Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch (PS5) | REVIEW | A Standalone Tactical RPG With Roguelite Elements

Developed by Ocean Drive Studio and published by the same, Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is a tactical RPG with roguelite elements that serves as a standalone entry in the series, building upon the world established in the original Lost Eidolons.

The game casts you as an amnesiac survivor washed ashore on a fog-shrouded island teeming with undead horrors and imperial forces. Bound to a enigmatic witch named Sable who revives you upon death, your quest revolves around piecing together fragmented memories while battling to escape the island's curse. The narrative unfolds across three acts, blending themes of redemption, alliance, and supernatural intrigue in a fantasy setting scarred by war and otherworldly powers.

Central to the story are your protagonist. Customizable in name and gender, starting as a versatile fighter, and a growing roster of companions. Key figures include the resourceful archer Eevie, the sturdy tank Emile, the agile swordsman Marco, and the strategic mage Laurent, with up to five more unlockable allies like mercenaries and healers. Each character brings a distinct backstory, from haunted pasts to personal vendettas against the empire, revealed through conversations that deepen bonds and unlock combat synergies. The overarching tale explores the protagonist's lost identity, the witch's ambiguous motives, and a larger conflict involving Eidolons, mystical beings tied to life and death, creating a web of alliances and betrayals that encourages multiple playthroughs to fully unravel.

The Gameplay ...

The game emphasizes roguelite progression alongside tactical strategy, with the primary mode being "expeditions" that serve as self-contained runs through the island's acts. There's no traditional campaign mode. Instead, everything funnels into these replayable ventures, supplemented by base camp interactions for upgrades and story development. Standout features include a skill tree for permanent buffs, over 50 artifacts that apply run-specific modifiers, randomized enemy setups, and choice-driven random events during travel, all of which add layers of strategy and variability.

At its core, gameplay revolves around grid-based turn-based battles where you command a team of five units against waves of foes, exploiting weapon affinities (like axes breaking armor or lightning punishing wet enemies), environmental hazards such as poison mists or flammable terrain, and skill synergies for crowd control or buffs. The loop is addictive. Launch an expedition from your base, navigate forked paths to gather resources like gold or resonance stones (used for gear enhancements), encounter events that might recruit temp allies or trigger risks via dice rolls, and dive into combats focused on positioning, action economy (units can't move after attacking), and objectives like routing enemies or rescuing NPCs. A limited "undo" mechanic allows rewinding mistakes, keeping frustration low. 

Playthrough objectives center on surviving to boss fights at each act's end such as clashing with the imposing Black Knight while collecting memory shards from defeats to advance the meta-narrative. A full playthrough isn't linear. It demands repeated expeditions (often 10-20 hours total) to unlock all nine characters, max out relationships for battle perks, and activate optional trials for heightened difficulty and rewards, with each run resetting levels and skills but preserving overarching progress.

The Presentation ...

Visually, the game adopts a Western fantasy aesthetic with muted, grayish tones that evoke a desolate, mist-laden world, though the overall graphics suffer from bland level designs, poor textures, and occasional visibility issues that can muddle unit identification on PS5. The art shines brightest in its 2D character portraits, which are detailed and expressive, fostering attachment to your party. Voice acting is a highlight, with solid performances delivering witty banter, emotional depth in dialogues, and immersive voice lines during fights that bring personalities to life. The soundtrack, while understated, provides tense orchestral swells in combat and ambient tracks during exploration, effectively underscoring the eerie atmosphere without overpowering the experience.

The Verdict ...

Overall, Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch delivers a compelling package of tactical depth and roguelite hooks, with substantial content across its acts, artifacts, and character arcs that justify the time investment. Replay value is strong thanks to build variety, randomized elements, and the satisfaction of turning early failures into late-game triumphs through persistent upgrades, though combat can feel repetitive in extended sessions due to limited environmental interactivity and recycled scenarios. The experience strikes a balance between strategic challenge and accessible progression, making it engaging for genre enthusiasts despite some visual shortcomings.

The title is best suited for fans of tactical RPGs like Fire Emblem or Final Fantasy Tactics who crave roguelite twists, as well as players who enjoy character-driven stories and iterative gameplay loops.