DaRmaZat Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is an upcoming, ambitious 2.5D action RPG with deep Metroidvania and Soulslike influences, developed by Primal Game Studio and published by Knights Peak. The game has been in development for nearly seven years, recently received the suffix in its title to reflect its broader scope beyond just an action RPG, and is set for release on April 17, 2025, across multiple platforms, including official support for Steam Deck!
The information in this preview is based on both a press event and my personal experience with the game’s demo. Since the game is still in development, elements of the final release may change. However, I want to provide an early impression of what we can expect from this release.
On Witch Hunts, Entropy, and a Well-Designed UI
In Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree, you play as a customizable protagonist in the dark universe of Faelduum, a realm plagued by Entropy, a force that corrupts humans, animals, and plants alike, turning them into malevolent beings. You take on the role of an Inquisitor, sent by the King Priest to track down a powerful witch—presumably the source of all this chaos—and capture her alive. Your journey begins in Crimson City and leads you through various locations, including Old Wickham, sewers, dungeons, castles, a monastery, and the deep swamps of Gravseep.
One immediate highlight is the user interface, which is simple yet effective, making navigation feel very intuitive. The Talent Tree is another strong point, offering a wealth of upgrades, including unique abilities for each of the six available classes, alongside numerous perks to unlock.
That said, not every design choice works well. For example, binding the sprint and interact functions to the same controller button can be frustrating—often, when you want to sprint, your character accidentally interacts with a door or restarts a dialogue with an NPC in the background. The lack of auto-saves is another issue, as dying frequently forces you to replay long sections. Fortunately, you can retrieve lost Essence from where you died—unless you fell into a pit, in which case it awkwardly respawns at the point where you started your jump.
Classic Action RPG Meets Metroidvania—With Some Repetition
Combat in Mandragora combines classic action RPG mechanics with Metroidvania elements. Some areas are only accessible later, often requiring specific tools—such as, predictably, a grappling hook. Expect plenty of rolls and dodges as you battle wolves, ghouls, giant mutants, sorceresses, and bandits, all corrupted by Entropy. You’ll need to manage stamina, weapon durability, and potion reserves, as well as frequently optimize your gear for different encounters. You can quickly switch between items and weapon loadouts using the D-pad and rest at magical shrines to level up using collected Essence—though doing so also revives defeated enemies.
Unfortunately, repetition sets in rather quickly. The enemy groups become predictable, with identical attack patterns that make combat feel less engaging, even like a chore. In some cases, enemies even overlap visually, looking clumsy when they execute the exact same movement in sync. While mini-bosses and main bosses offer a decent challenge, their encounters sometimes feel a bit chaotic. The telegraphing of enemy attacks is solid, but overall, combat could use more variety.
A Unique Visual Style and Some Mixed Voice Acting
The graphical style of Mandragora reminded me of Trine, thanks to its vibrant world, detailed backgrounds, and bright colors—all contrasted by dark, gothic elements that reinforce the game’s grim atmosphere. Even cutscenes and dialogues stand out, featuring animated 3D character portraits in a visual novel style, which is relatively unique in games of this type. As expected from Unreal Engine 4, technical hiccups do occur, such as objects getting stuck in the environment.
The soundtrack, featuring composers such as the black/death metal band Septicflesh, effectively enhances the dark tone of the world. The game also boasts a solid voice cast, including Tracy Wiles (Baldur’s Gate 3), Anthony Howell (Elden Ring), Laila Berzins (Hades), and Stewart Scudamore (Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown). However, not all voice acting is consistent—some characters sound convincing, while others feel less memorable. Unfortunately, this also applied to my protagonist.
Preliminary Thoughts
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree shows some potential, particularly with its world-building, extensive Talent Tree, and atmosphere. The AI and controls are OK-ish, but combat currently lacks variety, and that’s a big problem. The game does offer meaningful story choices though, which means your decisions affect the lackluster narrative. However, serious doubts remain about whether the final release in April will enhance combat variety and polish the many rough edges.
Additional Information
Release Date: April 17, 2025
Played on: PC. Download code of this demo was provided by developer and publisher via BeyondGaming.
Developer: Primal Game Studio
Publisher: Knights Peak
Website: https://www.mandragoragame.com
Relevant Links: Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree on STEAM
