GameCentral goes hands-on with 1666: Amsterdam, the next historical fantasy from Assassin's Creed creator Patrice Désilets, where you play as both a witch and a cat. The game, which has survived legal battles and studio changes, is set to launch in early access on August 25, 2026.
1666: Amsterdam began development at THQ Montreal in 2010. When Ubisoft acquired the studio in 2013, the project was suspended and Désilets was fired, leading to a lawsuit. The matter was settled in 2016, with Désilets gaining full rights. Development restarted at his own studio, Panache Digital Games, with the title re-revealed at Summer Game Fest.
Witchcraft and a cat from 1999
The key new component, added when development restarted in 2020, is witchcraft. You play as Noa Brooklyn, a witch raised to steal power from demonic entities called 'the originals'. Alongside her is Aaron, summoned from 1999 and transformed into a cat. The prologue, available on Steam, has drawn complaints over now-removed AI assets.
In our hands-on session, combat feels rudimentary at first, with basic staff attacks and dodges against waves of soldiers. A fear gauge fills quicker with stylish attacks, but later spells like levitation seem more dynamic. The core loop involves hunting entities and solving puzzles by switching between Noa and Aaron, who can possess civilians in 1999.
Roguelike elements and detailed Amsterdam
The game features roguelike elements, with randomized spells from chests and a modestly-sized open area of Amsterdam that promises explorable buildings. The replication of Amsterdam is impressively detailed, with cramped canal houses and narrow staircases. However, controlling the cat feels sticky, and signposting can be confusing.
Concerns include a repeated boss fight against a generic-looking demon, which may not incentivize replay. The game is launching in early access, an uncommon approach for single-player games, though precedents like Hades 2 and Baldur's Gate 3 exist.
1666: Amsterdam feels like a witches' brew of ideas that haven't quite boiled together yet, but the pitch of an off-the-rails Assassin's Creed is enticing. Whether Panache can find the magic remains to be seen.
