4 core elements, 8 total planned
Fire, air, water and earth define the public prototype, with electricity, ice, flora and lava presented as derivative elements planned for progression.
Dark Fantasy Metroidvania RPG
Master elemental magic in a war-torn empire.
Witchcrafter: Empire Legends is a systemic dark fantasy metroidvania RPG where you play Estel, a young witchcrafter searching for the mythical fifth element and his kidnapped father.
Control 4 core elements, unlock 4 derivatives as the journey expands, and push through a branching story shaped by politics, monsters, myth and consequence.
About The Game
A systemic adventure built around magic, movement and consequence.
Public Steam and itch materials position Witchcrafter: Empire Legends as a story-rich metroidvania RPG where elemental interaction, exploration and player choice are tightly connected.
The Premise
Estel leaves isolation and walks into a wider war.
Raised by Trismegistos in the western reaches of Emporia, Estel enters the world when Mordon, emperor of the southern empire Navia, kidnaps his father in pursuit of Xerion, the mythical fifth element.
That search pushes the game from quiet training and discovery into a journey through monsters, ancient beliefs, political tension and morally unclear alliances.
Current Public Status
Steam page live. Prototype playable.
- The Steam page currently lists the release date as to be announced.
- A public prototype is available on itch.io for people who want to sample the world and its direction.
- The itch page describes the overall project as being in a closed alpha stage while still offering public materials and a prototype.
- Current public materials show 4 available elements now, with 4 derivative elements planned as progression deepens.
Mechanics
Elemental systems are the core fantasy.
Witchcrafter is framed not just as a combat game, but as a systemic playground where spells, enemies, movement and the environment are meant to react to each other.
Systemic environment interactions
Official descriptions call out fire propagation, water simulation, air flow and terraforming, with flora, enemies and decorative elements reacting to player actions.
Platforming tied to combat
Smooth traversal is part of the pitch: reach ledges, explore secret caves and sanctuaries, then combine movement, sword timing and spell choice in fights.
Choices reshape the story
The story is described as branching, with decisions influencing the plot, political situation and Estel’s relationships with a cast of distinct characters.
Prototype Spell Examples
The public prototype already shows clear spell identity.
- Force push. Push enemies away and create breathing room.
- Boulder dash. Launch a muddy projectile for heavier impact.
- Fireball. A classic offensive spell with immediate pressure.
- Dragon’s breath. A sustained stream of fire when held.
- Bubble. A water-based projectile that shifts encounter rhythm.
Prototype Controls
Built around simple inputs and readable switching.
- A / D or arrows: Move through platforming spaces and combat arenas.
- Space: Jump and keep traversal fluid.
- LMB: Attack and draw the sword when it is hidden.
- RMB: Cast a magic projectile or hold for sustained effects.
- R: Cycle the currently available element set.
World And Story
Emporia is haunted by war, myth and distrust.
The game contrasts a peaceful upbringing in the west with a monster-infested empire full of old rituals, ruined beliefs and a conflict that keeps pulling Estel toward Xerion.
The Wider Conflict
Emporia, Navia and the hunt for Xerion.
Mordon, emperor of Navia, invades Emporia because he believes Xerion can help him revive the loved ones he lost. To reach it, he kidnaps Trismegistos, the one witchcrafter who may know more than anyone else.
That setup gives the journey both an intimate goal, save your father, and a broader one, stop a desperate ruler from turning myth into absolute power.
World Mood
Dark fantasy with layered mythic roots.
- Public descriptions cite influences from Slavic, Ugarit and Nordic mythology.
- Emporia mixes villages, wilderness, secret sanctuaries and remnants of forgotten civilizations.
- Witchcrafters are distrusted in many places because people associate them with past catastrophe and imperial collapse.
- The story leans into legends, folk tales, political pressure and relationships that are not clearly black and white.
Estel
A young witchcrafter with a vague past, raised by Trismegistos and still learning to control a dangerous power that keeps growing faster than his certainty.
Trismegistos
An experienced, withdrawn witchcrafter and former leader within the League of Witchcrafters, whose abduction turns the story from training into pursuit.
Mordon
The necromancer emperor of Navia, driven by grief, power and the promise that Xerion might let him rewrite irreversible loss.
Gallery
Current public visuals from the project.
A few public images that show the tone, environment and pressure the game is aiming for in its current public-facing material.
Public Visual
Elemental threat
The public gallery frames Witchcrafter around danger, magic pressure and a dark fantasy tone rather than a flat combat loop.
Public Visual
Traversal and atmosphere
Exploration is presented as an important pillar: movement, secret spaces, visual mystery and constant environmental storytelling.
Public Visual
Conflict under pressure
The visual identity leans into threat, isolation and a feeling that Estel is stepping into something larger than he understands at first.
Public Visual
Dark fantasy identity
Across its public materials, the game consistently presents a mix of grim stakes, mythic imagery and readable adventure hooks.
Recognition
Public selections already visible on the Steam page.
The project already has a few notable public selections called out on the official store page.
GameDev World Championship
Listed on Steam as one of the 30 official selections of GameDev World Championship 2020.
HTML5 Game Developer Day
Listed on Steam as one of the 5 best native HTML5 games of HTML5 Game Developer Day 2020.
IWOCon Official Selection
Also presented on Steam as an official selection of IWOCon 2021.
FAQ
Quick answers before you wishlist or try the prototype.
What kind of game is Witchcrafter: Empire Legends?
A systemic dark fantasy metroidvania RPG built around elemental magic, exploration, story and consequence.
How does the magic system work?
Public materials describe 4 core elements now, 4 derivative elements planned later, and interactions such as fire propagation, water simulation, airflow and terraforming.
Can I play it today?
Yes. There is a public prototype on itch.io, while the Steam page is live for wishlisting and currently lists the release date as to be announced.
What shapes the story?
Estel’s search for Trismegistos and Xerion drives a branching story where choices are presented as affecting politics, character relationships and the wider direction of the journey.
Next Step
Wishlist the Steam page or jump into the prototype.
If the mix of systemic magic, dark fantasy and branching adventure feels like your kind of game, follow Witchcrafter where you prefer.