Why Witchfire Is Poised to Ignite the Next Generation of FPS Gaming

Players were left with much to anticipate after the conclusion of this year's Summer Game Fest, including the highly awaited Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, the bone-chilling survival horror Alan Wake 2, and The Astronauts' Witchfire, a Polish indie game developer. Ever since its announcement in 2017, fans have been mostly in the dark about the dark fantasy first-person roguelike, but recent glimpses of Witchfire have drawn comparisons to 2K Games' seminal sci-fi BioShock. Although there were a few updates during last year's Summer Game Fest, gamers have been eagerly awaiting more of Witchfire's fantastical world for over a year.

While players have yet to see much of Witchfire, it appears to be drawing from the BioShock series in some respects, and it isn't the first game to take inspiration from the foundational franchise. The Astronauts' upcoming title hopes to introduce players to its own unique alternative world filled with twisted magic and challenging foes. However, Witchfire's inclusion in a long list of other games that have also sought to emulate some of BioShock's successful features cannot be ignored. Witchfire may have its own spin on a few elements, but fans of the first-person retrofuturistic video game should find a lot to like.

Witchfire's Dark Fantasy World

In Witchfire, the developer behind The Vanishing of Ethan Carter takes players on a new journey filled with fantasy and witchcraft. Unlike its award-winning predecessor, this game offers players an open-world environment to explore and experiment with different paths to victory. Set in an alternate medieval history where witches terrorize the land, players take on the role of immortal witch hunters known as preyers, wielding elemental magic and FPS weapon-focused action reminiscent of BioShock's hybrid combat. The game's use of photogrammetry technology gives its setting and visuals a realistic look and feel, heightening the fear factor for players as they carry out the will of the Church and attempt to curb the rise of their magical antagonists.

BioShock's Lingering Influence

Games with a touch of darkness and power-based abilities in their combat, similar to the BioShock series, have had a significant impact on subsequent titles. BioShock's alternative take on history, combination of philosophical ideas and questioning narratives have paved the way for a whole host of similar games that have followed in its footsteps. These include the approach to combat, worldbuilding, and action set pieces, which while not invented by BioShock, were certainly perfected by the franchise.

Witchfire's similarities to BioShock could work in its favor, appealing to fans of the latter with its own premise and playstyle. Games with a hint of horror, that play with established historical settings and inject them with their own interpretations of events, tend to do well among gamers if their stories are compelling and their action is satisfyingly challenging. Witchfire appears to take after BioShock in a few different ways, and while comparisons could potentially harm its future success, it at least ensures that The Astronauts' upcoming title generates buzz within the gaming community.

Witchfire is in development for PC.