Aetheris

Aetheris is a narrative-driven roguelite tactical RPG set in a shattered, fantasy world overrun by the Shade, a malevolent force consuming everything in its path. Players take on the role of four customizable heroes, known as vazzards, who must navigate a perilous wilderness, battling enemies in turn-based combat while making crucial decisions that shape their journey. With a unique art style blending influences from Moebius and other legendary illustrators, the game offers a visually stunning and emotionally gripping experience, blending exploration, strategy, and survival in a desperate quest to save their people before time runs out.

Aetheris: A Masterclass in Tactical Roguelite Storytelling

Introduction

In the crowded landscape of tactical RPGs and roguelites, Aetheris emerges as a breathtaking fusion of strategic depth, narrative richness, and artistic innovation. Developed by Wild Wits Games and published in collaboration with Hawthorn Games, this 2023 release carves its own niche by blending the relentless tension of a roguelite with the methodical, tabletop-inspired combat of a tactical RPG. Set in a world consumed by the encroaching “Shade,” players lead a party of four Vazzards—lizard-like warriors—on a desperate quest to escape annihilation. What follows is not just a game, but an experience that challenges both the mind and the heart, where every decision carries weight, and every loss echoes with consequence.

Aetheris is more than the sum of its parts. It is a love letter to fans of deep strategy, a testament to the power of player agency, and a bold statement in visual storytelling. This review will dissect the game’s development, narrative, mechanics, and legacy, arguing that Aetheris stands as one of the most compelling tactical RPGs of the modern era—a game that respects its players’ intelligence while never losing sight of its emotional core.

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Development History & Context

The Studio Behind the Vision

Wild Wits Games, a French indie studio, is the creative force behind Aetheris. Though relatively young, the team is composed of veterans with credits on titles like Crown Gambit and Metal Slug Tactics, hinting at a pedigree in tactical gameplay. The studio’s ambition was clear from the outset: to craft a game that merged the unpredictability of roguelites with the strategic depth of tabletop RPGs, all wrapped in a unique artistic vision.

The game’s development was not without its challenges. Aetheris began as an Early Access title in May 2023, allowing the team to refine its systems based on community feedback. This iterative process was crucial, as the game’s blend of genres required careful balancing. The full release in November 2023 showcased a polished product, but traces of its evolutionary journey remain in its design—a testament to the studio’s willingness to adapt and improve.

Technological and Artistic Innovation

Aetheris was built using the Godot Engine, a choice that reflects the studio’s indie roots and commitment to open-source tools. The engine’s flexibility allowed for the game’s distinctive 2D scrolling perspective, which combines diagonal-down and side-view angles to create a dynamic, almost theatrical presentation. This perspective is not merely aesthetic; it enhances the tactical clarity of combat, allowing players to assess the battlefield with precision.

The game’s art direction, spearheaded by Guy-Pascal Vallez (aka Gax), is nothing short of revolutionary. Drawing inspiration from Moebius, Drullet, and McKean, Aetheris crafts a world that feels both alien and familiar. The Vazzards themselves are a striking blend of avian and reptilian features, their designs eschewing conventional fantasy tropes in favor of something far more original. The environments are equally mesmerizing, with vibrant colors and intricate details that evoke a living, breathing world. This artistic direction is not just for show—it reinforces the game’s themes of survival and discovery, making the Wilderness feel like a character in its own right.

The Gaming Landscape at Launch

Aetheris entered a market dominated by heavyweights like XCOM 2, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Into the Breach. Yet, it distinguished itself through its roguelite structure and cooperative multiplayer, features that set it apart from its turn-based peers. The game’s release in late 2023 also coincided with a resurgence of interest in tactical RPGs, thanks in part to the success of titles like Tactics Ogre: Reborn and Triangle Strategy. Aetheris capitalized on this momentum, offering a fresh take on the genre that appealed to both hardcore strategists and narrative-driven players.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

A World on the Brink

Aetheris opens with a simple yet devastating premise: “Yesterday, the world shattered.” The Shade, a malevolent force, has begun consuming the Wilderness, and the Vazzards—once a thriving civilization—are now on the brink of extinction. Players take on the role of four warriors tasked with finding a path to salvation before the Shade claims everything. This setup is reminiscent of Darkest Dungeon’s bleak tone, but Aetheris infuses its world with a sense of urgency and hope that sets it apart.

The narrative unfolds through a series of events and encounters, each shaped by the player’s choices. These choices are tied to the Vazzards’ personalities—Brutality, Mysticism, Rationality, and Empathy—which influence not only dialogue options but also the skills and abilities available in combat. This system ensures that the story feels personal, as players must align their decisions with their party’s strengths and weaknesses.

Themes of Sacrifice and Survival

At its core, Aetheris is a meditation on sacrifice. The game’s roguelite structure means that death is inevitable, but it also means that every loss has meaning. When a Vazzard falls, their spirit can be summoned to aid future parties, offering a glimmer of hope in the face of despair. This mechanic reinforces the game’s central theme: that even in failure, there is value.

The Shade itself is a powerful metaphor for the inescapable nature of time and decay. Its relentless pursuit of the player’s party creates a constant sense of tension, forcing players to make difficult choices about how to allocate their limited resources. Should they rest to heal, or push forward to outrun the Shade? Should they take a risky path for greater rewards, or play it safe? These decisions are not just tactical—they are existential, reflecting the broader struggle for survival that defines the Vazzards’ journey.

Character Depth and Player Agency

The Vazzards are more than mere avatars; they are vessels for the player’s choices. Each character’s personality shapes their development, with skills and abilities tied to their dominant traits. This system encourages players to experiment with different playstyles, whether they prefer brute force, cunning strategy, mystical powers, or empathetic support.

The game’s narrative is further enriched by its dynamic events, which range from moral dilemmas to environmental challenges. These events are not just window dressing—they have tangible effects on the party’s stats, resources, and relationships with other Vazzard tribes. The result is a story that feels alive, where every decision ripples outward, shaping the world in subtle but meaningful ways.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

The Core Loop: Exploration and Combat

Aetheris’s gameplay is divided into two phases: exploration and combat. During exploration, players navigate a roadmap of the Wilderness, encountering events, making choices, and managing resources. The roadmap is procedurally generated, ensuring that no two playthroughs are identical. This structure keeps the game fresh, as players must adapt to new challenges with each run.

Combat is where Aetheris truly shines. Battles are turn-based and played out on a hexagonal grid, with initiative determined by a dice roll modified by each character’s stats. This system introduces an element of unpredictability, forcing players to think on their feet. The combat mechanics are deeply strategic, with three key resources to manage: Willpower, Movement, and Spirituality (SP). Willpower and Movement points refresh each turn, but SP must be replenished through prayer at campfires, adding a layer of resource management that extends beyond the battlefield.

Personality-Based Progression

The game’s skill system is one of its most innovative features. Rather than adhering to traditional class archetypes, Aetheris ties character progression to personality traits. Players choose a dominant trait for each Vazzard—Brutality, Mysticism, Rationality, or Empathy—and then draw skills from a deck associated with that trait. This system ensures that no two characters are alike, even if they share the same dominant trait.

The draft system for skill selection is particularly clever. When leveling up, players choose a personality trait and then draw two skills from either the active or passive skill deck (or one from each). The skills not chosen are removed from the deck until the next run, creating a sense of scarcity and forcing players to make tough decisions. This mechanic not only adds replayability but also ensures that each run feels distinct, as players must adapt to the skills they are dealt.

Multiplayer and Cooperative Play

Aetheris supports online cooperative multiplayer for up to four players, a feature that enhances the game’s strategic depth. Playing with friends introduces new dynamics, as players must coordinate their choices and strategies to survive. The multiplayer mode is not just a tacked-on feature—it is a core part of the experience, offering a fresh challenge for those who have mastered the single-player campaign.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

A Living, Breathing Wilderness

The world of Aetheris is a masterclass in environmental storytelling. Each of the seven regions of the Wilderness has its own distinct atmosphere, soundtrack, and narrative themes. From the eerie beauty of the Sacred Orchard to the desolation of the Shade-infested ruins, every location feels like a living entity, shaped by the forces that have passed through it.

The game’s art direction is a standout feature. The hand-drawn environments are rich in detail, with vibrant colors and intricate designs that evoke a sense of wonder. The Vazzards themselves are a testament to the studio’s creativity, their avian-reptilian hybrid forms lending them an otherworldly charm. The Shade, too, is a visual marvel—a writhing, inky mass that seems to pulse with malevolent energy.

Sound Design and Music

The game’s soundtrack, composed by Nicolas Gaborel, is a perfect complement to its visuals. The music shifts dynamically to match the tone of each region, from haunting melodies in the Shade-infested areas to uplifting themes in moments of triumph. The sound design is equally impressive, with ambient noises that immerse players in the Wilderness and combat effects that heighten the tension of each battle.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical and Commercial Reception

Aetheris was met with widespread acclaim upon its release. Critics praised its strategic depth, narrative richness, and artistic innovation. GameGrin awarded it a 9/10, calling it “a very thoughtful RPG where every move you make has a purpose.” Movies Games and Tech gave it a 7/10, highlighting its “strong core combat system” but noting that its roguelite elements could feel repetitive.

Commercially, the game found a dedicated audience, particularly among fans of tactical RPGs and roguelites. Its Steam reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with a Player Score of 80/100 based on 240 reviews. The game’s success is a testament to its ability to resonate with players who crave both challenge and narrative depth.

Influence and Future Prospects

Aetheris has already begun to influence the tactical RPG genre. Its personality-based skill system and dynamic event structure have inspired other developers to experiment with similar mechanics. The game’s success also underscores the growing demand for tactical RPGs that blend strategic depth with narrative richness—a trend that shows no signs of slowing down.

Looking ahead, Wild Wits Games has hinted at future projects, suggesting that Aetheris may be just the beginning of their exploration of this genre. If their next game builds on the foundation laid by Aetheris, it could very well redefine what players expect from tactical RPGs.

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Conclusion

Aetheris is a triumph of game design, a masterful blend of strategy, narrative, and artistry. It is a game that respects its players’ intelligence, challenging them to think critically and adapt to ever-changing circumstances. Its world is rich and immersive, its combat is deep and rewarding, and its story is both poignant and thought-provoking.

In the pantheon of tactical RPGs, Aetheris stands as a modern classic—a game that not only honors the traditions of the genre but also pushes it forward in exciting new directions. For fans of strategy games, roguelites, and narrative-driven experiences, Aetheris is an essential play. It is a game that will be remembered not just for its mechanics, but for the emotions it evokes and the stories it tells.

Final Verdict: 9.5/10 – A Masterpiece of Tactical Storytelling