Failbetter Games has revealed Mandrake, a cosy fantasy RPG heading to PC through Steam. There’s no launch date yet, but what’s been shown so far already paints a world full of mystery, magic, and a deep connection to nature and folklore. If you’ve ever wanted to live in a haunted cottage, grow turnips with magic, and drink tea with a chimney god, this one’s for you.
You play as the last of the Mandrakes—a once-powerful family of sorcerous gardeners. After many years away, you’ve come back to your old home, now abandoned and overgrown. It’s not just about planting vegetables, though. You’ll rebuild your lodge, explore strange lands, meet the locals, and slowly piece together the story your ancestors left behind.
The magic roots of Mandrake
In this world, gardening isn’t just a peaceful hobby; it’s a lost and dangerous art. But for your character, it runs in the blood. You’ll start with the basics: beans, trees, and turnips. As you grow more skilled, things get stranger. Magical plants like rhewyn water themselves, and some even call down storms. There’s even a tree that grows geese. Yes, geese.
You’ll set up flower beds, scatter decorations, and carefully bring life back to the wild grounds of your family’s old castle. It’s all about making something beautiful and alive in a place that time forgot.
More than digging and planting
Mandrake offers more than garden life. You can go fishing (though the rivers might curse you), wander through woods to gather ingredients, and dive into dark mines full of strange stones and old secrets. When you’re back home, you can read old books, decorate your study, and cook hearty meals to end the day.
But when night falls, you’ll want to stay indoors. An old rule, called the Covenant of the Hearth, says the night belongs to other beings. Once the sun sets, only hearthfires stay lit. Go outside, and you may meet things that shouldn’t be seen.
That said, you’re a Mandrake. Who says you have to follow the rules?
Meet the people of Chandley
The village nearby, Chandley, is small but full of life. Everyone has their routines, problems, and stories. You’ll meet Rosen, a calm and clever beekeeper who leads the village, and Gideon, a hunter who deals with the forest’s old spirits.
There’s also Nessa, the local blacksmith, who hides a painful past behind her kind smile, and Thackery, who fiddles with strange gadgets no one understands. Each character feels real, and as you get to know them, you’ll slowly become a part of their lives too.
Folklore and forgotten things
Beyond the village lies a world full of odd spirits and long-lost powers. You’ll hear whispers in the mines, find a talking ghost trapped in a tree, and meet beings like Granny Jakes, who guards a hidden orchard and brews drinks no one remembers how to make.
Everything in Mandrake seems to have a story, some sad, some strange, and some still waiting to be told.
Mandrake doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s already looking like a heartfelt mix of quiet magic, meaningful choices, and rich storytelling. If you’re drawn to folklore, cosy worlds, and games that let you take your time, this is one to watch.
You can wishlist it on Steam now.
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