The End of an Era: Witchaven Games Set to Disappear Soon

Hey gamers! If you’ve ever dabbled in the world of retro gaming, you might want to take note because the Witchaven games are about to be taken off the digital shelves. While they’re not exactly the top contenders for your favorite first-person slasher from the ’90s, they hold a special place in gaming history that’s hard to ignore.

Originally developed by Capstone, these games are set in a fantasy realm inspired by D&D dungeon maps courtesy of Wyrm Works. You step into the boots of a knight armed with an arsenal of melee weapons and a few spells, tasked with slaying hordes of goblins, witches, and other creepy creatures lurking in a volcano. Though you do get a bow for ranged attacks, you’ll mostly find yourself swinging a morning star, battle axe, or various sharp blades, constantly switching them out as they wear down.

Now, let’s be real—combat in these classic titles could be quite tricky. If you’ve played them, you know that gauging the distance between you and your foes was a bit of a gamble. A review from 1996 pointed out some significant control issues too, where your character would seem to skid to a stop or spin out unexpectedly, making those epic battles all the more chaotic. Yet, on the plus side, the characters had some amusing behaviors before you engaged them, like fighting amongst themselves or looking surprised when you burst through a door unannounced.

What makes Witchaven particularly noteworthy is its place in gaming history. Released in September 1995, this title was the very first game to officially utilize the Build Engine, the same engine that later powered classics like Duke Nukem 3D and Blood. Before Witchaven, a Taiwanese studio had used an early version of the engine without permission, but Witchaven was the first to do it the right way, paving the way for future titles.

Now for the sad news: revivalist publisher SNEG has revealed that both Witchaven games will be delisted come June 15. While it’s unclear if this is due to an expiring license or if remastered versions are on the horizon, one thing’s for sure—this is a bittersweet moment for fans. If you’re looking to grab these titles before they vanish, they’re currently on sale, and you can snag both games for a whopping 89% off on Steam, and 90% off on GOG, making it an even sweeter deal.