obsessed with the occult, and my descent into the dark arts of necromancy happened mostly due to it being my only real advantage.”
- “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
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marked by frequent glitches and oddities, such as characters reappearing after being killed and companions disappearing unexpectedly. While most players report that these issues are not game-breaking, some have experienced significant bugs that can disrupt gameplay, leading to frustration and, in some cases, the need for refunds. Overall, the game is described as somewhat buggy but still enjoyable.
- “Glitches and oddities are common, and though I didn't encounter anything game-breaking during my playthrough, there were multiple story and choice oddities -- characters that were killed showing up alive later, for example.”
- “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
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and immersion, effectively blending the charm of a point-and-click adventure with RPG storytelling. Players feel a strong investment in the protagonist, Mandel, as they navigate his compelling descent into necromancy and black magic, all set against a backdrop of a captivating and dark mystery.
- “The clever charm of a point-and-click adventure with the character development and storytelling of an RPG.”
- “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, telling a very dark mystery.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a narrative-driven experience centered on an emotionally scarred noble's journey into necromancy, which some players feel lacks depth in character development and emotional engagement. While it includes moments of humor and genuine emotion, there are calls for a more convincing portrayal of the protagonist's internal struggles and relationships. Overall, the emotional impact is present but could be enhanced through better storytelling elements.
- “The game is funny, interesting, and even properly emotional at times.”
- “This narrative-driven CRPG follows an emotionally wounded noble's descent and embrace into the dark arts of necromancy. I wish they had given the main character a journal or diary we could read, or fleshed out his flirtation, temptation, and eventual embrace of the dark arts in a more believable and convincing manner – yes, the framework is there; but I don't find it convincing enough.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players expressing frustration over the initial graphics and performance during early combat sequences. Despite these issues, the narrative elements have been praised, suggesting that while the technical aspects may falter, the storytelling 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.”
- “Though the performances of the partial voice acting were hit-or-miss, overall the narrative elements of the game are phenomenal.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization approach of the game is praised as a genuine effort rather than a quick cash grab, highlighting a commitment to quality and player experience that is increasingly uncommon in the industry.