Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a dark fantasy action RPG that blends Soulslike combat with Metroidvania exploration, one of my favorite genre mix-ups.
Check out the let’s play video below:
Graphics: The hand-painted, 2.5D art style gives Mandragora a great look. Each environment—from stinky sewers to ruined towns—is layered with rich detail.
Music also plays a key role in creating the game’s spooky dark fantasy atmosphere. The orchestral soundtrack, composed by Christos Antoniou and performed by the FILMharmonic Orchestra Prague is pretty awesome.
Gameplay: Mandragora offers six unique classes (out of which I tried the Flameweaver, a warrior with a fireball). There’s a strong emphasis on exploration, with traversal tools like grappling hooks unlocking new areas.
Customization is another strength. Talent tree is quite big, crafting system is there (of course it is), and adjustable difficulty settings let players tailor the experience to their preferences.
On Steam, Mandragora currently holds a “Mixed” review rating. Players praise the visuals, combat mechanics, and class variety, but some criticize the zoomed-in camera and pacing plus difficulty and grinding in the second half of the game. Still, the developers have been actively responding to feedback, promising improvements.
PROS: Beautiful Graphics and Music, Interesting Story, Lots of Customization
CONS: Frustrating Cheap Deaths, Zillion Crafting Items
My Recommendation: If you like Metroidvanias buy it but wait for a sale.
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree has Mixed Reviews and is available on Steam for $40.
