Witch Explorer

About

Witch Explorer is a single player tactical shooter game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Pico Games and was released on December 20, 2021. It received very positive reviews from players.

Witch Explorer is a game which features a mix of both shoot 'em up and tower defense gameplay. You play as the witch Tia, who is on a teasure-hunt in order to remove her debt and improve her magic shop. The goal of the game is to defeat waves of monsters by both strategically placing units on the map, and by flying around on the map while shooting and dodging projectiles and enemies yourself.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 18 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of tower defense and shoot 'em up mechanics, providing engaging and fun gameplay.
The art style and music are well done, contributing to a charming and enjoyable atmosphere.
The game features a decent challenge with strategic elements, allowing for replayability and grinding for upgrades.

Controls are clunky and lack mouse support, making tower placement and gameplay awkward, especially for PC users.
The game feels short and can be completed quickly, with upgrades becoming available before reaching the end.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as unclear hitboxes and trial-and-error elements, can lead to frustrating experiences.

story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The story in the game is generally described as short and simple, lacking complexity and depth, but it is appreciated for its cute themes of friendship and family. While some players find it enjoyable and fitting for the game's style, others feel it could have been more developed, particularly towards the ending. Overall, the narrative serves as a lighthearted backdrop to the gameplay, which is primarily focused on tower defense and bullet hell mechanics.
- “Tower defense and bullet hell game with a cute story and cute animation.”
- “If you want a unique and fun tower defense game that has bullet-hell gameplay, cute monsters, a story about friendship and family, some really lovely artwork, and a pretty good soundtrack, then Witch Explorer might be the game for you.”
- “Well, I played the prologue and was really looking forward to seeing the continuation from the last one, and so far it's really fun! I'm a big fan of the story and characters, and I hope this hidden gem of a game has installments in the future; there's a lot of stuff to build on, and I hope this game gets more traffic!”
- “The only real negatives I had for the game is that the story is so-so and you realistically will upgrade everything way before you finish the game, even if you are not replaying missions.”
- “You could have spaced out the ending a bit more story-wise; the sad moment is ripped away from too soon.”
- “The story is short and sweet, but don't expect a complex and detailed story, with big twists and turns; it's simple and that's fine for my taste.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The gameplay of "Witch Explorer" combines solid tower defense mechanics with engaging shoot 'em up elements, offering a unique experience enhanced by charming artwork and a delightful soundtrack. While the lunchbox mechanic adds a forgiving layer to the gameplay, allowing players to strategize effectively, some users find the gamepad controls clunky and the integration of bullet-hell elements may not appeal to all tower defense fans. Overall, the game is described as cute and interesting, with a fun and engaging gameplay experience.
- “If you want a unique and fun tower defense game that has bullet-hell gameplay, cute monsters, a story about friendship and family, some really lovely artwork, and a pretty good soundtrack, then Witch Explorer might be the game for you.”
- “The gameplay is a mix between tower defense and shoot 'em up.”
- “The gameplay of Witch Explorer is quite fun and engaging.”
- “The gamepad-centric controls make gameplay sometimes clunky (e.g. when placing towers, you have to cycle through different towers with the shoulder buttons).”
- “The game never goes full bullet hell, and the lunchbox strategy I mentioned previously + a fully upgraded lunchbox (which lets you cancel out enemy bullets with your own) can make the game a lot easier, but I can still see people coming for the tower defense gameplay being put off by the shmup elements.”
- “Plus the devs also changed bento/retry mechanics that were obviously flawed.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique art style and aesthetic appeal, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful visuals and charming character designs. However, some players feel that the overall gameplay experience does not match the quality of the graphics, describing the game as below average despite its stunning visuals.
- “I very much like the art style and gameplay, but there needs to be more of the game.”
- “If you want a unique and fun tower defense game that has bullet-hell gameplay, cute monsters, a story about friendship and family, some really lovely artwork, and a pretty good soundtrack, then Witch Explorer might be the game for you.”
- “Other than that, it's just a below-average tower defense with an unnecessarily long grind, but at the same time, you don't find that many indie games with graphics this gorgeous, especially the food part.”
- “The only redeeming value about this game is the graphics.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring a good selection of tracks that enhance the aesthetic and gameplay experience. However, some players note that the licensed music can lead to repetitive listening, as certain tracks are reused frequently. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's unique atmosphere and charm.
- “Great aesthetic and sound/music, but the controls cannot be remapped in-game as far as I can tell-- you'll want a gamepad unless you're highly accomplished with the WASD+ZXC-style layout.”
- “If you want a unique and fun tower defense game that has bullet-hell gameplay, cute monsters, a story about friendship and family, some really lovely artwork, and a pretty good soundtrack, then Witch Explorer might be the game for you.”
- “Though the game seems to be using licensed music, and the stage portions reuse the same tracks too often, the selection of tracks is generally quite good.”
- “The game seems to be using licensed music, but the stage portions reuse the same tracks too often.”
- “While the selection of tracks is generally quite good, the repetitive use of the same music during gameplay becomes tiresome.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have mixed feelings about grinding; while some enjoy the process of strengthening their characters and elementals, others appreciate the reduced difficulty and less grinding overall.
- “The difficulty has been toned down; there is now less grinding.”