Game Preview 2 is an update to the existing Mandragora Playtest application. Just update the Mandragora Playtest app which is already in your library if you have pre-purchased the game, and you’re ready to go!
I’m Gábor Szabó, Lead Game Designer at Primal Game Studio. I’m excited to tell you that the Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree Game Preview 2 update is now live. I’m here to give you some more details about it.
Since the launch of Game Preview 1, you’ve sent us a lot of feedback. You shared your enthusiasm about the game, told us what you liked most about it, and also pointed out a couple of things you’d like to see changed. We've carefully considered all feedback, treating each as equally important, and in Game Preview 2, you'll notice many changes and additions based on these insights.
Hundreds of bugs have been fixed, the UI has been made more user-friendly and streamlined, the air attack has been completely reworked, Classes and caravan NPCs have been rebalanced, many of the Skills have been adjusted, game performance has been drastically improved… and much more.
Game Preview 2 is a major step towards the full release of the game, but our work doesn’t stop here. We still have a lot to do before April 17, and we can’t wait to hear what you think about Preview 2. We're actively developing a major user interface and onboarding update set to launch with the game. And while the current version is already playable, I'm pleased to confirm that the full release will feature full Steam Deck support, including new, small-screen exclusive UI and adjusted visual settings.
Due to the extreme amount of changes to the game since Preview 1, Game Preview 2 is not compatible with previous save games. But don’t worry, Preview 2 contains so much new content you won't regret taking a fresh look at the early game.
Speaking of new content, depending on your playstyle, Game Preview 2 adds about 3–4 hours of new gameplay compared to Preview 1. That leaves you with a total playtime of 8–9 hours for Game Preview 2—which covers about a quarter of the full story, without even accounting for time spent on other gameplay features.
Here’s a quick look at what exciting new content you can expect with this update.
Explore more of the story
We've talked a lot about how happy we are with the rich narrative we've crafted together with Brian Mitsoda. With this new update, we're thrilled to share even more of that with you.
While Preview 1 already gave you a taste, Game Preview 2 introduces an even more immersive experience, featuring a greater variety of NPCs to interact with, new quests that expand the lore, and fresh areas to explore, each filled with secrets to uncover. In fact, the map of Preview 2 is about 33% bigger than the one you journeyed through in Game Preview 1, so there will be plenty more areas for you to explore and secrets for you to uncover!
Face off against new Bosses & Enemies
In Preview 1, you had the chance to face off against plenty of tough bosses and minibosses, ranging from the furry to the furious.
Now, in Preview 2, you’ll be able to flex your combat skills against two more challenging bosses and four more minibosses. While we don’t want to spoil too much by revealing their identities, let’s just say you should definitely stock up on health flasks and make sure your sword is sharp enough for the challenge.
Play as a new Class: Nightshade
Having played Game Preview 1, you’ve likely already familiarized yourself with the Vanguard and Spellbinder Classes. Preview 2 introduces a third option: Nightshade.
“This special branch of the Inquisitors undergoes rigorous training to become swift and lethal operatives, executing missions to silently eliminate powerful adversaries who oppose the King Priest.”
That’s really just a fancy way of saying that this Class is perfect for anyone who wants to swiftly eliminate enemies with poison and dual-wield daggers. If you like playing as an assassin in other games, this is the Class for you.
We hope you have fun exploring the Nightshade Class and all its cool abilities—as well as its unique, branching Talent Tree!
Accessibility and Difficulty
There's one more topic we believe deserves special attention. Our goal has always been to make Mandragora accessible to as many players as possible. While the game is primarily an action RPG, it is also a challenging experience with many Soulslike elements that seasoned players expect and enjoy from the genre.
However, we recognize that this level of difficulty may not suit everyone for various reasons. To ensure more players can enjoy the game, we’re introducing the first set of our new Accessibility and Difficulty settings, with more accessibility options to come in the future.
This includes three adjustable modifiers: Enemy Health, Enemy Damage, and Skill Stamina Cost, each of which can be customized to 100%, 90%, 80%, or 70%.
These settings can be adjusted not only during character creation but also at any point in the game. So if a particular section feels too difficult, you can tweak the settings just for a tough boss fight and revert them afterward.
We believe these changes will make Mandragora more enjoyable for a wider audience, and we look forward to hearing your feedback.
Thank you for being alongside us for this exciting journey - we look forward to seeing you all in Faelduum very soon!
Pre-purchase today to get immediate access to Game Preview 2, alongside many other perks and rewards: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1721060/view/526461085948051463
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is launching on April 17, 2025.
