For several days now, you have been able to step into the shoes of a necromancer on Steam. The Necromancer’s Tale is captivating its players, although unfortunately, there are still too few of them.
In fact, July this year is not as lacking as the dreaded summer slump might imply. With actual highlights like Eriksholm, Donkey Kong Bananza, and most recently Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, there are several new games that will keep you engaged in front of your screen during the hot summer days.
However, as is frequently the case, there are numerous smaller titles that tend to be overlooked. One game that does not deserve such an outcome this July, yet is barely being played, is The Necromancer’s Tale. It only boasts 130 Steam reviews, but a remarkable 92 percent of those are positive.
The role-playing game closely resembles one of the finest games ever made in its genre, clearly taking inspiration from Disco Elysium. According to the developers, Pillars of Eternity was also a source of inspiration. The game certainly matches its forerunners in several aspects – at least, you can sense the fervor that was invested into it.
Il negromante italiano
In The Necromancer’s Tale, you assume the role of a minor time traveler launched approximately 300 years into the past and to Italy. In 1733, your character’s journey begins in a fictional kingdom near Venice, but even before that, you can delve into virtually his entire life. To achieve this, you navigate through a book, have the narrative recited to you, and make choices.
These choices will shape the type of character that will accompany you for around 30 hours. Male or female? Scholarly or military? Analytical, strong, persuasive, or intelligent? This depends on your life leading up to the start of the tale. Alternatively, you can disregard the suggestions and allocate the skill points yourself.
It is no surprise, however, that your character inevitably transforms into a top-notch necromancer throughout the deep, narratively rich, and thrilling story.
During your investigation into the mysterious death of your father, you discover a dark book. Gradually, you unearth more secrets and learn how to summon skeletons, zombies, and ghosts.
Tell me about death
The Necromancer’s Tale is primarily a compelling narrative. This means you must be ready to be entertained by the storyline. Even though there is much to do and explore in the expansive, walkable city of Marns and its surroundings – for instance, you must consistently locate certain items, combine them, and complete missions – you will find yourself spending significantly more time engaged in conversations, which are only partially voiced in English.
There are roughly 180 NPCs bustling around the city, each occupied with their daily routines, with whom you can interact. For certain tasks, it is vital to know precisely where each character is at any point in time.
Above all, you should carefully contemplate who you place your trust in and what you communicate. The inhabitants of this world are aware of the existence of necromancy and are understandably quite skeptical about it. If news spreads about your utilization of this power, the atmosphere in the city will alter, impacting where you are welcome and who is willing to converse with you.
The Necromancer’s Tale merges a genuinely intriguing premise with playful and engaging challenges. The outcome is an atmospheric experience of what it feels like to discreetly pursue your goals as a basement-dwelling necromancer, whether for good or ill.
Why do so few people play this?
The Necromancer’s Tale excels as a narrative, but a mere glance at a screenshot reveals its shortcomings.
Visually, this small project appears entirely outdated, and even the painting filter, which is enabled by default, does not change that. It resembles something from 20 years ago – particularly, the interiors often seem to lack detail.
This is something you’ll need to come to terms with. As is often the case, graphics can be easily overlooked when the gameplay is enjoyable, but you must overcome that barrier first. Another downside is the strategically shallow turn-based combat, in which you later command a small army of the undead. It aligns with the necromancer fantasy, but it becomes tedious to play. Not without reason, you can completely