Witchfire Is So Good It Has Me Rethinking Early Access Games

Early Access games have become a mainstay in the gaming landscape, with the trend of launching titles in this format to gather player feedback for the eventual 1.0 release continuing to gain traction. However, the knowledge that these games are unfinished and subject to change has often kept me at a distance. I even skipped the Early Access period for Hades II, despite my adoration for the original and confidence in Supergiant Games' development process.

Witchfire SHOCKS Gaming! Is Early Access About to ...

But after diving into Witchfire, an Early Access title that has completely captivated me, I'm starting to question my reluctance. I've already sunk a dozen hours into it since yesterday, and it's simply fantastic. Of course, Game Informer Editor-in-Chief Matt Miller and countless other early adopters have been praising it for years, so I'm not exactly breaking new ground here. If you're looking for a detailed analysis of the game's merits, there's plenty of excellent writing already available. But trust me, the hype is real.

Having finally stepped away from my Preyer's arsenal of destruction, I can't help but wonder how many other potentially great games I've dismissed simply because they were in Early Access. I realize I'm checking out Witchfire relatively late in its Early Access lifecycle, which began in 2023, but I'm genuinely impressed by the sheer amount of content and its level of polish. It feels less like a beta and more like a really robust, constantly evolving game.

The depth of systems and synergies in Witchfire is staggering – diverse build options, intricate leveling and progression, a wide array of weapons and spells, varied enemy types, expansive biomes, and challenging bosses. I'm not even sure what I'd want to see in a 1.0 release; the current version feels remarkably complete. The fact that a 1.0 launch is planned for this year, promising even more content for this already excellent FPS roguelite adventure, is incredibly exciting. I keep thinking, "What else could they possibly add?" And that's a good problem to have.

I'm sure there are Early Access games with significantly fewer features, and that's perfectly acceptable. In those cases, I'd likely prefer to wait for the full 1.0 release. However, there are undoubtedly many feature-rich Early Access titles that I would enjoy just as much as The Astronauts' shooter, leaving me wondering why they aren't already considered complete. Maybe it's a matter of perception, or perhaps it's just the developers wanting that extra buffer of player feedback before planting their flag with a full release.

Perhaps this isn't so much a comprehensive analysis of Early Access games and their role in the PC gaming ecosystem, but rather an admission of my own past misjudgment. While I occasionally explore Early Access titles for work, I've generally avoided them in my free time, as if the "Early Access" label was a mark of shame. But I'm well aware of the realities of game development and how Early Access allows developers to achieve goals that would otherwise be impossible. Games like Hades might never have reached their current level of success without the valuable feedback Supergiant Games gathered during its Early Access period, shaping the game into something that resonated with both the developers and the players.

The same holds true for Witchfire, and I could have easily missed out on this excellent game if I'd stuck to my aversion of Early Access. This one has me converted. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some more Witchfire to play.