A newly released Soulslike game on Steam called Withering Realms takes a page out of Bloodborne, Pragmata, and Lies of P‘s playbooks. In Withering Realms, Steam users play as an undead doll controlled by the ghost of a little girl who sits over the doll’s shoulder. Together, they slay demonic creatures roaming a gothic city, using a combination of magic and long-range and melee weapons.
Withering Realms is considered a spiritual successor to another indie game on Steam called Withering Rooms. Both games come from solo developer Moonless Formless, take place in the same universe, and feature shared characters. However, the previous game, Withering Rooms, is a 2.5D action roguelike, while the new title is a 3D Soulslike with RPG and horror elements.
Withering Realms Has Bloodborne’s Combat, Pragmata’s Character Dynamics, and Lies of P’s Build-Crafting
Many fans have compared the close-range, aggressive combat in Bloodborne to how the co-protagonist fights in Withering Realms. The game also portrays an unlikely bond between a little girl’s ghost and a soulless doll. This dynamic might remind fans of Diana, the little girl humanoid robot in Capcom’s Pragmata, and her connection with co-protagonist Hugh Williams. Meanwhile, the doll in Withering Realms comes with customizable parts and prosthetic arms that could be compared to how Legion Arms work in Lies of P.
Bloodborne, Pragmata, and Lies of P might have given Withering Realms some of their gameplay gimmicks, but Moonless Formless’ game has drawn comparisons to several other famous IPs across different genres. One fan summarized these familiar vibes in a comment, saying, “Gameplay feels like a combination of a Soulslike (without the death penalty) and Resident Evil, and the atmosphere and enemy design remind me of Silent Hill.” Some have even likened Withering Realms to other FromSoftware games like Elden Ring, which goes to show the wide range of masterpieces that have likely influenced the solo developer.
Withering Realms Is Getting Rave Reviews
Released in early access on September 4, Withering Realms has received 94% positive reviews on Steam as of this writing. “The creepy vibes, story, and sound design are so unique,” one Steam user wrote. Another said, “I’m 16 hours in, and it keeps adding new mechanics, new enemies, and areas.” According to Moonless Formless, the EA version features 15 to 42 hours of gameplay. The developer plans to release the full version sometime in 2027 and wants fans of indie Soulslike games to help with development through their feedback.
Fans looking to grab Withering Realms on Steam might be excited to know that there’s currently a limited-time promotion that brings its price down to about $16.99 USD until September 11. Those not entirely sure if this indie Soulslike game is worth their money can also download its free playable demo before committing to a purchase. It is also worth noting that developer Moonless Formless plans to bring the game to consoles with the 1.0 version. In the coming months, it will be interesting to see what type of content updates the game receives and whether those additions will be able to entice more Soulslike fans to join the player base.
- Released
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March 24, 2015
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
