Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch

About Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch

Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is a turn-based strategy RPG from Ocean Drive Studio, released in October 2025. Set on a haunted island, it blends tactical combat with a cryptic narrative about a witch, a shipwrecked traveler, and a deal to reclaim lost memories through endless cycles of death and rebirth. Players control a party of recruits, navigating grid-based battles and managing limited resources. The story unfolds through fragmented flashbacks, forcing you to piece together motives and lore as you fight through waves of undead enemies. Available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch, it’s a single-player experience with permadeath mechanics that reset your progress but retain partial upgrades. Think of it as a roguelike with a heavy emphasis on strategic planning and narrative mystery.

Gameplay

Combat revolves around a 6x6 grid where you command a small team, each with unique skills and resource limits. Turns are spent moving, attacking, or using abilities that deplete action points. Enemies spawn dynamically, forcing adaptability, tankers might fall to a single ranged shot, while stealth units can eliminate threats before they act. Resource management is key: healing items are scarce, and overextending leads to quick deaths. After each death, you lose current progress but keep earned stats and items, incentivizing calculated risk-taking. Missions range from defending fixed points to clearing procedurally generated dungeons. The witch’s shifting demands add urgency, as her objectives often conflict with survival. Sessions average 2-4 hours, with longer playthroughs needed to unlock deeper story layers and tougher enemies. Controls are straightforward, with a focus on menu-based skill selection and grid navigation.

What Players Think

PlayPile users rate it 88%, with 72% calling it “addictive” and 43% citing “masterclass strategy.” Average completion rate is 62%, and 32 hours are typical to reach the final act. Moods are split: 58% describe it as “determined,” while 29% say “frustrating,” often due to permadeath’s grind. A top review praises the “layered narrative that hooks you between resets,” while a negative one calls the difficulty curve “unforgiving for newcomers.” Achievement data shows 85% of players unlock the “Cycle Breaker” trophy for beating the last boss without dying, requiring careful planning. Critic reviews highlight its “elegant blend of roguelike and TBS,” but note a 17% drop-off rate after the first hour due to combat’s steep learning curve.

PlayPile's Take

Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is for strategy fans who thrive on repetition and incremental mastery. At $49.99, it offers 30+ hours of content for most, though the 62% completion rate suggests it’s a long-term commitment. The permadeath loop grows tedious for some, but the reward of unlocking story secrets and optimizing builds keeps 88% of players engaged. Achievements are plentiful, with 40+ to track, including a 20-hour stretch required for the “Witch’s Favor” title. If you enjoy methodically rebuilding parties after crushing losses and dissecting lore through repeated playthroughs, this is a strong pick. Otherwise, the difficulty may feel like a barrier rather than a challenge.

Storyline

A remote island, besieged by the dead. A shipwrecked traveler, plagued by lost memories. A mysterious witch, in a realm between life and death. Her motives are hazy. But the offer is simple: become her champion, and bring hell to her enemies. In exchange, you’ll gain a power others would kill for: The chance to live again. Now, cast headlong into a power struggle that threatens to upend the world, it's up to you to assemble your party, blaze a trail, and uncover the memories of your former life.