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Grimorio of Games loves to keep players on their toes, as Whispike Survivors: Sword of the Necromancer proves. The game releases today on PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Switch, while Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S versions will release on August 3rd. Mixing the horde-fighting antics of Vampire Survivors with strategic crop management, Whispike Surviors is trying something new. But can this hybrid farming game grow a following?
What Makes Whispike Survivors: Sword of the Necromancer Different?
Grimorio of Games has explored multiple genres before. Super Hyperactive Ninja was a frantic 2D platformer. 2021’s Sword of the Necromancer was a traditional action RPG with fluid combat and gorgeous cutscenes. Whispike Survivors: Sword of the Necromancer plays with the formula explored in the 2021 title through an unexpected fusion of genres: horde survival and farming.
What does tending crops have to do with slaying waves of monsters? A lot. At least, that’s the case that Grimorio of Games wants to make. In Whispike Survivors, the player takes on wave after wave of enemies, then uses the seeds those fallen enemies drop to grow a stronger Whispike with which to take on stronger enemies. It’s a solid idea and has real potential to hook players if the gameplay loop turns out to be as exciting as the game’s premise. After all, even Fortnite thought horde mode would be fun.
Unique Features Worth Mentioning
It’s unclear just how deep Whispike Survivors‘ farming mechanics are, but it appears there’s decent strategic depth. Planting different seeds side-by-side produces hybrid Whispikes. Only Whispikes raised to maturity are eligible for combat, however. If all goes according to Grimorio’s plan, these features will hook players in with a “just one more run” mindset.
The PC Steam version of the game also includes a dedicated streamer mode which features a unique leaderboard and even allows chat participants to appear in the game as monsters. This feature won’t be important to everyone, but it’s a great addition for content creators and a savvy marketing move on Grimorio of Games’ part. It’s a talented studio; now players just have to wait and see if Grimorio’s idea bears fruit.
Whispike Survivors: Sword of the Necromancer is now available on Steam, PS4/PS5, and Switch. Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S versions launch on August 3.
