Let’s all go get some therapy!
Wantless: Solace at World’s End is a dark and challenging tactical RPG (emphasis on the word tactical here) that takes players into the tormented minds of the people living in a dystopian future. Developed by Drop Rate Studio and published by Twin Sails Interactive, this game demands strategic thinking and perseverance from its players.
Story
The story revolves around Eris, one of the last Transposers, a doctor of sorts, who enters patients’ minds to remove the mental and emotional demons tormenting them. Some patients come just to have a specific intrusive thought, forsaken ego, self-deceit, or regret excised. Others come to become one of the Wantless. Exactly what it sounds like, the Wantless are individuals who have had all their wants and needs removed, putting them into a peaceful “sleep” to escape a world where something has clearly gone wrong.
As of right now, the Devs have not finished developing the story. In their Notes on Steam Early Access, they are teasing a big addition to end game content in addition to a planned Update coming in December, 2023.
Gameplay
The gameplay is where Wantless truly shines, albeit with an unapologetic level of difficulty. It took me over five hours and a DM with the devs to beat the first boss.
The tactical RPG elements are at the forefront, requiring players to carefully plan each move. The Action Point (AP) system adds a layer of complexity, forcing players to consider the consequences of every move. For every AP the player uses, enemies get an equal amount, meaning players need to hold back from running up and swinging wildly in a suicidal attempt to clear the level.
The challenge is real, and the game doesn’t hold back in punishing mistakes because there are no takesies-backsis. Gamers who fail a Transposition cannot simply go to the menu screen and load a previous save. You mess up, and that’s it. Your choices are to forge ahead in an endless loop of tormented failure, or to straight up restart the game. I’ve restarted four times already, desperately hoping that the next save file would be the one where I figured my life out.
Be prepared to adjust and readjust your gameplay style each time you Transpose. Some enemies need to be approached with the maximum level of caution, while others need to be annihilated the second they appear. I’m going to pass on the main piece of spoiler free advice the dev gave me, spend time reading and studying the transposer logs. Knowing which enemies are going to spawn more, which are going to act as support for others, which can be k.o.’d in one hit, and which you need to RUN from, is incredibly useful.
The skill crafting system is a highlight, providing players endless possibilities to customize their abilities. The combination of skills, effects and efficiencies offer a personalized experience. Skills can be forged, dismantled and forged again with no penalties to the player so feel free to try out as many wacky combinations as your heart desires.
The Mind Tree has over 170 perks, adding another layer of depth and encouraging thoughtful decision-making to balance offense, defense, and base skills. Thankfully, players can spend Ponder Shards to reallocate perk points because gameplay decisions will definitely change as players get deeper into Wantless.
Difficulty and Environment
The difficulty level in Wantless is not for the faint of heart. The developers seem to take pride in making the game even harder, which might be a turn-off for some players. However, for those who relish a true challenge, this game delivers. The environment is not just a backdrop; it actively works against you, with exploding enemies leaving hazardous carcasses and other environmental hazards stacking negative afflictions.
Overall
This is a preview, so no score, but I am happy to recommend this game and keep playing. I’m especially excited to see where this game is one year from now.
This game is clearly a labor of love (twisted, dark love…maybe that should be another enemy…), and within 24 hours of the Early Access release, the two member dev team already released its first Patch, showing the team’s dedication to their game. They have even set up a website where players can recommend and vote on the features they most want added to the game.
I, for one, am looking forward to all the Streams that will feature Wantless so I can see how other gamers tackle this sadomasochistic game (there’s another enemy to add to the list).
Wantless: Solace at World’s End is a unique and challenging experience that rewards strategic thinking and punishes recklessness. The deep gameplay mechanics make it a standout title in the tactical RPG genre. While the difficulty might be a barrier for some, those who embrace the challenge will find a rewarding and thought-provoking adventure within the recesses of troubled minds. (Hey, that kind of sounds like starting therapy. Is that what this game is, an advertisement for therapy?)
Wantless: Solace at World’s End is available for PC via Steam Early Access.
Related: Reviews by Michelle Jones
I'm a completionist gamer who just needs to find that one last object and clear that final dungeon. I love all video games, from open world sandboxes on a console to a mindless match three on my phone. In addition to gaming and writing, I am a graduate student working on a thesis about the ancient Icelandic Sagas. Feel free to ask me anything about Vikings.
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