Ocean Drive Studio returns to the world of Lost Eidolons with a darker and sharper vision. Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch takes everything learned from the first game’s grid-based tactical roots and channels it into a roguelike experience filled with tension, strategy, and endless replayability. What began as a promising early access title has emerged as one of the year’s most finely tuned and fiercely rewarding tactical RPGs — a brutal dance of strategy, loss, and triumph.
Developer & Publisher // Ocean Drive Studio Inc, Ocean Drive Studios Inc/Kakao Games
Platforms // Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Playstation 4|5, Nintendo Switch, PC
MSRP & Release Date // $24.99, October 9th, 2025
Reviewed On // PC
A Witch’s Test
Set five years after the events of Lost Eidolons, Veil of the Witch unfolds on a cursed island where danger lurks at every turn. Players are thrust into a deadly trial crafted by the mysterious Witch, testing their strength, wit, and will to survive. While the narrative takes a minor backseat to combat, it still carries intriguing worldbuilding and emotional payoffs. Especially for fans of the original Lost Eidolons. References to past events like the fall of Hullisburg and returning faces such as Marco give this sequel a sense of continuity and consequence.
Conversations between survivors often reflect lingering guilt and resentment, adding humanity to the otherwise grim setting. Rather than telling a linear tale, Veil of the Witch opts for storytelling through discovery. Each run unearths fragments of lore, bits of dialogue, and glimpses into the Witch’s twisted motives. It’s a leaner, more mysterious approach that suits its roguelike structure perfectly. As someone who followed it from early access, I can say it fully lived up to my expectations. It delivers the darker tone, worldbuilding depth, and sense of mystery I hoped for.
Tactical Reinvention
At its core, Veil of the Witch remains a turn-based tactical RPG — but one rebuilt for unpredictability. Each expedition plays out across branching paths filled with traps, treasures, and brutal encounters. Every move feels meaningful, as a single mistake can unravel an entire run. Combat remains grid-based like in the original Lost Eidolons. You’ll command a small squad of heroes, balancing melee, ranged, and magic attacks to exploit enemy weaknesses. The weak point system adds an extra layer of strategy, rewarding players who plan ahead.
Environmental factors like water, fire, and poison gas turn the battlefield into a puzzle. You can use tactics like drenching enemies before unleashing a lightning spell, or igniting volatile terrain for devastating chain reactions. The full release tightens these mechanics even further. Animations are smoother, enemy AI is more aggressive, and the pacing between fights feels refined. There’s a satisfying balance between challenge and fairness. You’ll never feel ambushed by sudden difficulty spikes, only punished for poor planning.
Rise, Fall, Repeat
Where Lost Eidolons emphasized story, Veil of the Witch thrives on replayability. Each expedition is procedurally structured, offering different routes and random encounters. Whether you’re facing a gauntlet of ambushes, gathering resources, or fighting a boss battle, every decision matters. The roguelike loop is anchored by embers and rune fragments. These are currencies earned through each run that unlock permanent upgrades, new skills, and character enhancements.
With each death comes new potential. Experimenting with ability combinations and party compositions creates endless variation, and the full release adds more skill synergy than before. Each act feels distinct, with handcrafted arenas that push different tactics. While some missions run long, the sheer unpredictability keeps every session fresh. With over 50 hours now invested, I still find every run a unique and different experience. This is proof of how well Ocean Drive has tuned its roguelike systems.
Shadows and Steel
Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch embraces a darker tone than its predecessor. The island’s mist-covered forests, cursed ruins, and burning altars all reinforce the feeling of isolation and dread. While the visuals aren’t cutting-edge, the art direction is striking. Most environments feel intentionally oppressive. Character models have improved since early access, with smoother attack animations and better lighting effects.
The haunting soundtrack deserves special mention, with eerie melodies that swell during boss fights and subtle ambient cues that pull you deeper into the Witch’s world. Textures have been polished over time, leading to what we have with the full release. Veil of the Witch prioritizes atmosphere and tactical clarity over flash, and that’s a smart choice. I do need to mention, though, that when using certain “legendary” abilities, you get this character portrait flash-ins that emphasize the “epicness” of the ability or skill.
Test of Endurance
I feel Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is tough, but fair. The difficulty curve demands patience and planning, and while some missions truly test your mettle, none feel unfair. As you go through each expedition and level up, you can acquire powerful enchantments, skills, and items that allow you to be ready for whatever the game throws at you. These can often be the difference between victory and defeat. I always enjoy it when there aren’t a bunch of random difficulty spikes, because the original game did have a few.
Ocean Drive Studio has also added a few accessibility options. Players can increase text size for both dialogue and UI, improving readability during longer sessions. Controller support feels crisp, and input customization makes tactical play comfortable across setups. Make no mistake, though this game wants you to fail, learn, and return stronger. And that’s what makes every victory so satisfying.
Flawless and Fluid
Running on PC at 2560×1440 with settings maxed out, Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch performs flawlessly. You can toggle between 30FPS, 60FPS, or unlimited framerates, and even under heavy particle effects, performance remains rock-solid. The few early access bugs, like pathing or mission selection issues, are now resolved in the full game. I didn’t encounter any crashes or soft locks during my full release sessions, and load times are noticeably faster. It’s a testament to how much refinement went into this final build.
Relationships and Upgrades
Though not as story-heavy as its predecessor, Veil of the Witch includes subtle relationship-building during expeditions. Choosing certain dialogue paths or cooperative actions can strengthen bonds between allies, unlocking small but meaningful combat bonuses. The shop upgrade system also returns in fuller form, allowing you to invest in better wares and resources during your runs. These improvements can completely change your fortunes mid-expedition. This is a very smart addition that rewards exploration and long-term strategy.
The Witch’s Trial is Worth Every Step
Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch transforms tactical combat into a thrilling roguelike loop that never loses its edge. It’s a brutal yet rewarding evolution of Ocean Drive Studio’s formula. It challenges your mind, punishes your mistakes, and celebrates your perseverance. With refined combat, sharp design, and almost endless replay value, this is a journey that keeps pulling you back in for one more run.
Final Score: 8.9/10
Note – A code was provided for this review.
Pros:
- Tight Tactical Combat: Smart, satisfying, and deeply strategic.
- High Replay Value: Every run feels new and unpredictable.
- Fair Difficulty: Tough challenges, no cheap spikes.
- Strong Progression: Permanent upgrades feel rewarding.
- Dark Atmosphere: Great art direction and haunting music.
- Smooth Performance: Stable, optimized, and fast
Cons:
- Pacing Issues: A few missions run too long.
- Light Storytelling: Narrative takes a backseat to gameplay.
- Visual Detail: Some textures and animations lack minor polish.
