Gamescom: Warlock Gameplay Preview

Warlock, a new D&D‑based action adventure announced at The Game Awards last year, is returning to the spotlight at Gamescom with the first gameplay reveal. Ahead of the showcase, we were invited to a pre‑briefing session, offering an early look at eight minutes of in‑game footage and new details about the project.

Warlock is a third‑person, single‑player action adventure focused on spellcasting, rituals, exploration and puzzle solving. Players take on the role of Katri, a weapon master who forms a pact with Tasha, an ancient and chaotic witch. This pact grants Katri access to powerful abilities, including the Warlock’s Eye, which allows her to sense and harvest raw magic from the world. This raw magic can then be used to enhance existing powers and unlock new ones.

The gameplay shown featured a detailed open‑world area with production values comparable to Baldur’s Gate 3, complete with cinematic sequences and dense environmental detail. Katri is accompanied by a devilish imp who follows her throughout the world. In the footage, Katri enters a village and pays a beggar for information, learning of suspicious activity in a nearby cellar. She then transforms into a cloud‑like form to slip through a metal grate, entering a large underground bunker.

Katri’s abilities allow her to manipulate the environment in creative ways. She can pick up broken stone fragments to create makeshift platforms, perform a super‑jump to reach higher areas, freeze enemies in place and teleport behind them. Rituals can be conducted out in the field to control weather, so for instance, you can call in rain to debuff fire enemies. Raw magic can also be harvested from larger enemies – in the demo, this came from a zombie ogre.

While Katri does wield a sword, the emphasis is clearly on magical abilities. The game includes a wide range of D&D spells alongside original creations, but Warlock is not a CRPG. There are no dice rolls, and combat is real‑time, with spells designed to be versatile. For example, Black Tentacles can be used to solve environmental puzzles or deployed in combat. Experimentation is encouraged, with most abilities serving multiple functions across traversal, combat and puzzle solving.

During a Q&A session, the developers described Warlock as an “exploration‑driven open world”. The map is designed to be dense rather than impossibly large, and the team specifically wanted to avoid excessive handholding. Players are free to explore non‑linear paths, discover mysteries, which are the game’s equivalent of sidequests, and interact with NPCs to uncover new leads, such as the beggar directing Katri to the cellar in the gameplay demo.

Cantrips are present and can be used freely, while more advanced spells require recharging. The game takes place in the Domains of Dread, a darker region of the D&D universe. Katri is not from this land and must navigate unfamiliar territory with guidance from her imp companion and telepathic communication with Tasha. Their relationship is intentionally uneasy, as Tasha’s true intentions are not always clear.

Warlock is not an RPG, but players will have some influence over Katri’s build. As a Warlock and weapon master, she can conjure various melee weapons, and different outfits or armour sets can be found throughout the world. These do not offer traditional stat bonuses, but some have magical properties that alter or enhance abilities.

The developers emphasised immersion and confirmed that Warlock will have an endgame, allowing players to continue exploring and completing side content after finishing the main quest. While players can wander into tougher areas early, enemy difficulty will make it clear when they are not yet ready for certain zones. Progression is intended to balance exploration with main‑quest advancement.

Warlock doesn't have an exact release date yet, but it is currently planned for 2027.

KitGuru says: Warlock’s first gameplay showing is brief but promising, with strong production values, versatile spell mechanics and a dense open world. We’ll be keeping an eye on the game as development continues toward its planned 2027 release.

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