The Thaumaturge Review: A Grim, Engrossing Tale of Power and Consequences

The Thaumaturge is an ambitious RPG that blends supernatural intrigue with personal drama, all set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Warsaw. Developed by Fool’s Theory, the game introduces players to a richly imagined world, nuanced characters, and a unique blend of gameplay mechanics. At its core, The Thaumaturge is a story-driven experience that pulls no punches in exploring themes of power, trauma, and choice.

Story and Setting

The game’s narrative is centered around Wiktor, a thaumaturge returning to his roots in Warsaw, a multicultural metropolis under Tsarist occupation. Warsaw is brought to life as more than just a backdrop; it’s a city teeming with tension, diversity, and hardship. Unlike the romanticized settings of Paris or London, Warsaw’s gritty realism perfectly complements the game’s darker tone.

Wiktor’s thaumaturgic abilities allow him to see beyond the ordinary, manipulate wills, and form bonds with mystical entities called Salutors. These beings provide significant advantages in combat and investigation but come with a cost—each carries a flaw, such as Pride or Recklessness, which Wiktor must absorb. This duality reinforces the burdens of wielding such power and mirrors the game’s overarching themes of consequence and responsibility.

The story masterfully weaves personal and historical elements, introducing real-life figures like Rasputin and Tsar Nicholas II alongside fictional characters tied to Wiktor’s troubled past. Supporting characters such as Ligia, Wiktor’s sister, and Abaurcy, a childhood friend turned criminal, add depth to the narrative. Beneath the supernatural mystery lies a subtle layer of sociopolitical commentary on gender roles, sex work, patriarchy, and the challenges of occupied Poland in 1905.

However, the game stops short of fully exploring these themes. While the subtlety adds nuance, it also feels like a missed opportunity to take a bolder stance. The neutrality in its sociopolitical perspective left me wanting more, especially since the groundwork for deeper commentary is clearly present.

Wiktor himself is a standout as a deeply flawed anti-hero. His journey of self-discovery, shaped by your choices, allows him to confront—or succumb to—his trauma. This makes him one of the more compelling protagonists in recent RPG history, as his character arc reflects the weight of the game’s central theme: the consequences of power.

Gameplay and Combat

The gameplay in The Thaumaturge is a refreshing mix of turn-based combat, exploration, and narrative-driven decision-making. Combat revolves around a grid-based system where actions have varying casting times, adding a layer of strategy to each encounter. Faster abilities execute sooner, while more powerful attacks require careful planning.

Focus, the game’s stamina system, plays a key role in battles. Losing Focus puts you in a vulnerable Fear state but also unlocks certain powerful abilities. This mechanic forces you to balance risk and reward during encounters, keeping battles engaging.

Salutors, mystical beings bonded to Wiktor, are central to combat and strategy. They can negate enemy traits, provide buffs, and even influence social interactions. Each Salutor has its own skill tree, allowing you to customize their abilities to fit your playstyle. Outside of combat, enhancing your Salutors improves your social skills, unlocking dialogue options that can shape your relationships and decisions.

Unlike traditional RPGs, there’s no leveling system. Instead, you gain Thaumaturge points through exploration, investigations, and story progression. These points can be spent on upgrading skills and combat enhancements, which you can adjust before battles to suit the situation. The absence of random encounters keeps the focus on meaningful, story-driven battles, further emphasizing the narrative over grindy mechanics.

Combat makes up only about 30–40% of the gameplay. The rest of your time is spent exploring, engaging in conversations, and piecing together the story. This unique blend of detective work, visual novel elements, and RPG mechanics sets The Thaumaturge apart from the typical genre formula, creating an experience that feels fresh and innovative.

Audio and Visuals

The game’s audio design is stellar. The eerie, folk-inspired soundtrack perfectly captures the mood and tone of the game, offering a distinct and memorable listening experience. It avoids the generic orchestral soundtracks common in many Western games, instead opting for something that feels specific to The Thaumaturge.

The voice acting is solid, with authentic-sounding accents and Polish phrases adding to the immersion. While I can’t speak to the accuracy of the accents, the dialogue writing is sharp and engaging, though some modern slang feels slightly out of place for the early 1900s setting.

Visually, The Thaumaturge is stunning. The environments are richly detailed, with natural elements like dirt, mud, and vegetation standing out as particularly well-crafted. The character models are impressive but occasionally dip into uncanny valley territory, with lifeless expressions that detract from otherwise well-executed animations. There’s a slight roughness to some visual elements, but overall, the game’s aesthetic is striking and memorable.

Conclusion

The Thaumaturge is a standout RPG that defies traditional expectations. Its gripping narrative, unique setting, and innovative mechanics combine to create an experience that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. While the game’s subtle sociopolitical commentary and underexplored themes leave room for improvement, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses.

With a campaign lasting 15–20 hours and a completionist run stretching to 30–40 hours, the game offers excellent value at a price point of around $30 on console and slightly less on PC. If you’re a fan of turn-based combat, narrative-driven experiences, or stories that delve into mature, complex themes, The Thaumaturge is a must-play. It’s not just a game—it’s a haunting, unforgettable journey.

---

About Author