Joelle
Jun 1, 2022
Make Potions, Master Spells, Manage Your Social Life
Creator Chucklefish has just announced today that their magical school RPG, Witchbrook, now has a Steam Page right here! This game has been high on our wait-list for being the Harry Potter to our Stardew Valley.
In Witchbrook you get to create your own character and enlist as a witch-in-training at Witchbook College. There, you can develop your magical abilities by attending classes, completing assignments, and earning badges to graduate at the top of your class. You’ll be learning to brew potions, fly brooms, improve your botany skills, and master spells.
School life will also include socializing with others, and even bringing dates to the prom! Yes, you can go on romantic dates with a colourful cast of characters. All with hopes and dreams that you can help them realize on your way to graduation and beyond.
New Witchbrook Steam Screenshots
As the release date is “still brewing”, the game will likely not launch this year. Furthermore, it’s too early for any console release confirmations. However, a Steam Page is a great next step! Speaking of which, it shows that online multiplayer is in the works!
As you can see below, new screenshots have been added with this announcement and we get a closer look at seaside town Mossport. Outside of the academy, you can take part in other activities such as photography and gardening. Mossport boasts many boutiques, cafes and seasonal markets!
- May 31, 2022
Relax, Garden, and Help Villagers, Ghosts and Wild Animals
Aside from the alluring fact that you get to play this open-world adventure game as a red panda, Aka also has a giant capybara you can sleep on and baby dragons you can feed. Now that I have your attention, I’d like to point out that this story starts very much like Littlewood. War is over and as a retired soldier, it’s time for you to settle down on an island paradise.
The different environments you’ll get to explore range from maple tree forests inspired by Canadian landscapes, to tropical beaches inspired by South Asia and South America. The characters you meet can be villagers, monsters, animals, and even ghosts! Of course, due to the ravages of war, everyone will need your help to restore the local fauna and flora to its original glory.
The gardening in Aka puts an emphasis in permaculture whenever designing, cultivating, or crafting. When taking a break from your farmland, you can relax in the hot springs with monkeys, or play mini-games like sledding and trekking through mazes.
Coming Soon to PC and Switch
Aka is developed by Cosmo Gatto and published by NEOWIZ. It’s slated to release sometime in Q4 2022 on Steam here, and for the Nintendo Switch via the eShop.
- May 27, 2022
Farm, Forage, Fish, Brew Potions, Make Produce, Make Friends, and Romance Villagers
The developers at Lemon Seed Studio recently announced that their 2D hand-painted RPG, Blue Oak Ridge, is coming out soon for PC! This game combines farming and exploration in a fantasy setting.
You wash up on an shore of a strange place and quickly get embroiled in forbidden magic, ancient secrets, and a quest to unite Eloria and save its people. A powerful magic infects the rivers and forests, monsters overrun the old mines, and the once-bustling Blue Oak Library lies in ruins.
On this island you can grow over 40 different crops, tend to livestock and pets, forage, mine for ore, and catch more than 50 species of fish! Everything you either make or find can be sold, brewed in potions, gifted to villagers, donated to the library, or used to upgrade your weapons and tools. Similar to Little Witch in the Woods, potion-making has a variety of uses other than replenishing your health, such as teleportation. Furthermore, like My Time at Sandrock, you can learn recipes and create crafting stations to make a profit.
The game lets you get fully creative with the option to fully customize your character at a tailor and barber, and decorate your farmhouse right down to the roof and the siding. There are over 30 characters to befriend and every time you do, there are even more outfit options! There are also 11 romance candidates to gift items to, go on dates with, and eventually marry!
Wishlist on Steam Now
Blue Oak Bridge will be releasing sometime in August 2022 on PC. Wishlist this magical farming sim on Steam here.
- May 26, 2022
Fly on a Magic Broomstick, Explore an Open-World Island, and Deliver Packages to Friends
Not only are we getting Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara in 2022 from studio Chibig, but we’re also getting Mika and The Witch’s Mountain! Together with developers Nukefist, Chibig will basically be bringing us Kiki’s Delivery Service as an adventure game. Who wouldn’t want that?
In Mika and The Witch’s Mountain, you play as Mika the witch delivering packages to townspeople on a magic broomstick! Since you’re still in training, with every successful delivery, you will earn upgrades to help you navigate this sandbox island. Not only will flying be a bit of a challenge, but so will be protecting your packages from the elements!
On the island, there are also secrets to uncover along with the overall narrative. Even the townspeople will have interesting stories to tell as you get to know them better!
Coming in 2022 on Steam and All Consoles
You’ll be able to soar the skies later this year on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC (Steam).
- May 24, 2022
Go on an Adventure Through the Islands of Mara
Koa and The Five Pirates of Mara is a 3D platformer created with the combined efforts of the following three indie game studios: Talpa, Undercoders, and Chibig. In this mash-up, you’ll get to play as Koa and her best friend Napopo from Summer in Mara (extra chibi-fied), with levels that are reminiscent of adventure game Mail Mole.
Unlock an archipelago one after the other and dodge traps, fight pirates, solve puzzles, and find collectibles! All islands throughout the world of Mara have a variety of biomes like “sandy beaches and bubbling volcanoes”.
Releasing Soon in 2022
The game will be releasing this year (2022) on PC and consoles. You can Wishlist Koa and The Five Pirates of Mara now on Steam here. For another game that’s part of the Chibig Universe, go here: Ankora: Lost Days – New Switch Game From The Makers Of Summer in Mara. Stay tuned for more titles coming soon too!
- May 19, 2022
Collect Resources, Befriend the Wildlife, Craft, and Explore a Magical Deserted Island
Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure is a new game by creators Snowcastle Games. This title is inspired by Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley and will be set in the same universe as their previous Earlock RPGs!
On a magical deserted island, you will come to discover ancient ruins, fight pirates, and explore several different biomes. For example, icy mountains, deserts, jungles, and swamps. By finding and rescuing the imprisoned magical creatures, you can bond with them and use their unique abilities to help you unlock new areas.
When not out gathering resources and finding treasure, you can customize and decorate your own settlement. Build your home, create a field of crops, make workshops, and talk to the locals!
Coming to Steam Early Access This Summer
You can wishlist Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure on Steam here. The developers plan to bring this exploration and action-adventure game to all consoles at a later date. *Updated: trailer with Open Beta June 17th, 2022 date*
- May 18, 2022
Fall, Struggle, and Get Yeeted in the Most Whimsical Obstacle Course Ever With All of Your Friends!
Mediatonic, the creators behind Fall Guys, an online multiplayer racing game with colourful beans, just announced that they’re going free-to-play! Starting June 21st, 2022, you can play Fall Guys for free on Epic Games, Xbox (all gens), PS5, and the Nintendo Switch! Furthermore, all players will have cross-platform, cross-play, and cross-save capabilities!
Existing players of the PS4 and Steam versions, will continue to receive all updates (new seasons, patches, and new features). However, new players will no longer be able to purchase the game for Steam. Rather, you will have to go to the Epic Games Store to play on PC. Moreover, if you already own the game, make sure to sign up for the Legacy Pack before the new release date. The Legacy Pack will contain a nickname, nameplate, the Regal costume, the Veggie Dog costume, the Feisty Dwarf costume. It also will have a Season Pass for Season 1 (Free For All) for, well…for free.
Pre-Register on the Epic Games Store for the June 21st, 2022 Free Release
If you buy the Season Pass, via Show-Bucks (in-game currency), you’ll get new unlockables, and 100 new levels at launch. If you pre-register now through Epic Games right here, you can get lots of goodies! Awards will later be handed out on June 27th, 2022. For more information, check out the announcement trailer below!
- May 16, 2022
Make Friends, Find Love, and Raise Kittens
Out of all of the adorable games that include cats mentioned here, Cattails has been a favourite among our readers. The small indie team, Falcon Development, is now back with a sequel to the beloved feral feline colony life sim that promises to deliver an even better experience than before!
Cattails: Wildwood Story will take you to the mysterious Wildwoods where you can discover fresh herbs and ancient treasures. You’ll have to not only defend your customizable settlement from dark intruders, but thrive by hunting for food, becoming friends with the residents, and growing the size of your litter! This stand-a-alone title will have new game mechanics, features, and neighbours.
Cattails: Wildwood Story is on Kickstarter Now for Q4 2023 Release
Cattails: Wildwood Story will be releasing on Steam (PC, Mac) in 2023 here, and later in 2024 for the NIntendo Switch. Luckily, this project has already surpassed its Kickstarter goals, however you can follow the link here if you’d still like to contribute and receive rewards!
