Masters of Anima
A real-time strategy game about summoning guardians to rescue a kidnapped shaper.
Masters of Anima is a real-time strategy game released in 2018, developed by the French studio Passtech Games. The story centers on Otto, a recent initiate into a guild of magicians called "shapers." The guild comes under attack by the villain Zahr, who employs forbidden magic to abduct the prime shaper, Ana. Otto must harness the shapers' magic to free Ana and restore balance to the world. In gameplay, the player controls Otto in a third-person perspective while using his shaping magic to summon any combination of five guardian types: Protectors, Sentinels, Keepers, Commanders, and Summoners. These units are directed indirectly through Otto by selecting them and issuing commands like Attack or Move. The game alternates between exploration, focused on navigating environments and solving puzzles, and combat arenas, where the player is confined to a space until hostile golems are defeated. Otto can directly interact with the world by attacking with his staff, activating special abilities for his summoned units, or triggering puzzle elements. Story progression occurs through discrete, linearly ordered levels. According to Metacritic, the game received generally positive reviews.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Passtech Games
- Publisher
- Focus Home Interactive
- Director
- Sylvain Passot
- Designer
- Adrien Crochet / Pascal Biren
- Programmer
- Sylvain Passot / Alban Guéret / Pierre Sénéclauze
- Artist
- Valentin André-Terramorsi / Romane Govin / Mark Dutriez
- Writer
- Adrien Crochet / Kurt McClung
- Composer
- Leon Shelby
- Engine
- OEngine
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, Nintendo Switch
- Released
- April 10, 2018
- Genre
- Real-time strategy, role-playing, puzzle
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The plot of Masters of Anima centers on Otto, a newly inducted member of a guild of magicians called shapers. The shapers' guild is attacked by the nefarious Zahr, who uses forbidden magics to kidnap the prime shaper, Ana. Otto must use the magic of the shapers to rescue Ana so that she can restore the world to its proper order. Gameplay involves controlling Otto in a traditional third-person style while indirectly commanding summoned guardians through selection and commands like Attack and Move. The player can summon arbitrary combinations of five guardian types: Protectors, Sentinels, Keepers, Commanders, and Summoners. Gameplay alternates between exploration mode, focused on environment navigation and puzzles, and combat arenas where the player is locked into a space until defeating hostile golems. Otto can directly affect the game by attacking with his staff, activating special abilities for summoned units, or activating puzzle elements. Story progression is broken into discrete levels that progress linearly.
Reader's Guide
Masters of Anima received generally positive reviews according to Metacritic. The game is notable for blending real-time strategy with third-person action, requiring players to manage both Otto's direct actions and the indirect control of summoned guardians. Its dual-mode structure—alternating between exploration and puzzle-solving and locked combat arenas—provides a varied gameplay loop. The ability to summon arbitrary combinations of five guardian types offers strategic depth, while the linear level progression and story-driven plot give structure to the experience. The game draws comparisons to titles like Pikmin and Overlord, which similarly involve controlling a character who commands a group of units. Masters of Anima stands as a distinctive entry in the 2010s real-time strategy landscape, particularly for its focus on a single protagonist who summons and directs a squad of magical guardians.
Did You Know?
- Masters of Anima was developed by French studio Passtech Games.
- Gameplay alternates between exploration mode and combat arenas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Masters of Anima?
Masters of Anima is a 2018 real-time strategy game created by the French studio Passtech Games. It follows Otto, a new member of a magical guild known as the shapers, as he fights to rescue his kidnapped leader from the villain Zahr.
What are the five guardian types in Masters of Anima?
Players command five distinct guardian classes—Protectors, Sentinels, Keepers, Commanders, and Summoners—through Otto's shaping magic. These units can be mixed and matched in any combination during third-person real-time battles.
Why is Masters of Anima important?
It blends real-time strategy with a third-person action perspective, letting players directly control Otto while summoning and directing guardian units on the fly. This hybrid approach set it apart from the more traditional RTS titles of the 2010s.
Who is the antagonist in Masters of Anima?
Zahr is the main villain, a practitioner of forbidden magic who attacks the shapers' guild and kidnaps the prime shaper Ana. His actions drive the entire conflict Otto must resolve.
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