[Preview] My Party Needs An Alchemist – A Bold New Take on the RPG Genre

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Tank, healer, fighter – anyone who has played turn-based games knows that these character types are essential for your party’s success. But what if victory in battle depended on the hidden actions of a supportive alchemist? That’s exactly what we get to experience in the My Party Needs An Alchemist demo, a fantastic adventure from Gilded Rune Games, showcased during the October 2024 Steam Next Fest.

We play as a talented alchemist embarking on a journey to save the world alongside a group of brave adventurers. While exploring the game’s first region, we prepare for a mission to defeat local beasts and confront an evil demon lord. Our task is to gather herbs, mix them, and create magical potions that will help our allies overcome various challenges.

Although we only get to play the first half of Act One, there’s already plenty to say about this magical universe. While exploring the Leafwood Forest, we encounter wild animals and mystical creatures, slimes, wolves, and bears each have unique attacks, and defeating them earns our party valuable experience. We also meet the first four characters, who not only represent different classes but also possess special abilities. It’s important to devise a strategy for making the best use of them, since only three members can participate in battle at once. On top of that, we unlock various potion recipes that can strengthen our party.

All these elements make My Party Needs An Alchemist a unique approach to the RPG genre, exploration leads us along a path that helps us prepare for battle and discover side quests. When it comes to combat, we can’t control the actions of other party members, but we can heal them or boost their effectiveness by giving them potions at the right moment. I especially liked the potion-brewing process: once you’ve collected enough ingredients, you must fill a pattern as much as possible without overflowing, and doing this in a moving vehicle turned out to be trickier than it looked.

The game’s most striking feature is its atmosphere. The adorable cartoon art style is paired with calming music and warm character interactions. Allowing players to make seemingly small but meaningful decisions helps personalize the experience and encourages deeper engagement with the story. Honestly, if there were an option for completely free exploration with hidden quests, this game would be perfect for me.

The demo for My Party Needs An Alchemist offered a glimpse into a story that looks very promising. After finishing it in just under an hour, I found myself pleased with the gameplay mechanics and world-building elements — you practically forget that it’s only a demo and that you won’t yet be facing the demon lord. The game’s unique ideas make it a title worth keeping an eye on for fans of turn-based RPGs, fantasy games, and charming visual styles.

If any of these points convinced you, you can support the developers by backing the game on Kickstarter. You can also try the free My Party Needs An Alchemist demo on Steam.