Witchfire

About

Witchfire is a single player role playing game. It was developed by The Astronauts and was released on September 23, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Witchfire" is a single-player RPG shooter with delightful mechanics, amazing visuals, and ingenious music. Explore vast biomes, confront the Witch's army, and enhance your powers/arsenal. With a good plot, stunning atmosphere, and high replayability, it offers a unique experience, even though it can be very grinding. Early Access players receive the Striga weapon as a bonus.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,497 reviews

gameplay1k positive mentions

grinding303 negative mentions

Incredible gunplay and satisfying progression mechanics that keep players engaged.
Beautiful graphics and immersive atmosphere that enhance the gameplay experience.
Unique blend of FPS, roguelite, and dark fantasy elements that create a compelling and addictive game.

Difficulty spikes can feel unfair, especially with enemy placements and mechanics that punish players for mistakes.
Some mechanics and systems are not well explained, leading to confusion for new players.
Progression can feel grindy, with a slow leveling system that may frustrate players seeking immediate rewards.

gameplay
2,375 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The gameplay of "Witchfire" has been widely praised for its engaging mechanics, blending elements from various genres such as FPS, roguelike, and souls-like games. Players appreciate the smooth gunplay, unique weapon mechanics, and the addictive gameplay loop that encourages exploration and experimentation, although some mechanics, like the calamity and sanity systems, have been criticized for being poorly explained and occasionally frustrating. Overall, the game offers a challenging yet rewarding experience, with a strong emphasis on skill and strategy, making it a compelling choice for fans of dark fantasy and action shooters.
- “Witchfire is one of those rare games that perfectly captures a positively balanced mix of challenge, atmosphere, and pure gameplay satisfaction, while nailing the 'just one more run' mentality that was made famous by the Dark Souls series.”
- “The gameplay loop is quite addictive once you get used to its mechanics, and upgrading your guns and finding the ones you like the most to use for your build is definitely very rewarding.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic, with great feeling gunplay, strategy, and enemy reactions.”
- “However, I found the gameplay quite repetitive.”
- “Control's were not great for controller and the gameplay was just boring to me.”
- “The sanity and calamity mechanic are... frankly just a mess, a joke, a travesty, stupid, poorly thought out, and pathetic.”
graphics
965 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
34%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and immersive dark fantasy aesthetic, often compared to titles like Bloodborne and Destiny. Players appreciate the game's ability to run smoothly on various hardware, including lower-end systems, while maintaining high graphical fidelity. The art style, detailed environments, and atmospheric effects contribute significantly to the overall experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The graphics are stunning, the controls are tight, and the game runs smooth as butter.”
- “Witchfire delivers stunning visuals, fast-paced combat, and a phenomenal progression system.”
- “The graphics are absolutely gorgeous and very visually impressive, yet I have only had a few issues here and there with stuttering or frame rate drops, which I found impressive on my mid-range pc.”
- “I wish instead of going with realistic visuals that make it hard to understand what is a useful item and what is set dressing, they went with simpler graphics, or reduced the scope in some other way.”
- “The graphics are kinda blurry?”
- “This game seems poorly optimized; it causes my computer to send the fans into high gear during play, and even 4 enemies are enough to cause frame-rate plummets, which is odd for a game with such average graphics.”
atmosphere
534 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
33%
1%
The atmosphere in "Witchfire" is widely praised for its dark, immersive, and gothic design, reminiscent of titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne. Players highlight the stunning visuals, exceptional sound design, and a richly detailed world that enhances the overall experience, creating a sense of tension and intrigue throughout gameplay. The combination of atmospheric elements, engaging gunplay, and a compelling setting makes it a standout feature of the game, drawing players into its hauntingly beautiful environments.
- “The atmosphere is dark, beautiful, and immersive — every location feels handcrafted and full of mystery.”
- “Witchfire shares that same eerie, supernatural western/gothic vibe, as a gunslinger battling otherworldly creatures, mixing faith, magic, and bullets in a gritty, atmospheric world.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible, the sound design is awesome, and the gameplay is enjoyable.”
- “The atmosphere is dark and oppressive, but not horror — just the right amount of tension.”
- “The atmosphere is haunting and dripping with dread; it's an apocalyptic world stage and you are really alone, with the collector being your only... friend?”
- “The atmosphere, sound, and design is reminiscent of a Dark Souls title, often giving you a sense of fear and wonder the more you play.”
story
489 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
73%
7%
The story in "Witchfire" is currently minimal and primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling and item descriptions, reminiscent of the narrative style found in Dark Souls. While players appreciate the intriguing setting and potential for deeper lore, many express a desire for more substantial narrative elements and clearer objectives as the game is still in early access. Overall, the foundation for an engaging story exists, but it requires further development to fully captivate players.
- “There's a neat story brewing wrapped up in a very well-realized world that offers a lot of exploration and a steep survival challenge.”
- “The macabre, disturbing, creepy, and dark vibes are really well propagated through the brief storylines, amazing level design details, and characters.”
- “The story is very reminiscent of something like The Witcher while taking the approach of doing things in a FromSoftware fashion with item descriptions and environment to tell the player the story, which is a narrative style I do enjoy.”
- “The story is very shallow, and it's clear the developers didn't intend on implementing storyline aspects in the game.”
- “There's little story so far, but that could change in the future.”
- “The story right now is lackluster and I don't really know what's going on, but the devs wanted to concentrate on making their gameplay and feel rewarding, which is the right path in my opinion.”
optimization
382 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
39%
11%
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed feedback from players. Many users praise its impressive performance, noting smooth gameplay and high frame rates even on mid-range systems, while others report occasional stuttering and performance issues, particularly in specific maps or during intense combat scenarios. Despite these hiccups, the game's optimization is generally considered above average for an early access title, with ongoing updates expected to address remaining concerns.
- “Really well balanced, and very well optimized (hell, I'm having almost 100 fps with my GTX 1070).”
- “Kudos for the optimization though, the game runs perfectly.”
- “The optimization is excellent and the variety of weapons and gear is there making it fun to grind.”
- “Sadly can't recommend, since the game itself looks and plays awesome on the very few minutes I've played it, but the performance issues just kill the whole vibe for me.”
- “The only problem I have had with the game is a little stuttering problem and one time in 8 hours my gun disappeared (it did come back after swapping weapons).”
- “The performance is solid, my PC plays in medium settings and I got a solid 60fps.”
grinding
314 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
3%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the engaging core gameplay loop and the sense of progression that comes from grinding for upgrades and resources, others find it excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in the early stages where players are often required to farm the same areas repeatedly. Overall, the game is described as grindy, with some players enjoying the challenge it presents, while others feel it detracts from the overall experience.
- “You can farm the areas/enemies you are familiar with to your heart's content before unlocking stronger content, but personally I never felt that was really necessary, so I never felt punished for not grinding.”
- “Not too grindy, lots of cool weapons to use and upgrade, destiny-esque shooting mechanics, lots of useful spells and abilities, good enemy variety in terms of looks and mechanics, surprisingly decent boss fights that aren't too bullet spongey, and much more.”
- “My criticisms would be that the early level and early game can feel a little bare, there is a bit of repetition at times in the game but it's not grindy in the way many RPGs are, the action is too fast-paced and nuanced to really get stale.”
- “The core gameplay loop is fun, but progression is more tedious than rewarding.”
- “The gameplay loop itself is fun.. however it feels very grindy.”
- “It's really quite grindy in all the worst ways when it comes to upgrading your equipment.”
music
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
55%
5%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the gothic tone and immersive experience. However, many players feel it lacks presence during combat, with requests for more variety and memorable tracks, particularly for boss fights. Overall, while the soundtrack complements the game's aesthetic, there is a consensus that it could benefit from more dynamic and engaging musical elements.
- “The world design and soundtrack are top-notch, perfectly capturing that haunting, gothic tone.”
- “Witchfire is a visually stunning game with gorgeous artwork, atmospheric environments, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack pulses like the heartbeat of a dying god, rising in fury during boss fights and brooding quietly as you explore.”
- “I feel like the music kinda lags behind.”
- “One complaint I'll share is that the music is not exciting enough.”
- “The most severe detriment to this game is a complete lack of music.”
replayability
137 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
58%
3%
Overall, the game boasts high replayability, with many players praising its engaging gunplay, diverse build options, and dynamic gameplay mechanics that keep each run feeling fresh. While some reviewers noted limitations due to the current number of maps and content, the game's progression systems and randomized elements contribute to a compelling replay experience. Many anticipate further enhancements as the game develops, suggesting a strong foundation for long-term replay value.
- “Replayability is definitely there; as you progress, you gain knowledge, level your weapons and yourself, and can farm or just want to purge the heretic witch scum from the lands in the name of the holy pope and God Almighty.”
- “The procedurally generated levels mean no two runs are the same, providing a constantly evolving challenge and endless replay value.”
- “The gunplay feels really good, and the replayability is massive.”
- “Not optimized with frequent stutter, Dark Souls rip-off with poorly designed guns and enemies, unoriginal UE4 game, replayability is boring and you're locked in your build unless you want to farm the first level again and again to level up gear, $40 for this lmao.”
- “Replayability is limited by the low number of items and maps and uninteresting arcanas.”
- “The levels have slight replayability since you uncover more parts of the map as you unlock stuff, but once you go through everything once, there's not much reason to go back to it.”
stability
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
1%
54%
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its performance and smooth gameplay, particularly on various platforms like Linux and Steam Deck. However, numerous reports highlight significant bugs and glitches, especially in its early access state, leading to occasional freezes and crashes that can disrupt the experience. While some users experienced minimal issues, others found the game frustratingly unplayable at times, indicating that while the foundation is solid, further optimization and bug fixes are needed.
- “The gameplay is very smooth, bug-free, and FPS consistent always; this could easily be a 1.0 release as it feels complete and not at all like a playtest.”
- “The game runs great and I barely run into performance issues or bugs, even for an early access title.”
- “The game looks great, runs great, feels great, and is very fun and rewarding.”
- “But... really buggy at this point, but it is early access, so to be expected.”
- “Needs to work out its kinks, like the glitches that tend to lock up all movement and get you killed.”
- “Now the game is unplayable as it freezes at the exact same moment every time and crashes back to Windows.”
monetization
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
32%
59%
Witchfire has been praised for its lack of monetization schemes, such as microtransactions, battle passes, or in-game purchases, providing a pure first-person shooter experience. Players appreciate the focus on gameplay mechanics and skill-based progression without the distractions of typical modern monetization practices. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing alternative in a market often filled with cash grabs and exploitative designs.
- “Witchfire could have easily been filled with microtransactions, yet it has none.”
- “No battle pass, no microtransactions, just a solid shooter with great vibes, great gameplay, and great replayability.”
- “You can play it offline, and there are no microtransactions or premium currency to worry about.”
- “If you're looking for a first-person shooter without cosmetic clutter, battle passes, or other annoying monetization schemes, this game is for you.”
- “Witchfire feels like a cash grab with no love and no soul.”
- “We really need more high-quality shooters like this in a market that seems so obsessed with churning out shameless cash grabs.”
humor
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often described as quirky and situational, with players finding amusement in unexpected bugs, tutorial prompts, and the juxtaposition of modern weapons in a medieval setting. Many reviewers appreciate the lightheartedness of gameplay mechanics, such as the absurdity of AI behavior and the comedic consequences of in-game actions, which contribute to an overall enjoyable experience. While some aspects may be frustrating, the game's ability to elicit laughter amidst challenges is a recurring theme among players.
- “After falling, I died and everything I had was lost inside it. When I came back, the bridge was closed as it had to be. Now I've lost everything just for that funny bug :)”
- “The AI will unsuccessfully hide from you, which is hilarious until you realize they are waiting to attack you as a horde.”
- “Aesthetically, everything has a great dark-fantasy vibe to it, though admittedly it's funny to be using modern-feeling automatic weapons in a setting that otherwise feels like Europe in the late medieval or early renaissance period.”
character development
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
16%
Character development in the game is praised for its unique customization options and the ability to enhance builds through gameplay, allowing players to tackle challenges with improved strategies. However, some reviews note a lack of depth and variety in character designs across classes, suggesting that while the aesthetics are strong, the actual growth mechanics can feel gimmicky and reliant on RNG elements. Overall, the character design and atmosphere are highlighted as standout features, but there is a call for more meaningful development and interaction to enrich the experience.
- “It is punishingly hard in many ways but very addictive, and up to a point, you can put in the extra time and effort to overcome challenging boss-style enemies by coming back later with a better, more appropriate build or higher power, via levels or other character development.”
- “If you like fast-paced action, unique character development akin to most RPGs, tons of different weapons and spells, and an ever-increasing difficulty, this game is for you.”
- “Wonderful character design, and beautifully dark environments that you will love equal to what the developers obviously poured into while creating them for you to enjoy.”
- “By build customization, specifically I refer to more items and/or more slots/mechanics for character development.”
- “Witchfire is lacking that so far, which makes this portion of your character development a bit bland, but serviceable.”
- “Bad: character development substitutes actual development/growth with gimmicks that rely on interfacing with an RNG mechanic that is essential to clearing the late game.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional engagement with the game, feeling empowered and immersed in its atmosphere, which evokes a sense of nostalgia and intensity. However, some express disappointment with the emotional weight of boss battles and the overall completeness of the experience, highlighting a mix of exhilaration and heartbreak, particularly when facing challenges like losing progress. The game's design elements, including sound and environmental details, contribute significantly to the emotional impact, making players feel both formidable and vulnerable.
- “Ominous and makes me want to cry.”
- “Super heartbreaking when you die and lose your stuff, very challenging all in all.”
- “The ambience is amazing, it really made me feel like I am the hunter from the 1400s Vatican church.”