Witch It won the German Computer Game Award (DCP) 2018 in the category “Best German Game” and even triumphed over Monster Hunter World in the “Best International Multiplayer Game” category. We are testing whether “Witch It” is really that good.
Witch It just won the awards “Best German Game”, “Best International Multiplayer Game”, and “Best Youth Game” at the German Computer Game Award 2018. Not only the jury but also the players seem to like the game. 90% of the reviews on Steam for Witch It are positive. We wanted to find out what it’s all about.
What is Witch It?
In Witch It, hunters fight against witches. The hunter must protect his village from the spellcasters by locating and killing the witches within a few minutes. The witches hide and transform into anything. If they survive, they win.
Currently, there are three game modes:
- “Hide & Seek” is the standard mode. Hunters and witches choose their abilities at the start and increase their selection through additional matches. In the hiding phase, the witches disguise themselves, while in the searching phase, they need to be found.
- “Hunt a hag” takes away all abilities from the players; it resembles a hide-and-seek game in the real world.
- In the “Mobification” mode, captured witches become hunters.
Our Play Report
Witch It impresses with its simple controls. I use, besides WASD, the mouse buttons and “Q” for using the abilities. The hiding phase only lasts half a minute, creating time pressure. Therefore, I need to quickly find a safe hiding place and disguise myself as a suitable object.
The maps are very small, and with a hat and broom, I attract attention too quickly. Here too, the controls are very easy; I select an object nearby, and I am instantly a copy of it.
I can still move and fly afterward. Both are important to better disguise myself. It stands out when there’s a ladder lying around on the ground or when two shells cuddle on the beach.
Tracking the Witch
My first game was on an island. Therefore, I wanted to become a ball and lie on the beach. It was unwise to position myself on a slope, as a ball commonly rolls away. I tried to counteract and take a steady position.
However, my attempt failed as my constant movements caught the attention of a hunter. He attacked me. Since he needs to hit multiple times, I rolled away to escape.
The aiming system of the hunters is very poor; it’s nowhere near as precise as in a shooter. They compensate for this disadvantage with their high movement speed. They effortlessly catch up with a fleeing witch.
I had to constantly make use of my abilities. Short-term flying helps me over obstacles and gives me a few seconds of lead. If I then transform into another object, I can survive. And I succeeded; I transformed from a ball into a cushion, and the hunter ran past me.
Man’s Best Friend: the Chicken
The hunter has a few tools, including a faithful throwable chicken. If an enemy is nearby, it immediately alerts, allowing hidden witches to be detected.
If the hunter loses sight of his target, he should use his companion. If the witch is nearby, the chicken will alert. If the hunter then attacks his surroundings, he will soon find the witch. A scream informs him when he has hit her.
Witches Seem to Have the Advantage
I played several matches on the official servers. Team selection happens randomly; 35% of the players are hunters. In each match, the witches won because their abilities are significantly stronger. For example, they later unlock the option to take on the position of the selected object. So the witch does not become a second copied shell, but the one original. This goes unnoticed.
This turned me into an apple sitting alone on a beam. There, no one noticed me, and I remained in the same spot until the end of the game. Many games go similarly; while a few witches get caught at the beginning, usually three or more survive until the end.
Whether it was due to the inexperience of the hunter players since they are also new players, or if there is really a lack of balancing, could not be determined.
Witch It – Few Players Despite High Ratings
Despite the good Steam ratings, there are only a few players. Although there are numerous EU servers, usually only one is filled.
The graphics of Witch It are nice to look at. They fit well with the game, and a gaming PC will not be overwhelmed. However, the physics engine does require some performance, as all objects can be moved. If you run against a box, it wobbles, and the book lying on it falls off.
For a few rounds, the game is entertaining, especially when hunters and witches have found each other. But Witch It is not suitable for more than a few matches. Everything unlocks very quickly. The player count is low, and the feeling that the witches always win reduces motivation as a hunter.
Is Witch It Really the Best International Multiplayer Game of the Year?
As “Best Youth Game”, I can still imagine Witch It, but not as “Best International Multiplayer Game”. It seems as if the DCP wanted to crown a child-friendly and German title as the winner, without blood or real fights. Monster Hunter World is overall the clearly better game, but admittedly a bit cumbersome in multiplayer.
Although Witch It is suitable for all target groups, it feels out of place as the winner of this category. Nominated for “Best International Multiplayer Game” were Monster Hunter World, Splatoon 2, and Witch It.
We have already tested Monster Hunter World; read more here: Monster Hunter World in Review – A True Monster Work!
