Psychic Software has announced The Lich Wars, a standalone prequel to its cult hit RPG, The Necromancer's Tale. This new title is described as a storybook RPG that will explore 30 years of undead conflict and thematic elements predating the original game. The Necromancer's Tale was praised for its unique approach to RPG class development and narrative integration, particularly its interactive prologue. The Lich Wars appears to expand on this prologue concept, transforming it into a full game experience.
The game is presented as a partially voiced, branching narrative with RPG mechanics such as skills and stats, evolving relationships, and the possibility of character death. Players will step into the role of a musketeer in an alternate 17th century, navigating through two significant lich wars over a 30-year career. The narrative promises to explore themes of technological anxiety, the ethics of war, and the corrupting influence of dark magic, set against a backdrop where rational thought and superstition, science and magic coexist.
Visually, The Lich Wars will feature hand-drawn illustrations and unfolding text, moving away from the 3D environments that were present in its predecessor. While maps and a tabletop interface will retain elements of the older game, the core presentation emphasizes the storybook format. Players will journey through the alt-history kingdom of Rulsthen, near Venice, and potentially across Western Europe, engaging in various historical conflicts alongside the titular lich wars. The developers describe the setting as a dark and dangerous world where courtly intrigue and black magic intertwine with the emergence of chemistry from alchemy.
The shift towards a more economical, illustration-driven presentation is seen as an improvement by the developers, addressing feedback that the 3D town navigation in The Necromancer's Tale could be tedious, despite the strength of its writing and setting. The Lich Wars is available to view on its Steam page, though a release date has not yet been announced.