The Thaumaturge Reviews

The Thaumaturge is an interesting and dark game in a relatively unique setting, 1906 Warsaw during a revolution combined with monsters is a fascinating setting. Whilst it occasionally fumbles how it delivers some details and you spend a lot of time running around, the strength of the setting and the writing makes these easy to forgive, not to mention the presence of the man who I have heard on good authority was Russia's greatest love machine.

In 2022, CD Projekt Red announced a remake of the first entry in The Witcher franchise was in the works at developer Fool’s Theory, to which many fans replied, “Who the heck are Fool’s Theory?” The Polish developer has actually been around for a while. They made the interesting sandbox cRPG Seven: The Days Long Gone, although that happened seven years ago. Since then, they have mostly supported other big projects like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Silent Hill 2.

The Thaumaturge does so much right. From the voice work to the narrative to the customizability of combat, your time with Wiktor will be time well spent. Still, combat can feel like more work than it should in the first couple hours, and short-lived performance glitches tend to appear after most cutscenes. Finally, in some areas, the isometric angle of the game does not compensate for tall buildings in certain areas, making it hard to navigate in those places. Regardless, none of these things bring down the experience. Wiktor makes for a fantastic lead character in a strong combination of narrative and concepts. The Thaumaturge is a more-than-worthy purchase, even for non-fans of isometric RPGs.

Lurking behind a dated exterior is a limited but sophisticated RPG with a unique setting and some memorable new ideas.

The Thaumaturge is the perfect example of a game full of creative ideas, built on an interesting foundation, which is ultimately ruined by very poor execution.

While the investigation aspect may fall a little short, The Thaumaturge is saved by excellent writing and characters. Not to mention a deeply involved combat and upgrade system.

Wiktor Szulski battles with Geralt as my favourite Polish RPG protagonist in this impressive dialogue-driven mystery that deserves a franchise.

Join Wiktor Szulski on a weird demon hunting adventure.

The Thaumaturge has a not particularly interesting gameplay, and its appearance sometimes resembles the first Witcher, but underneath this layer there is a really nice game, offering many flavors and an interesting plot.

All in all, The Thaumaturge is a game I won’t forget anytime soon. I even intend to play it again from the beginning as soon as Polish VO is added – and that’s something I didn’t declare for any title in a very, very long time.

Set in early 20th-century Warsaw, Poland, in a world where esoteric demons and troubled humans unknowingly co-exist, The Thaumaturge is thematically distinct and undeniably intriguing. It’s here, in these delightfully dark surroundings, that a story-driven RPG with stylish turn-based combat exists, with morally ambiguous decisions around every corner. Delivering some sharp writing and compelling supernatural narrative possibilities, The Thaumaturge is well-crafted and impossible to ignore, ...

Fool's Theory is taking players back to Poland in the early 1900s to tackle a family mystery during Russian occupation. Fortunately for them, there's a stable of spirits at their beck and call to lend a hand.

The first quarter of 2024 has been an absolutely stacked time for gaming. Within the first two months we’ve had Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth, Persona 3,  and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth as three absolutely massive JRPGs, alongside gems like Helldivers 2, Last Epoch, and Palworld that have also been dominating the charts. It can be easy for games to slip through the cracks, especially with so many good releases all coming out at once. The Thaumaturge, developed by Polish studio Fool’s Theo...

Despite an unsteady script and some questionable performances, it’s to the game’s ultimate credit that the plot is compelling enough that the push to see it through overcomes these faults in the end. Even though a few plot arcs are discarded in such a way as to imply cut content, The Thaumaturge’s narrative has some genuinely enjoyable events and unexpected scenarios. In one memorable example, Wiktor finagles his way into a séance to secretly match wits against an enemy thaumaturge, all while the stressful backdrop of a formal dinner party of elites surrounds them. Cunning Kabbalists, cruel Cossack soldiers, and a notable Russian mystic infuse the story with weight and dynamic color, emphasizing The Thaumaturge’s greatest asset: its darkly beautiful and culturally-rich historical setting.

The Thaumaturge has a great story and some interesting gameplay choices, but can feel like a slog every now and then. But, it can run on the Steam Deck with tweaks!

No summary available

A gripping version of early 1900s Poland forms the heart of this alt-history RPG.

The Thaumaturge presents a fantastical look into history and allows players to take the wheel. With supernatural creatures, investigations spanning whole neighborhoods, and solid voice acting, there’s a lot to enjoy. It doesn’t get everything right, but it does provide enough depth and creativity to take the journey once or twice.

The Thaumaturge shows plenty of promise, but lets itself down somewhat by failing to play to its strengths. Warsaw and its history and culture is a joy to experience when the game properly engages with it, but an insistent focus on a comparatively dull main story ultimately detracts from this for a fun yet frustrating experience.

The Thaumaturge is a story-driven RPG with morally ambiguous choices, taking place in the culturally diverse world of early 20th century Warsaw. In this world, salutors exist: esoteric beings that only thaumaturges can truly perceive and use for their needs. PC version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.

The Thaumaturge shows quite a bit of potential, but lacks in some of the most important areas.

Developer Fool's Theory has crafted a solid RPG set in 1905 Warsaw that, at times, can feel like as much of an awesome documentary as it is a video game.

The Thaumaturge is a new story driven role-playing game by Fool's Theory and 11 Bit Studios where you embody the role of a Thaumaturge, someone with the ability to coax out secrets untold and control ethereal beasts called salutors. Despite an excellent premise and an intriguing narrative, several issues with gameplay may leave people divided on The Thaumaturge.

With a wonderful setting in 20th century Warsaw, The Thaumaturge combines perfectly the fantasy of magic and the rawness of human nature.

The Thaumaturge is one of those incredibly rare gems. Between the already captivating story, breathtaking visuals, and drool-worthy soundtrack, we seem to have one of those rare masterpieces that need to be experienced.