Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons is not trying to become a sprawling, hundreds-of-hours open-world epic; instead, it aims to deliver a denser and more deliberately designed action RPG. Invoke Studios says exploration will produce meaningful rewards more frequently while the adventure can still last for dozens of hours.

Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons was one of the notable role-playing presentations at Gamescom 2026, placing Kaatri in Ravenloft’s dark realm with a mixture of magic and close-quarters combat. Following the gameplay showcase, Invoke Studios head Dominic Guay has now explained how the project will differ from enormous open worlds such as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

The studio does not want to compete solely through map size or raw playtime. According to Guay, the developers are building a world where curious players encounter side quests, stories, and useful discoveries at a much denser pace. In one earlier demonstration, for example, a seemingly simple encounter with a beggar opened a new quest, illustrating how curiosity and close observation of the environment will shape the adventure.

As we explained in our earlier report, the game is also being designed as an accessible entry point for players unfamiliar with the decades of rules and lore behind Dungeons & Dragons. These new details now provide a much clearer picture of the campaign’s scale and rhythm.

A denser open world and an adventure lasting dozens of hours

Guay says Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons will be longer than a traditional linear game, but it is not intended to become a giant that demands hundreds of hours. Its smaller scale does not mean a shortage of content: the team still expects the experience to last for many dozens of hours, with the final number depending heavily on how often players leave the main path.

Exploration directly supports character progression. Players who investigate hidden corners and accept optional activities can become more powerful, making the central missions easier. Those who focus exclusively on the main story may eventually encounter an obstacle that encourages them to explore and strengthen Kaatri before moving forward.

Enemy strength will not automatically scale with Kaatri’s abilities. If a region is populated by weaker creatures, they will remain weak even after the protagonist has mastered far more dangerous spells. This choice should make progression feel more tangible while giving each part of the world its own recognisable level of danger.

Romance is not part of Kaatri’s story

Invoke Studios also clarified an important aspect of the protagonist’s relationships: Kaatri will not have romance options. Her attention is consumed by a personal mission, one important enough for her to enter a pact with the immensely powerful Tasha.

Kaatri will not travel without meaningful companions. She meets several characters and develops a closer bond with Skev, the imp seen in the gameplay presentation, but none of these relationships will turn into player-selectable romances. The writers instead favour a defined narrative, allowing the cinematic scenes to explore Kaatri’s personality and the story’s decisive moments in greater detail.

Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons is therefore not chasing the largest possible map or the longest possible running time. The goal is a more focused, richly populated action RPG where exploration produces visible results quickly and Kaatri’s story can follow the creators’ intended dramatic arc. The game is in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Source: 3DJuegos