Summary
Twenty years afterVampire the Masquerade: Bloodlinesreleased, the wait for its sequel may finally be coming to an end aftera turbulent near-decade in development. But it isn’t the only successor to the original, as its writer Brian Mitsoda is the narrative lead on the upcoming 2.5D side-scrolling Soulslike action RPG,Mandragora.
Mandragora,expected to release later in 2024, pulls together themes from across the gothic gaming space as well as Irish folklore and, as of 2022, the writing ofVampire the Masquerade: Bloodlineswriter Mitsoda. The game, originally set to be published by Marvelous Europe, joins the initial slate of titles for a new publishing label - Knights Peak - instead.
MY.GAMES, publisher ofmobile titlesRush RoyaleandWarbots, has launched a premium label called Knights Peak. It will handle larger-scale projects, both those it acquires and those shepherded by it through the development process. Part of that included assuming publishing responsibilities forMandragorafrom Marvelous Europe. Knights Peak is excited to work with Mitsoda and the rest of theMandragorateam, representatives said at an event.
Inside the Roots of Mandragora
InMandragora, the player steps into the role of an Inquisitor, wielding both weapons and magic in the realm of Faelduum. The Inquisitor is tasked with traveling by night to bring hope back to an otherwise hopeless world.Mandragorapromises harsh moral choices, extensive character customization, and six classes replete with advanced skill trees.
Alex Pearson, community marketing manager for Primal Game Studios, spoke at a press event about the origins of the gothic RPG and its upcoming release. The seed of theMandragora, as it were, came when the game’s creative leads took a trip to Ireland in 2016.
They were inspired by the country’s folklore and its dark, fantasy, gothic atmosphere to create a game that blends that with all the things we love about our other favorite games, likeDark Souls,The Witcher 3, andthe originalCastlevaniagames. We wanted to create something that feels brand new while still incorporating all the things we love.
It wouldn’t be aSoulslike gameif it wasn’t punishing, and Knights Peak assured Game Rant that the game’s skill-based combat will be brutal, dealing punishment and reward in equal measure. Of course, the game will have NPC allies in its world to upgrade or supply items for Inquisitors, allowing them to kill more and die less in the dark, gothic setting. The game will also give players access to a Witch Lantern, which will let them step into the world of Entropy itself to seek greater challenges.
Mitsoda brings the kind of detailed player choice-driven style of his work onVampire the Masqueradeto round outMandragora’s collection of gothic inspirations. Crafting the game’s narrative, moral choices, and multiple endings, Mitsoda brings some of what made his previous work great to Primal and Knights Peak forMandragora.
