Withering Realms Early Access Launches With 15-42 Hour

The action RPG Withering Realms has launched in early access. Developer Moonless Formless estimates the current build offers 15 to 42 hours of play from start to credits.

The standalone follow-up to Withering Rooms is set in an alternate 1920s where World War I ended prematurely due to an occult catastrophe. Players take the role of a ghost child who rides on the shoulders of a living, monstrous marionette. Rock Paper Shotgun's report describes the doll as a frightful construct of springs and hinges with a one-eyed rictus grin, comparing its appearance to imagery from Phil Tippett's Mad God.

Exploration and Combat

Moonless Formless summarizes the core gameplay as "top-down Zelda meets Bloodborne." The player's marionette, referred to as the Doll, is a capable fighter. Its right arm can be replaced with various arcane weapons, including rocks on chains and candlesticks that shoot fireballs. Spells can also be cast directly from the Doll's back.

Unlockable areas form a gothic landscape of swamps, forests, caves, estates, and graveyards. These zones are densely populated with over 110 monster types. The bestiary ranges from mad chambermaids to bizarre creations like a flatscreen television made of eyeballs.

An Alternative Character

Players are not permanently tethered to the horrifying doll. They can also explore on the shoulders of "daring freelance investigator Althea Crossley." According to the source, Althea is less proficient in combat but excels at stealth, lockpicking, and interrogation.

Her presence is the key to accessing the central town of Penwyll, which houses shops for purchasing new parts for the Doll. The developers describe Althea's sections as "a mixture of 3/4 top-down and classic survival horror 'fixed camera' vantage points."

Game Structure and Early Access Content

Every unlocked location can be visited during the day or night. The night cycle increases danger but may also hide plot secrets to discover.

The early access version is feature-complete for a full playthrough. The development team plans to use the early access period to add support for more languages, additional endgame content, new game modes, and the standard round of fixes and tweaks.

The current build contains a substantial amount of gear and enemies, as detailed in the table below.

Rock Paper Shotgun notes that the game's predecessor, Withering Rooms, was an unexpectedly devious and absorbing experience, which fueled anticipation for this new title. Withering Realms is available now on Steam.