The Thaumaturge Review: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Meets Detective Fiction in Old Warsaw
A turn-based RPG that trades flashy combat for supernatural psychology, rich world-building, and consequences that actually feel earned.
REVIEWS
GP
7/20/20264 min read
There are RPGs that chase grand spectacle, and then there are RPGs that trust the player to slow down, pay attention, and think. The Thaumaturge belongs firmly in the second category. Rather than trying to overwhelm you with endless combat or a massive, empty open world, developer Fool's Theory invites you into a city that feels genuinely alive. Here, conversations matter, every street hides a story, and every decision quietly shapes the people around you. It is the best kind of gaming surprise: a title that lands with little personal expectation, only to completely shock you with its depth. In this world, reading a local newspaper or listening to a citizen's grievances can be just as rewarding as winning a high-stakes fight.
Welcome to 1905 Warsaw
The game is set in 1905 Warsaw, currently under the tight grip of the Russian Empire. This historical setting isn't just background decoration: the city itself is arguably the game's strongest character.
You step into the shoes of Wiktor Szulski, a thaumaturge returning home following the death of his father. What starts as a personal family mystery quickly spirals into a complex web of politics, class struggle, crime, and the supernatural.
The narrative's greatest strength is its commitment to moral ambiguity. There is no such thing as a "clean" answer in Warsaw. People lie, they hide their flaws, and they are frequently victims and victimizers all at once. It is in these gray areas that the game's writing truly shines.
Masterclass World-Building
While the magical elements are fascinating, the biggest surprise is how authentic Warsaw feels. The developers clearly poured an immense amount of love and historical research into recreating this specific era. As you wander the streets, you'll hear locals arguing about everything from workers' rights and Polish identity to religious tension and economic survival.
For players who actually enjoy diving into in-game lore, The Thaumaturge is a goldmine:
Meaningful Lore: Letters, books, and police files aren't just fluff; they actively teach you about the culture, folklore, and history of the city.
Visual Polish: Even minor details, like the beautifully sketched vintage advertisements for coffee and chocolate, display an incredible level of artistic care.
Mind Games and "Stand" Battles
So, what exactly is a thaumaturge? Derived from the Greek word for "miracle worker," thaumaturgy in this world isn't about throwing flashy fireballs. Instead, it's an exercise in supernatural psychology. You utilize beings called Salutors, monsters manifested from human flaws like pride or greed, to read people, exploit their psychological weaknesses, and uncover hidden truths.
If you've heard people compare The Thaumaturge's combat to JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, the comparison is spot on: your Salutor fights alongside you much like a "Stand." Combat plays out as a turn-based tactical puzzle rather than a button-masher, constantly asking you to weigh your options. Which status effect should you apply first? Which flaw can you exploit right now? Do you need to save your energy for the next turn?
It's a highly satisfying loop, though it comes with a caveat: by the final eight hours of my 40-hour playthrough, the combat began to feel repetitive. The pacing drags a bit toward the end too, as if the game wasn't quite sure how to maintain its narrative momentum into the final act.
Real Consequences
Fortunately, the game's choice-and-consequence system holds up its end of the bargain. Your choices carry weight because they grow naturally out of your actions, rather than being tallied on a rigid morality meter.
As a player who naturally gravitates toward being reasonable and kind, I actively kept Wiktor's pride levels low, mostly because having high pride in this game usually just means acting like an absolute jerk. Since the game doesn't hand out cheap "good or bad" points, the narrative outcomes of your decisions always feel earned.
The Verdict
The Thaumaturge is a highly distinct RPG experience: part detective story, part historical drama, part psychological character study, all rolled into one. While the pacing stumbles slightly in its final stretch, its rich atmosphere and narrative depth make it incredibly memorable.
It also serves as a massive proof of concept for its developers. Seeing what Fool's Theory achieved here makes it clear why CD Projekt Red trusted them to helm the upcoming Witcher remake and the expansion for The Witcher 3. If they can bring this same level of atmospheric storytelling to the Witcher universe, players are in for something truly special.
