"Top-Down Zelda Meets Bloodborne": Action RPG Withering Realms Is Out Now In Early Access, Should You Fancy Riding The Shoulders Of A Horrible Doll

Independent developer Moonless Formless has officially released its latest action-RPG, Withering Realms, into Steam Early Access. Serving as a standalone follow-up to the studio's previous horror title, Withering Rooms, this new project transports players to an alternate-history 1920s. In this universe, an occult catastrophe has brought an abrupt and premature end to the First World War, leaving behind a dark, gothic landscape teeming with supernatural dangers.

The core gameplay loop of Withering Realms is described by its creators as a fusion of top-down Zelda-style exploration and the challenging, atmospheric combat of Bloodborne. Players primarily control a ghost child who hitches a ride on the shoulders of a living marionette. This mechanical companion, featuring a body constructed from springs and hinges alongside a single-eyed visage, serves as the player's primary weapon against the horrors of the game's world.

Combat and customization are heavily centered around the marionette's physical capabilities. Players can modify their mechanical steed by replacing its right arm with various arcane weapons, such as candlesticks that shoot fireballs or heavy rocks attached to chains. While riding on the doll's back, the ghost child can also cast magical spells to assist in battle, providing a mix of melee and ranged offensive options to tackle the game's diverse bestiary.

For players seeking a different approach to the game's challenges, Withering Realms offers an alternative companion. Instead of the terrifying doll, players can choose to ride on the shoulders of Althea Crossley, a daring freelance investigator. While Althea is less capable in direct combat situations, she excels at stealth, picking locks, and interrogating non-playable characters. Utilizing Althea also grants players access to the central town of Penwyll, which hosts various shops where new parts and upgrades for the marionette can be purchased.

The gameplay experience shifts depending on which companion is active. When playing alongside Althea, the game adopts a perspective that blends a three-quarters top-down view with classic survival horror fixed-camera angles. The environments themselves are highly atmospheric, consisting of a gothic mixture of swamps, caves, forests, decaying estates, and overgrown graveyards. Each unlocked location can be explored during either the day or the night, with nighttime visits introducing much tougher enemies alongside exclusive narrative secrets.

Despite launching in early access, Moonless Formless has delivered a highly substantial build that can be played from start to finish. According to playtest data, a single playthrough can take anywhere from 15 to 42 hours. This initial release features approximately 50 distinct weapons, 70 magical talismans, and more than 110 unique monster designs. Throughout the early access phase, the developers intend to implement additional language options, introduce new endgame content and game modes, and apply general performance fixes and balance adjustments.