Chronicles of Vaeltaja Early Access

*Chronicles of Vaeltaja: In Search of the Great Wanderer* is a deliberate throwback to the golden era of PC RPGs, citing inspiration from classics like *Dungeon Master*, *Might and Magic*, and *Wizardry*. The game features first-person, grid-based movement and turn-based combat, mechanics that defined many early entries in the genre. The game is the project of Witchgrove Games, a Finnish/Sami one-person indie game company. The studio's philosophy emphasizes a retro experience, promising "No tutorials, no hand-holding, no cinematic cutscenes, just pure joy of experiencing and discovering!". The game is being developed using the RPG Maker MZ engine. Players assemble a six-character party to investigate the disappearance of children and attacks by strange beasts in the seaside town of Pramea, a mission given by King Menekses II. The overarching goal is to uncover the mystery of the Great Wanderer, a figure who once saved humanity from a great peril. The game features a deep character system with 11 classes, including traditional roles like Warrior and Mage, as well as more unique ones like Witch Hunter and Conjurer. Some classes, such as Mage and Priest, also have secondary specializations like Warlock/Wizard and Healer/Saint. In total, there are 14 potential companions to recruit into the six-person party. Gameplay extends beyond combat, incorporating non-combat skills like Disarm Traps, Stealing, Lockpicking, and Speech. The game also includes a day/night cycle and a reputation system, where a player's actions can influence how NPCs react to them. The mythology of the game is inspired by ancient Gnostic writings, and the main storyline offers branching conversations and quests with multiple solutions. The Early Access version already includes a significant portion of the main quest, over 10 dungeons, and crafting systems for potions, weapons, and armor. The developer, Witchgrove Games, has been actively updating the game during its early access period, with updates adding new quests, enhancing graphics, and fixing bugs. The full release is anticipated during 2025. On Steam, the game holds a "Positive" rating based on 14 user reviews.