Developer Invoke has revealed its next big Dungeons & Dragons title, Warlock, with a lengthy gameplay trailer shown at Gamescom's Opening Night Live. The game appears to draw inspiration from immersive sim-like action titles of the mid-2000s, such as The Darkness, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and Infamous.
The trailer showcases the protagonist, Kaatri, utilizing a variety of warlock powers. In the D&D universe, warlocks draw their abilities from supernatural patrons. In Warlock, Kaatri has made a pact with an ancient witch named Tasha, who seemingly has her own motivations, suggesting potential narrative conflict.
The gameplay reveal emphasizes action and the deployment of specific powers to overcome obstacles, though the trailer's staged nature raises questions about the degree of player freedom and open-world exploration. Invoke describes Warlock as an open-world game, with initial town exploration evoking the feel of titles like Skyrim, where NPCs react to the player's presence. However, the trailer progresses through events in a smooth, directed manner.
The success of Warlock may hinge on its characters and story, as the core gameplay loop of using specific powers to navigate challenges is a familiar concept. Players will likely become invested in the world and its inhabitants, with the warlock class offering unique supernatural abilities.
Warlock is slated for release next year, and a Steam page has been launched providing additional information about the game.