Developer Fool's Theory is currently working on The Thaumaturge, a narrative-driven, supernatural RPG set in 1905 Warsaw, Poland. The Thaumaturge is a brand-new IP where players take on the role of protagonist Wiktor—a Thaumaturge, or magician, capable of taming demon-esque entities known as Salutors—as he has been drawn back to Warsaw following his exile.

Fool's Theory is itself based in Poland, while also working on the remake of the first game in The Witcher franchise, originally developed by fellow Polish developer, CD Projekt Red. Game ZXC recently spoke to Fool's Theory design director Karolina Kuzia-Rokosz about the significance of The Thaumaturge's Warsaw setting, the variety of cultural influences that will shape Wiktor's story, and their aspirations for representing Poland.

The Thaumaturge Tells a Strange Story in a Familiar Land

Fool's Theory began development with the broad concept of "a story about a 'magician,'" but stated that coming up with the specific setting was a "pivotal moment" in development. Settling on a backdrop that captures the story's aesthetic and intended themes obviously provided the team with a foundation for flavoring the game and giving it a distinct identity beyond an anonymous magician's story. But Fool's Theory's personal connection to the setting also brings realistic gravity to the narrative:

"We care about telling stories that feel close to us, narratives that could be true given certain circumstances, resonating with what we know, what we've learned, or experienced. Placing the game's action in a location where some of us used to live or still live is our way of expressing how we perceive our reality."

The old creative adage "write what you know" refers to crafting narratives that speak to personal experiences. Those experiences lend the story the sort of authenticity that can only come from a personal perspective. Obviously, investigating mysteries with the supernatural aid of demonic helpers is a considerable embellishment, but Wiktor's story appears to be a family drama at its core, which is a more universal theme that all players can relate to at some level.

In addition to allowing the devs to express their own experiences, Poland—especially in the early 1900s—remains an untapped backdrop for video game narratives. While The Witcher franchise based on Andrzej Sapkowski's novels was itself shaped by Polish folklore and monsters, the game's fanciful sword and sorcery setting is more of a reflection of Northern Europe as a whole, rather than Poland specifically.

"We believe that real-life Poland remains somewhat unexplored in the realm of video games, so we aim to shed light on our history, places, and people—inevitably gone, but not forgotten."

Scored for the Polish Setting

One of the ways Fool's Theory plans to bring The Thaumaturge's historical setting to life is through music:

"We invested in folk influences from the Warsaw of 1905, a multicultural, diverse, and dangerous city. Polish, Jewish, and Russian tunes intertwine and meld together in the brew we've prepared for you. "

Few artistic mediums depict a sense of place more accurately than music. Combining the influence of folk songs with classical compositions from the era is a surefire way to make Warsaw a character in the narrative. Some of the best soundtracks in video games have historical roots, like Red Dead Redemption 2, and others borrow from distinctive time periods to portray a sense of mood, like Halo's now-iconic, solemn Gregorian Chant.

Gamers with a fondness for history, or players who are simply looking for a new experience with a distinctive look and sound will want to keep an eye out for The Thaumaturge early next year.

The Thaumaturge

The Thaumaturge is a story-driven RPG set in 1905 Warsaw, Poland. Players take on the role of Wiktor, who can see entities called Salutors that normal humans cannot. It features isometric gameplay, turn-based combat, morally ambiguous choices, unique character development features, investigation mechanics, and much, much more.

Platform(s)

PC

Released

March 4, 2024

Developer(s)

Fool's Theory

Publisher(s)

11 Bit Studios

Genre(s)

Adventure , RPG