The Necromancer’s Tale: Strategy, Story, and Shadows

XPN Network
Nov 7
4 min read

The Necromancer’s Tale, developed and published by Psychic Software, is a gothic role-playing game that dares to tread where few RPGs venture: into the morally fraught world of necromancy. Set in an alternate 18th-century Europe, the game immediately distinguishes itself from the crowd by weaving together political intrigue, tactical combat, and a richly layered narrative that forces players to confront the consequences of wielding forbidden power.

From the very beginning, the atmosphere is thick with candlelight and shadows, immersing you in a world where every whispered rumour and every suspicious glance carries weight. Unlike many RPGs that treat necromancy as a flashy gimmick, here it is the beating heart of the experience, an art that grants you power but also isolates you, shaping how others perceive and respond to your character. The introduction to the game alone sets the tone for a journey that is as much about navigating social hierarchies and moral dilemmas as it is about commanding armies of the dead.

Gameplay unfolds in a deliberate, methodical rhythm. Combat is tactical rather than frenetic, requiring careful positioning of your undead minions and thoughtful use of abilities. This slower pace may surprise players accustomed to the chaos of hack-and-slash RPGs, but it rewards patience with a satisfying sense of control and strategy. Outside of battle, the game shines in its political and social dimensions. You are not merely a necromancer on the battlefield, you are a figure of influence, weaving alliances, manipulating rivals, and deciding whether to embrace or conceal your dark talents. The branching narrative ensures that choices matter, with consequences that ripple through the story in ways both subtle and dramatic. Character creation is another highlight, offering a depth that allows you to craft a protagonist who feels truly unique, both in appearance and in moral outlook.

The turn-based combat in The Necromancer’s Tale is one of its defining features, and it’s designed to feel more like a tense, strategic duel of wits than a flashy action sequence. Battles unfold in a deliberate, methodical rhythm, where every move carries weight. Instead of rushing through encounters, you’re encouraged to pause, assess the battlefield, and think several steps ahead, almost like a gothic game of chess with the living and the dead.

Your necromantic abilities are central to this system. Raising undead minions isn’t just a gimmick; it’s the backbone of your strategy. Each minion type has distinct strengths and weaknesses with some that act as durable shields, others as fragile but high-damage attackers, and their presence on the field changes how enemies behave. Positioning is crucial: placing a skeleton to block a chokepoint or sending a revenant to flank an enemy can mean the difference between victory and disaster. Because your forces are literally corpses you’ve reanimated, there’s also a thematic weight to every summon, you’re not just calling in reinforcements, you’re bending the natural order to your will.

The combat system also ties directly into the game’s narrative and role-playing choices. Using necromancy openly in battle can make fights easier, but it risks exposing your dark powers to allies and rivals who may not approve. This creates a fascinating tension: do you fight “clean” with conventional tactics, or do you unleash your undead army and accept the social consequences later?

The atmosphere is one of the game’s greatest strengths. Gothic architecture, eerie graveyards, and candlelit chambers create a setting that feels alive with menace and mystery. The writing leans heavily into this tone, portraying necromancy not as a glamorous superpower but as a dangerous, ethically complex path. This narrative weight makes every decision feel significant, and the lore is rich enough to encourage multiple playthroughs to uncover different storylines and outcomes.

By the time you reach the later stages of the game, the cumulative effect of your choices becomes clear. You may find yourself respected, feared, or utterly isolated, depending on how you’ve wielded your power. This is where The Necromancer’s Tale truly earns its title: it is not just a tale of raising the dead, but of the living consequences that follow.

Pros

Deep, morally complex narrative with branching outcomes
Unique blend of necromancy, politics, and tactical combat
Strong character creation and role-playing depth
Gothic atmosphere that enhances immersion

Cons

Combat pacing may feel too slow for action-oriented players
Interface can be clunky at times
Heavy reliance on dialogue may deter those seeking constant battles

The Necromancer’s Tale is a game that thrives on atmosphere and narrative weight rather than spectacle. It’s not trying to compete with the bombastic action RPGs that flood the market; instead, it carves out its own niche as a slow-burn, gothic role-playing experience where every decision feels heavy with consequence. The story is its strongest asset, weaving necromancy into a web of political intrigue and moral ambiguity that makes you question not just what you can do, but what you should do. Gameplay complements this by balancing tactical combat with social manoeuvring, and while the pacing may feel deliberate and even a little sluggish at times it reinforces the sense that you’re playing a thoughtful, strategic tale rather than a power fantasy.

Visually, the game leans into its gothic aesthetic with candlelit chambers, shadowed graveyards, and period-inspired character designs. It’s not technically dazzling, but it doesn’t need to be as the art direction succeeds in immersing you in a world that feels both eerie and authentic.

That said, The Necromancer’s Tale isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for fast-paced combat or constant action, its slower rhythm and heavy reliance on dialogue may feel like a hurdle. But for those who appreciate morally complex storytelling, strategic gameplay, and a richly atmospheric setting, it’s a hidden gem that deserves recognition.

XPN Rating: 4 out of 5 (GOLD)