Quantum Witch reveals the countless prospects of what cults, coercion, and finally, the best help can do

To place it merely, Quantum Witch is a heartwarming ‘plotformer’ led to by solo developer NikkiJay and her experiences of leaving a non secular cult and finally, discovering her personal method in life. Although, to place it so merely is to do Quantum Witch, and simply how particular it’s, a significant injustice.

Whereas the preliminary context would possibly make you imagine Quantum Witch is a darkish sport primarily exploring non secular trauma, it’s removed from that; the ultimate product is the outpouring of a person’s coronary heart, deeply private experiences, and maybe most significantly, the humour and love which they’ve used to beat them. It’s the latter the place Quantum Witch actually shines, laden with on-the-nose jokes about in-game occasions, the LGBTQIA+ expertise, and present society at giant.

As I step foot into the village of Hus and start to fulfill its eclectic characters (which embrace non secular fanatics, online game icons with all-new identities, and speaking fish to call just a few), Quantum Witch conjures up that exact same feeling that Undertale and Stardew Valley usually evoke in gamers; it seems like coming residence (and the soundtrack performs an enormous half on this). Hus is an idyllic village with some kooky folks to fulfill, and delightful music – composed by each NikkiJay and Jerden Cooke – that accompanies your exploration and conversations.

As a plotformer, you possibly can anticipate some leaping and punching right here and there, however Quantum Witch is much more akin to a visible novel. That mentioned, there are many issues to discover at any given second and much more that you simply would possibly miss (that are tougher to overlook in subsequent playthroughs because of extra hints and a checkpoint system, don’t fret).

Those that absorb each nook and cranny of Quantum Witch, replaying it to see how their phrases can have vital penalties on the story at hand, in addition to the aspect tales of individuals you meet and assist, would be the ones to get probably the most of this sport. There’s a complete world – and extra, actually, given the meta-narrative you’ll quickly see at play – to soak in.

Even when the subject of dialog is lower than jovial – be it the uncanny valley nature of a number of the folks you meet, or the clear unhappiness and exhaustion some characters face however can’t specific on account of the ‘all-powerful’ forces that govern what actions and ideas of theirs are acceptable to have – Quantum Witch by no means allows you to lose hope. Hope is a fairly highly effective drive on this world; it’s a mix of that and every thing you study all through your journey – largely from the folks you meet – that drive you on this sport.

That doesn’t assure issues gained’t find yourself pear-shaped in Quantum Witch. Your dialogue choices are on the forefront of the narrative, figuring out the outcomes of your self – Ren – and characters equivalent to Ren’s bonded one, Tyra, or the poor woman she finds tied up and alone, left for lifeless, Hannah. These are only a few folks you possibly can assist, or finally condemn.

Whereas hope is in every single place and love is prevalent in Quantum Witch, there’s no stopping you from exploring the depths of the sport’s non secular factions, even ascending to Godhood your self if that’s the place issues take you. Not each ending is a contented one, although exploring all outcomes is fruitful. Regardless of the place you look in Quantum Witch, there’s one thing to study. Not simply concerning the characters, however your self, and your individual experiences with faith, coercive management, and queer identities.

No matter what route you find yourself taking alongside The Helgrind Path and past, there’s one saying underpinning Quantum Witch’s story (which developer NikkiJay touched upon a latest VG247 interview), no matter which endings you expertise and which side-stories you progress, and it’s that “it takes a village to lift a baby”. The saying is sort of literal, after all, however might be utilized to anybody at any stage; people can’t do that on their very own, and we rely enormously on the love and help of each other to beat life’s hurdles, to face our trauma, and to actually go on dwelling to the most effective of our skills.

All the pieces is simpler with mates and an open coronary heart, and that’s what I finally took away from Quantum Witch. This sport – made with love, sweat, and tears in NikkiJay’s bed room – is particular, and it’ll little doubt steal away a bit of your coronary heart too (or make you chuckle out loud, on the very least).