Wildermyth

Last updated
Wildermyth
Wildermyth cover art.jpg
Developer(s) Worldwalker Games
Publisher(s) Worldwalker Games (PC)
Auroch Digital (consoles)
Designer(s) Nate Austin
Composer(s) Candy Emberley
Platform(s)
Release
  • Linux, macOS, Windows
  • June 15, 2021
  • Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X/S
  • October 22, 2024
Genre(s) Tactical role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player

Wildermyth is a tactical role-playing video game developed and published by Worldwalker Games. First released in 2019, the game was released in full in June 2021 for Linux, macOS, and Windows, and was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in October 2024. The game received generally positive reviews upon release, with praise mostly directed at the game's use of procedural generation for storytelling.

Contents

Gameplay

Wildermyth is a tactical role-playing game. At the beginning of the game, the player will choose from several randomized characters. Gradually, these character will grow into battle-hardened heroes and acquire new traits, which will lead to both additional narrative and gameplay opportunities. [1] These characters will also form both friendship or rival relationship with each other, and will age as time progresses. While the main campaign still follows the major story beats, character development is based on a procedural generation system, meaning that each playthrough will be different from one another. [2] [3] Turn-based combat is similar to the XCOM series of games which utilizes a grid-based system. Outside of combat, the player also needs to make choices in the campaign map. For instance, players can choose to rebuild a village, but this decision may mean that the player has less time to prepare for another invasion event. [4]

Development

The game was developed by Worldwalker Games, an independent video game development studio based in Austin, Texas. The studio only had six full-time employees. [5] According to Nate Austin, the designer of the game, Wildermyth "[alternates] layers of handcrafted and procedural content". The game features a central narrative that has a defined beginning, middle and end, but it also incorporates procedural events arisen through combat and the personality of each player character. The story is mainly told through comic strips known as "Library of Plays". [6]

Wildermyth was released via Steam's early access program on November 14, 2019. While Worldwalker was expected to release the 1.0 version of the game within six months after its initial launch, [7] the game was released in full on June 15, 2021. [8] [9]

On May 24, 2024, Austin announced that active development on the game would cease, following the release of the roguelike-inspired Omenroad DLC earlier that month. The game was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S via publisher Auroch Digital on October 22, 2024. [10]

Reception

The game received "generally favourable reviews" according to review aggregator Metacritic with a Metascore of 86, based on 26 Critic Reviews. [11] Praise was mainly directed to the game's use of procedural generation for character development and storytelling. [12] [13] [14]

Wildermyth was nominated for Ultimate Game of the Year, PC Game of the Year, Best Indie Game and Best Storytelling at the 39th Annual Golden Joystick Awards. [15] During the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Wildermyth for "Role-Playing Game of the Year". [16]

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References

  1. ↑ Vega, Sin (June 16, 2021). "Wildermyth review". PC Gamer . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  2. ↑ Donlan, Christian (July 9, 2021). "Wildermyth review - a proper RPG marvel". Eurogamer . Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  3. ↑ Vega, Sin (December 2, 2019). "Wildermyth is a simple, beautiful, brilliant RPG. Play it, you cowards". Rock, Paper, Shotgun . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  4. ↑ Valentine, Robin (July 21, 2021). "Turn up the difficulty and Wildermyth becomes XCOM with magic". PC Gamer . Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  5. ↑ Plante, Chris (December 14, 2021). "Wildermyth is the video game miracle of 2021". Polygon . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  6. ↑ Gordon, Lewis (November 30, 2021). "Procedural storytelling is exploding the possibilities of video game narratives". The Verge . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  7. ↑ Prescott, Shaun (November 18, 2019). "Five new Steam games you probably missed (November 18, 2019)". PC Gamer . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  8. ↑ Fuller, Alex (May 20, 2021). "Wildermyth Launching in June". RPGamer. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Wildermyth narrative RPG launches on Steam | Linux Game News • Wildermyth narrative RPG launches on Steam". linuxgamenews.com. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  10. ↑ Romano, Sal (July 30, 2024). "Wildermyth coming to PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch on October 22". Gematsu. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Wildermyth for PC reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  12. ↑ Jones, Ali (July 30, 2021). "Have you tried...running your own personal D&D campaign in Wildermyth?". GamesRadar . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  13. ↑ Grayson, Nathan (November 29, 2021). "In 'Wildermyth,' I played one of the best video game narratives of the year". Washington Post . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  14. ↑ Price, Renata (August 31, 2021). "Wildermyth's Incredible, Dynamic Storytelling Is Giving Me GotY Vibes". Kotaku . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  15. ↑ Moyse, Chris (October 20, 2021). "Golden Joystick 2021 nominees include Deathloop, Resident Evil, Returnal, and more". Destructoid . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  16. ↑ "2022 Awards Category Details Role-Playing Game of the Year". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences . Retrieved December 4, 2023.
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