The new survival game Witchspire has already hooked MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus in the demo, and now in early access on Steam it completely captivates him – and that despite the horrendous temperatures outside (and inside). All this not because of, but despite a feature that also the competition of Palworld offers.
In February 2026, Witchspire had a small playtest, which I had already finished after less than two hours. However, even after that, I knew: Witchspire looks cute but is brutally hard and a real survival game.
Accordingly, I was clear that I had to play it again in early access, which started on June 10, unfortunately at the same time as other games that I still had on my list. Especially Conan Exiles has kept me captivated for many dozens of hours, along with Diablo 4 and its new expansion and a few games where I often sink in with friends.
I therefore got around to playing Witchspire quite late – but when the time came, it even made me forget the hellish temperatures in my apartment.
In the demo already good, in early access simply magical
A brief overview of what Witchspire actually is: You play as a witch apprentice and search for your friends who have “gone ahead” at the witch’s peak while you were unconscious. Nice friends…
Basically, Witchspire is a survival crafting game where you gather resources, build your own witch hut and above all explore the world. All of this comes in a cute comic style that makes the world appear significantly friendlier than it actually is.
Because especially combat and enemies are tough. Magic is not only useful for harvesting resources but also the most important means in combat. A huge skill tree provides you with new recipes and combat abilities.
A part of all this was already visible in the demo, but what the early access alone offers has absolutely overwhelmed me and has left me in awe time and again. The game runs under the radar with less than 7,000 peak players.
They see me flying, they harbor resentment
What I immediately noticed are the quests that are now in the game. A small narrative leads through the world, explaining the events and serving as a guide for the next step of the journey. Through these quests, I also discovered the first feature I had not known before: flying.
Actually clear, a witch needs a broom, and if you’re going to dive into this fantasy in a totally stereotypical way, it has to be able to fly. Exactly what I learn rather early in the game and from then on everything changes.
What previously seemed like a small map with a few creatures, wood, stone, and metals turns out to be a gigantic world with various biomes that can only be reached by broomstick or later by teleportation.
After eight hours straight on a much too hot Sunday, I just discovered the second biome and promptly died three times… initially, of course, without respawn nearby. I still haven’t learned from my mistakes in Windrose and probably won’t anymore. It still holds true: Witchspire is not as cute as it seems.
Witchspire offers something similar to Pokémon, but luckily is not Pokémon
A feature that actually bothered me in Palworld has come more into focus. Palworld is often referred to as “Pokémon with guns” because you gather cute creatures and make them work for you, well, with weapons. The developers fiercely resist the comparison.
Witchspire ultimately does something similar: right at the beginning, I choose a companion, just like with the starters in Pokémon. During the course of the game, almost all residents of the world can also be, uh, “tamed.” In reality, you kill them and capture their souls, but the way it’s packaged sounds quite a bit cruel.
Either way, these companions are not only practical in combat – here you can carry and switch up to 3 different ones, each with their own skill trees and specializations – but they also function as boosters at workbenches or are even necessary for crafting higher crafting tiers.
Pokémon lost me after the second generation because I found the game and especially the constant development of the same silliness tedious. For me, the gameplay was simply… done after the first experiences. It was good; I just didn’t need it anymore.
Fortunately, Witchspire avoids too close a resemblance, and the system reminds me more of a cross between Pokémon and Conan Exiles, with just the right mix of combat and usefulness. For me, Witchspire is already a highlight of the year, and another one is coming in October. This whole year is simply fantastic: 2026 is the best survival year in a long time and 3 new hits are already certain
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