A little over two years in development, Witchspire emerges as a co-op open-world survival game that seeks to balance the genre’s inherent challenges with a more inviting experience for newcomers. The Swedish development team, Envar, is targeting Early Access in 2026, and their vision is to infuse joy into a space often dominated by grind and difficulty.
Lead producer Liam O’Neill describes the enchanting world of Witchspire, where players assume the roles of witches or wizards transported to a magical realm. The narrative kicks off when players accidentally reactivate an ancient monument known as the Witchspire, a conduit for interdimensional travel, prompting a quest to find their way back home.
What sets Witchspire apart is not only its expansive environment—featuring floating islands and diverse biomes—but also the innovative use of witchcraft as both a thematic element and a gameplay mechanic. Players engage in base-building through astral projection, gather resources with enchanted tools, and utilize collectible familiars that serve dual purposes as combat allies and helpers in crafting stations.
Building with magic, not muscle
Envar’s game director, Oliver Granlund, emphasizes a departure from the gritty realism typical of survival games. “A lot of survival games start you off naked on a beach with a rock,” he notes. “Instead, we asked ourselves how to make this magical.”
In Witchspire, players can build structures by projecting their astral form, allowing for a creative freedom reminiscent of Minecraft’s creative mode. This unique mechanic enables players to assemble components like LEGO blocks, with the added twist that if they come under attack, they are pulled back to their original character location. Resource gathering is equally enchanting, with magical tools designed to streamline the process. O’Neill highlights, “It wouldn’t feel right if you were punching down a tree as a witch! So we created magical tools that make it faster.”
As players delve deeper into the game, they can regrow harvested areas and summon magical seeds to rejuvenate the landscape, ensuring that the survival loop remains enjoyable and whimsical.
O’Neill further elaborates on the vastness of the world, encouraging players to explore and settle bases wherever they choose, even linking multiple locations through portals. “Some players will spend 100 hours building; others will just set up a camp and get back to boss fights. We want both to feel supported,” he states.
Progression without punishment
Traversal is a crucial aspect of any exploration-based game, and in Witchspire, players can take to the skies. “You can’t have a witch without a broom!” Granlund quips, demonstrating the ability to soar over the landscape. Starting in the more hospitable grasslands, players will eventually navigate to harsher biomes, such as deserts and crimson tundras, where special gear and potions are necessary to survive the elements.
“We don’t want to punish you just for existing,” O’Neill explains, “but the idea is: when you push deeper into the world, the world pushes back.” Granlund adds, “It’s an ease-in approach, unlike Valheim, where you chop down a tree, and it falls on you, and you die! We want to invite players who might normally avoid survival games, without removing the edge.”
Progression in Witchspire is achieved through a combination of traditional tech trees and skill-gated advancements. As players gather resources and craft items, they unlock skills in areas such as logging and mining. While there is no strict class system, players can specialize in various disciplines, including building, cooking, and farming. Familiars also play a significant role, leveling up alongside players and assisting in both base functions and combat scenarios.
Cosy worlds, dark edges
Despite its enchanting facade, the world of Witchspire harbors darker elements. Granlund introduces the concept of “corruption events,” where comets may strike, creating zones filled with corrupted creatures. “Cosy doesn’t have to mean utopia,” he reflects, drawing inspiration from the duality found in Studio Ghibli films, where bright landscapes coexist with underlying threats.
The narrative of Witchspire unfolds through exploration, revealing remnants of a lost civilization that constructed ruins and dungeons throughout the magical terrain. O’Neill shares, “The overarching goal ties into the Witchspire itself. You see its silhouette in the background. You’re slowly reawakening the Witchspire. Why it chose you and what it means is part of the mystery.”
With inspirations drawn from titles like Elder Scrolls and Breath of the Wild, the storytelling in Witchspire aims to integrate narrative, combat, exploration, and puzzles within its dungeons, creating a rich tapestry of gameplay experiences.
From outsourcing to original IP
Witchspire represents a significant evolution for Envar, which has historically operated as an outsourcing studio, collaborating with industry giants such as Riot, Tencent, and Blizzard. This new venture marks a commitment to developing original intellectual properties, with plans to self-publish Witchspire in 2026.
For those involved in the development or publishing of PC games, PG Connects London this month offers a welcoming environment. The event features dedicated tracks for PC and console discussions, alongside the Big Indie Pitch for PC games, providing valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration within the gaming industry.
