The Witcher 3 meets Dark Souls in upcoming new-gen 2024 action RPG

Pitched as The Witcher 3 meets Dark Souls, Mandragora is an upcoming action RPG from Primal Game Studio.

Set to be published under MY.GAMES’ new premium label, Knights Peak, Mandragora will launch later this year, the date to be confirmed in due course.

It’ll do so on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, and if you hadn’t guessed from that Dark Souls name drop, it’s not for those who don’t admire a challenge.

Mandragora most definitely incorporates soulslike elements and while developers did refer to Dark Souls and The Witcher 3 as two major inspirations, you’ll find a wholly different kind of experience here as Mandragora is a 2.5D sidescroller.

“Mankind has surrendered the world to the monsters. The people of Faelduum hide away behind walls of brick and palisades of ignorance, constructed by their leaders,” teases the synopsis.

“Joy and delight are coveted jewels, out of reach of the masses. This is not the world you were promised. Travel by night and take it back.”

“Journey through a world in decline, slowly falling prey to the damaging effects of Entropy. Fight vicious creatures, challenge nightmarish bosses, meet new allies, enemies, and every shade in-between, and make harsh moral choices. There are many paths worth taking. Choose yours.”

Knights Peak will also launch Starship Troopers: Extermination on console and PC this year.

With rich lore and the “twisted music of Christos Antoniou”, Mandragora seems to follow in the footsteps of the very best soulslikes by creating a well-considered and intriguing world.

I should add that this “sinister” story comes from Brian Mitsoda, perhaps best known for writing 2004’s Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines.

Players will be able to select from six unique classes, from Vanguard to Heretic, allowing you to approach Mandragora in a way that suits your preferred playstyle - and there are over 96 passive skills and over 200 active skill upgrades available.

That’s in addition to 350 wearables and consumables, over 10 main quests - each with secret areas to uncover - and 25 optional quests.

Unlock new upgrades by finding artisans to join your Caravan, whilst crafting powerful weapons to help you take down the game’s formidable foes, including the likes of the Caretaker and the Vampires of Braer Island.

All in all, Mandragora is shaping up to be a hugely exciting title and we can’t wait to hear more ahead of its launch later this year.