When it comes to the monster-taming genre, many of the options are bright and colorful RPGs with adorable little critters that eventually evolve into big tough guys. From Pokémon to Cassette Beasts and TemTem, there's been a pretty standard aesthetic. To a degree, we saw a break in this with the Palworld. The inclusion of guns in the monster-taming game was a source of contention for players and a unique twist that helped it stand out in the crowd. The overall aesthetic, however, was still bright and relatively cheerful.
The Thaumaturge, however, cranks the dial on monster taming to "full gothic". Developed by Fool's Theory and published by 11 bit studios, The Thaumaturge is a narrative-driven RPG where players take on the role of Wiktor Szulski in 1905 Poland. But is this gritty and dark take on the genre worth shelling out $35 for?
