The Thaumaturge is an intriguing take on magic, 20th-century Warsaw, and the concept of controlling demons. Developed by Fool's Theory, it’s a solid piece of work with a captivating story — especially if you’re looking to take a break from big Triple-A titles. It has its own unique charm, but adventures in the Polish capital also reveal their darker sides.
The new title from Fool's Theory, published under the 11 bit studios banner, explores thaumaturgy in an original way. This concept, present throughout human history, refers to miracle workers — individuals with supernatural powers. The protagonist of the story comes from a long line of thaumaturges and possesses the ability to control salutors — mysterious entities often described as evil spirits, demons, or gods in various cultures.
However, his ambition and thirst for greater power lead him to tragedy. Mentally shattered, he seeks help from another miracle worker known as Rasputin. After months of suffering, Viktor Szulski finally returns to his home in Warsaw, only to find that the capital is in a worse state than when he left years ago. Now, he must defend his family and confront difficult questions about his identity and life’s purpose. The Russian occupiers and the complicated legacy of his father won’t make navigating this new reality any easier.
Time to Beat Some Faces
In addition to being an expert at hand-to-hand combat, Szulski is also a skilled detective, thanks to his thaumaturgic abilities. These allow him to perceive emotions or thoughts through ordinary objects, helping him track down missing persons or uncover deeply buried traumas and secrets. These abilities are activated by snapping his fingers — a quirky mechanic that gets used frequently as the protagonist travels through Warsaw. Snapping not only reveals useful items but also uncovers side quests, which can lead to new salutors. However, most of the time, these quests are simple errands, like showing up at a café at a specific time or visiting a gentlemen’s club.
One of The Thaumaturge’s strengths is that it doesn’t treat players like fools — the journal plays an important informational role. While main quests are marked on the map, side quests often require us to refer to Szulski’s notebook for details. The journal also contains character descriptions, information about salutors, and rules governing thaumaturgy.
However, playing as a collector of photographs, memories, or vinyl records occasionally turns the game into a tedious scavenger hunt. Scouring each district from top to bottom for small clues can become exhausting and, at times, frustrating.
A Solid Sorcerer!
The Thaumaturge is a strong representative of mid-tier gaming. It serves as a promising starting point for a larger universe (if the developers choose to continue the story) with its unique depiction of 20th-century Poland on the brink of independence. The narrative is tightly woven, and the characters are solidly written. Szulski himself is a standout—a well-crafted character full of contradictions, with multiple paths for players to explore.
While The Thaumaturge shines with its storytelling, other aspects of the game are relatively average. This makes Fool’s Theory’s offering a great appetizer between larger titles. Still, the potential for this universe is immense — Warsaw’s miracle workers undoubtedly have more chaos to unleash.
