The Witch's Cauldron
- January 24, 2024
- Harvey games
Get on Steam"The Witch's Cauldron" is a narrative roguelike game where you play as a witch balancing terror and fame. Brew potions, meet peculiar petitioners, and unlock new recipes, all while maintaining a balance between benevolent and malevolent intentions. Your choices will impact the story and determine your survival on the outskirts of a medieval town.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a charming art style and well-animated effects, making it visually appealing.
- It offers a unique blend of puzzle-solving and character interaction, with multiple endings and humorous outcomes.
- The developers are responsive to feedback and show promise for future updates and content.
- Gameplay can become repetitive after a few hours, leading to a sense of boredom.
- Some mechanics, like potion choices and character requests, can be unclear and may require external guides.
- Certain achievements are difficult to unlock due to RNG elements or potential bugs, causing frustration.
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is characterized by a puzzle-driven narrative where players experiment with ingredients and quests, leading to a mix of successes and failures. While the full cookbook allows for more focused quest-solving and humor, the overall experience can feel repetitive and frustrating, as players navigate random events and balance gauges that may hinder progress. Ultimately, the narrative is seen as secondary to the gameplay mechanics, leaving some players yearning for a more cohesive storytelling experience.
“Once you have the full cookbook, you focus much more on the quests and how to solve them normally, maybe even with some nice jokes.”
“This is not actually a potion/alchemy game, nor is it particularly a witch simulator; it's a puzzle game. The puzzle itself is figuring out what the ideal course of action is per random story event so that a run can go smoothly as you fight against two gauges that must be balanced.”
“As a result, it's very repetitious as you find yourself failing to progress a story on one run, or accidentally progressing when you didn't mean to on another, while you aim for certain endings.”
“If you want to tell me a story, tell me a story.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is straightforward and remains consistent throughout, making it accessible and low-stress, even for those who may struggle with traditional controls. Players can choose between a simple click-and-drag mechanic or a single click, catering to various needs and preferences.
“The gameplay is engaging and allows for a smooth progression without overwhelming the player.”
“The mechanics are intuitive and accessible, making it easy for players of all skill levels to enjoy.”
“I assume if you're on the fence, you can just play that, since the gameplay doesn't really change as you progress.”
“It's also, despite being a roguelike in the loosest sense, not stressful to play, doesn't require keeping spreadsheets, and mechanically, you're given the option to click and drag ingredients into the cauldron or simply click them (it's a double click normally but if you have a controller plugged in, a relaxing single click will do) which is welcomed if you have hand problems.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music and sound design in the game are highly praised for being immersive and enjoyable, with players noting that it remains engaging without becoming repetitive or annoying. Additionally, the pleasant visual style complements the overall auditory experience, enhancing the game's charm.
“There are memorable characters and cool little references in some of their designs, and the music and sound design are easy to get lost in; I felt none of them became annoying over time, which is a positive.”
“Very pleasant visual style and music.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a variety of humorous elements, including amusing storylines and clever combinations of help that enhance the comedic experience. Players particularly enjoy the whimsical effects and the playful characterization of a deceitful cat, contributing to the overall lighthearted tone.
“Lots of good humor, with different funny combinations of help provided!”
“Funny stories, beautiful effects, the cat is a liar.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is largely criticized, with users finding it boring and repetitive, leading to a consensus that it lacks the appeal for multiple playthroughs. Many feel that the gameplay does not offer enough variety or logical progression to warrant revisiting.
“Boring, repetitive, and unreplayable; the gameplay lacks logic and variety.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
