Wizordum Switch Review

Wizordum Switch Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch

I’ve had my eyes on Wizordum ever since it was in early access on Steam, so when it was announced to be coming to consoles, including the Switch, I was very excited to give it a shot. I had plenty of hopes for this unapologetically old-school title from Emberheart Games and Apogee Entertainment, and I was worried that my enthusiasm might have set the bar a little too high. What’s it Like? Ready your spells, raise your staff, and prepare to get Medieval as we review Wizordum for Nintendo Switch.

Before we begin, the footage captured in the video is taken from the Switch 2, but as always, both Switch 1 and 2 will be covered in the performance section.

In Wizordum you play as a cleric who is essentially a battle mage that wields a mace and an array of deadly spells. The world is thrown into chaos as the Ancient Seal of Terrabruma is shattered, unleashing monsters and strife into the world. Your quest is to find the source of corruption and put an end to the chaos. While Wizordum is light on story and setup, you will be able to uncover lore pages throughout each level and piece together other happenings in the world, shedding light on some of the puzzle elements and locales you explore. Due to the fast-paced nature of the game, with the story, you can take it or leave it, as the game tends to lean towards the very thing it excels at… blasting away in almost non-stop shooter action.

This first-person shooter leans heavily into the legacy of Doom, Wolfenstein, Hexen, and Heretic, all while having modern flourishes. It’s fast-paced, action-packed, and full of secrets to discover. The campaign will take you across 20+ sprawling levels that average at about 15 minutes each, featuring multiple areas, puzzles, and hidden secrets that will be found by the astute explorer. Thankfully, you won’t be at the mercy of trying to remember where you are and what you’re doing, as the map system has handy markers and helped me constantly throughout my campaign. Weapons are fun and varied, starting out with a simple mace and slowly building up an arsenal of magic fire rings, frost staffs, scrolls of pyroblasts, and even lightning gloves. There’s also a myriad of pickups and items to assist you in battle, including mana granades, cloaks of invisibility, and restorative potions. You will need to put this entire array of items to good use to make it through, as there were moments of genuine challenge while fighting through hordes of goblins and navigating dastardly traps. At the end of every level, you can also spend your hard-earned treasure on upgrading your weapons with powerful secondary fire functions or increasing your inventory by purchasing a Bag of Holding.

Each level manages to breathe fresh air into the game, and just when you start getting sick of trudging through a sewer with gelatinous cubes, you move onto a harbour full of goblins, or a cliffside area with menacing spiders. Each area will have puzzles to solve and keys to find, and thanks to the map system, very rarely do you get stuck, although admittedly, there were a few times where I was left scratching my head looking for a solution. Once solved, the answer seemed so obvious, but I feel that is what leans into the game’s clever level design. There is also a myriad of user-generated content available right from the start, so if you are looking for more Wizordum after finishing the main campaign, there is plenty to explore. Levels, challenges, and custom scenarios created by the community extend the game well beyond the core experience and offer endless opportunities for spellcasting chaos.

Wizordum uses a striking 2D sprite pixel art style that feels both nostalgic and lively. The world of Terrabruma comes to life through bright, colourful environments and carefully crafted locales. Each level has its own personality, making exploration feel rewarding. Enemies and their attacks are easy to read and visually distinct, which helps during the fast-paced combat. The game embraces its old-school roots while incorporating modern touches, such as destructible environments and cinematic flourishes. Certain levels, like towns set ablaze and under siege, create a strong sense of atmosphere and urgency.

The visuals capture the fantasy world in a way that draws players in and makes every encounter feel vivid. The visuals are backed by an epic, adrenaline-pumping orchestral score that elevates the sense of danger and urgency throughout the game. The music and sound design make each spell cast and enemy encounter feel cinematic and intense, perfectly complementing the fast-paced action.

On Switch 2, Wizordum runs at a silky smooth, uncapped framerate, hovering around 60 frames per second. The game never skips a beat, no matter how chaotic the combat becomes. On Switch 1, performance is slightly lower, averaging around 45 frames per second. There are minor frame pacing issues and occasional hitches in larger levels, but these moments do not disrupt the flow of gameplay. Overall, the game remains fully playable and enjoyable on both systems, with the Switch 2 offering the most fluid experience. For my Wizards, looking into accessibility options, there are some visual options like adjustments to lighting and flashing, weapon bob and sway, and some limited control options to help customise your experience. As always, I recommend further research into finding out if Wizordum is for you.

At just under $30 AUD, Wizordum is excellent value for money. On top of the sprawling campaign, the user-generated content will push your mileage further, and the action-packed gameplay never seems to wear thin. Wizordum is a love letter to old-school first-person shooters wrapped in a wizard’s cloak. It delivers relentless, fast-paced spellcasting action across vibrant, cleverly designed levels, backed by gorgeous 2D visuals and a score that makes every encounter feel alive. The variety of spells, weapons, puzzles, and the abundance of user-generated content ensure there is always more to discover. For anyone craving a nostalgic yet fresh FPS adventure with magical mayhem, Wizordum is a must-play.

So, What’s it Like? Wizordum is like Doom crossed with Dungeons and Dragons.

Wizordum is a What’s it Like certified exceptional game.

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