1666: Amsterdam “Gameplay” Trailer Somehow Contains Almost No Gameplay

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Panache Digital Games has released a new video for 1666: Amsterdam, but despite being presented as a gameplay showcase, it offers very little actual gameplay. The latest developer presentation focuses almost entirely on the game’s world-building, lore and story, leaving players who were hoping to see meaningful improvements to the action-adventure title with more questions than answers.

The video is led by co-founder and executive producer Jean-François Boivin, who introduces the world of 1666: Amsterdam, its supernatural mythology and protagonist Noa, a young Collector raised by the mysterious Zaindaris. It also explains the role of the immortal entities known as the Originals, the game’s magic system, the day-and-night structure, and the relationship between Noa and Aaron, a companion who experiences the world through the body of a cat.

On paper, the premise remains intriguing. Players will investigate a handcrafted version of Amsterdam during the day before confronting demonic enemies at night using witchcraft and different tactical approaches. The game promises multiple ways to tackle encounters, two distinct playable perspectives and a story that spans centuries. The problem is that fans have already heard much of this before. What many were hoping to see was how these systems actually work in practice.

That expectation is even more understandable given the current state of the game’s free prologue, which is available on Steam and the Epic Games Store. The demo currently holds a Mixed user rating on Steam, with many players criticizing its gameplay, pacing and overall execution. After that reception, a genuine gameplay breakdown demonstrating combat, exploration, player choice or progression would have gone much further in rebuilding confidence than another lore-focused presentation.