Withering Realms Launches in Early Access, Offering a Dark Twist on Action RPGs

Moonless Formless has released Withering Realms, an action RPG that casts players as a ghost child tethered to a living marionette. The game is now available in early access and expands upon the dollhouse horror themes of its predecessor, Withering Rooms.

Set in the 1920s following a World War I cut short by an occult disaster, players guide a ghostly entity clinging to a mechanical marionette. This grotesque puppet, described as a "real fright" with a body of springs and hinges and a one-eyed rictus, serves as the player's combat companion. Developers Moonless Formless characterize the gameplay loop as a fusion of "top-down Zelda meets Bloodborne."

The game's world is a gothic collection of environments, including swamps, forests, caves, decaying estates, and overgrown graveyards, all populated by various monsters. Players can customize the marionette's combat capabilities by equipping arcane implements to its right arm, such as rocks on chains or candlesticks that launch fireballs. Spells can also be cast from the doll's back.

An alternative to controlling the marionette is to ride on the shoulders of "daring freelance investigator Althea Crossley." While Althea is less adept at combat, she excels at stealth, lockpicking, and interrogation. She also provides access to the game's central hub, the town of Penwyll, where players can purchase new components for the marionette. The Althea-focused segments are described as a blend of "3/4 top-down and classic survival horror 'fixed camera' vantage points."

Players can revisit unlocked locations at both day and night. While nighttime presents increased dangers, it may also reveal hidden plot details. The current early access build allows players to experience the game from start to finish, with an estimated playtime of 15 to 42 hours. It features approximately 50 weapons, 70 talismans, and over 110 monster types. Future updates planned during the early access period include additional language support, more endgame content and game modes, alongside bug fixes and general improvements.