All posts tagged in Witchbrook
Jan 6, 2023
Witchbrook has been in development for some time now. The game created by Chucklefish, the previous publisher of Stardew Valley, revealed some amazing new details about the upcoming Magic game in an early design document.
In Witchbrook the player will take on the role of a student inside a magic school, something a Harry Potter fan might be familiar with. During the course of the studies, players will be on a path to discovering who they really are.
The game will take the player on a journey through various activities that all help you work towards a successful school life. Withcbrook offers a lot of side activities next to the very busy study schedule that players will have to master.
Witchbrook Looks Stunning
Chucklefish surprised fans with some brand new screenshots showing of the games colorful, whimsical world. Take a look at the new screenshots released below!
Gardening, Potion Making and Artifact Hunting!
Side quests such as social actives and school work are just the beginning of the many features you can look forward to. You will be able to plant your very own herb garden, go on a fishing trip and just so much more. Witchbrook is designed to deliver a relaxing and calmly paced experience much like Stardew Valley where you can decide how to play the game.
Besides growing your own herb garden, you will also be able to go artifact hunting. These items are scattered throughout the world, inviting the players to go exploring! Once you come across an artifact you will have to solve a puzzle to obtain the item!
Fishing in Witchbrook using target mode Potion making is obviously part of the game, every wizard needs a cauldron expelling green mysterious steam. Once you acquire potion recipes you will be able to brew a potion. But don’t you worry, there will also be traditional cooking where you can throw together a delicious meal inside the local cafe!
Some activities like fishing also allow the player to enter “Targeting mode” where you can choose from a list of different actions like spells, items and tools. This mode is great to create a rich and meaningful experience, rather than just point and click at something.
Withcbrook doesn’t stop here, exciting features like wizard dueling, crafting, astrology and even mail stamp collecting enrich the gameplay even further.
Seasonal Events
The game is also accompanied by weather and a day and night cycle. While this is always a pleasant element to have, as it creates a more immersive experience, it also adds seasons and therefore seasonal events. Christmas and Halloween were named as a few possible examples. Magic school and Halloween events just seem like a perfect match to us!
That’s right, players will be able to enjoy 4 seasons, each lasting one month or 30 days according to the in-game calendar. If you played any Harvest Moon, Stardew Valley or Story of Seasons games you will know how much each season can change the gameplay entirely. During each event players can also look forward to obtaining new items to redecorate part of the school grounds or simply make new friends at the gathering.
Broom Racing and other Minigames
Minigames are also going to be a big part of Witchbrook. According to the game design document “Minigames are scattered throughout the gameworld. Some minigames only show up during events.” Chucklefish also named some examples that could potentially become part of the game. Broom racing, casino games, wizard chess, card games and more.
What would a magic school game be without… magic? Players can learn spells which can help you perform better in side activities such as fishing, foraging or even farming! Alakazam!
Everything you love in games is here!
Besides all the fun new features Witchbrook has to offer, there will of course be elements you come to expect from such game. NPCs with unique personalities are populating the breathing and living world. Make friends around school, help other people around you by obtaining quests from them and more. Get to know the people who share a world with you, customize and play the game you enjoy it the most.
Witchbrook is one of the titles I look forward to playing a lot! With its adorable art style and plenty of content, I can only imagine the amount of hours I am going to pour into this promising title. However, do keep in mind that game designs can change drastically throughout the development cycle. While all these features sounds exciting it is possible that they will change or be left out entirely. Regardless, Witchbrook is shaping up to be a fans new favorite game!
Witchbrook Multiplayer and Cross platform
Some details in regards to multiplayer options for the magic game have also been shared, you can find out more about it right here.
Witchbrook Release Date
Witchbrook does not have a release date – but is expected for a release sometime in the near future, Chucklefish is very quiet about the actual release window. Given the publishers history I would not be surprised to see Witchbrook appear on Nintendo Switch as well as on Steam!
In a recently released FAQ Chuckelfish stated that it is a “no crunch” game development studio which essentially means developers are given enough time to bring their vision to life. However this also means that games take a little longer to comeplete.
Animal Crossing New Horizons was also delayed by nearly a year which resulted in one of the most refined games Nintendo has released in recent years.
Make also sure you keep an eye on another magic focused game called Little Witch in the Woods a super adorable indie game featuring kitty clouds and wizards!
- 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!
- Sep 20, 2020
Chucklefish, developers of Witchbrook, have released new images for the game and launched the official website.
Witchbrook has been in development for some time now. The game created by Chucklefish, the previous publisher of Stardew Valley, revealed a brand new look for the game today!
For anyone who may not have heard about Witchbrook yet, in this game the player will take on the role of a student inside a magic school, something a Harry Potter fan might be familiar with. During the course of the studies, players will be on a path to discovering who they really are.
The game will take the player on a journey through various activities that all help you work towards a successful school life. Withcbrook offers a lot of side activities next to the very busy study schedule that players will have to master.
What’s new?
The developers have officially launched their website where you can find everything you need to know ab out Witchbrook. You can also sign up for their newsletter, that way you stay current on all things happening with the development of the game.
The devs also tweeted a new image for the game, giving a closer look at the interior of the school. With so much being shared recently, it seems that development of Witchbrook is coming along quite smoothly.
More info
For more information on Witchbrook, you can check out the new website now.
For more great magical pixel games, check out my coverage of StoryArcana.
- Jan 11, 2020
When J.K. Rowling published Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone back in 1997, she had no idea how popular the book would become. The book was so popular in fact, that Rowling went on to write another six books, all of which were turned into great films.
With J.K. Rowling being an undeniably great writer, in combination with the attractive magic (but still refreshingly relatable) premise of the franchise, it’s no wonder the series has a cult following. And so for all you Potterheads out there, here are six games picked especially for you. ?
Games already released
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Set in Hogwarts and the Harry Potter universe, this game was bound to make the list. Developed and published by Jam City under license from Portkey Games, This RPG game was released for Android and iOS devices on the 25th April 2018.
The game is set between Harry Potter’s birth and his enrollment at Hogwarts. Upon beginning the game, players can create and customise their character, who is about to begin their studies at Hogwarts. Your player can attend various different magic classes, learn spells, duel rivals, and undertake quests.
The game is free to download, but there is the option to make in-app purchases for additional perks.
Magician’s Quest: Mysterious Times
Described as a cross between Harry Potter and Animal Crossing, Magicians Quest: Mysterious Times was published by Konami for Nintendo DS in Japan on the 12th November 2008. The game hit the shelves in the US on the 11th May 2009.
Magician’s Quest: Mysterious Times is a fantasy life simulation game for the Nintendo DS. After customising the appearance, name and gender of their character, players are able to attend classes at the game’s magic academy. During classes, players will learn spells and incantations, the mysteries of magic, and interact with fellow students.
Despite criticism for its striking resemblance to Animal Crossing games, Magician’s Quest offers plenty of unique features for players to enjoy. Examples include: monthly quests during ‘Mystery Time’, dates with other students, the ability to form a band, getting to prank others (and be pranked), plus many more amusing quirks.
The game is quite rare, and therefore rather pricey, but pre-owned copies of it often pop up on sites like eBay and Amazon.
Guildlings
Guildlings is a JRPG single player episodic adventure for mobile. The game is a fantasy adventure game ‘set in a world of wizards and Wi-Fi’.
Playing as a homeschooled teenager, you unfortunately manage to activate a cursed smartphone. Recruiting your friends as Guildlings, you must utilise their incredible powers to rid yourself of the curse, and more importantly, save the world.
Game developers Sirvo Studios released Guildlings for iOS on the 8th November 2019. It was also a featured release on the Apple Arcade.
You can read more about the game by clicking here. Additionally, you can obtain a free mobile wallpaper by visiting the game’s official website.
Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time
Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time is an action adventure RPG game. The game was initially released in Japan for PS4 on the 30th of November 2017. It was released worldwide on the 15th of May 2018. The game was developed by A+ Games and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It is currently playable on PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows.
For those unfamiliar with Little Witch Academia, it is an anime series that takes place at Luna Nova Academy, a school for witches in training, The protagonist of the series is a Japanese girl named Akko who is from a non-magical background.
In the game, you must uncover the mysteries at Luna Nova Academy with Akko and her friends. Players get to explore dungeons, cast spells, and use witchcraft, in order to discover the seven wonders, and solve the peculiar shift in time.
Upcoming games
Witchbrook
Witchbrook (which initially had the working title of Spellbound), is an up and coming RPG simulation game with turn-based strategy elements. Currently in development by Chucklefish, the pixel-art-stylised game is described as ‘Stardew Valley meets Harry Potter’.
The game is set in a magic school, where the player is enrolled as a student, Whilst completing their studies, players will go on a journey to discover who they really are. The game offers a variety of side activities that include social events, potion making, fishing, gardening, artefact hunting and more!
You can find out more about this highly anticipated game by clicking here.
Ikenfell
Ikenfell is a pixel-art-stylised turn-based RPG game that features a group of troublesome magic students. The game utilises timing-based battle mechanics to allow players to power spells and block attacks. Ikenfell is set in a vast and mysterious magic school. Inside the school, players will encounter numerous monsters and bosses to fight, discover hoards of hidden treasure, and uncover dark secrets never meant to be discovered.
Ikenfell is currently still in development by Happy Ray Games. It will be published by Humble Bundle. Upon its release, the game will initially be available for Windows and Mac. However, the Ikenfell website says that ‘other platforms and consoles will be announced as they are confirmed.’
- Sep 22, 2019
Hearthstead is an upcoming farming and life RPG game with all the elements needed to make for an engaging experience. Games like Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon have redefined the farming and lime simulation genre, with marriage relationships, seasonal events and just so much more to do.
Hearthstead aims to capture the hearts of the above named games by retaining beloved features as well as adding new gameplay mechanics to the popular video game genre. The game is set in a fantasy like world while still being relatable to our current environment. However, the fantasy setting allows the game to take different paths with very little to no creative restrictions. I am thinking fairies, mermaids and garden gnomes who can help with chores!
Hearthstead features an unseen level of customizations
The developers behind Hearthstead are making a big push for customizations and allowing the player to enjoy the game the way they want to. In example on the official Heartstead website the creators say “Customize, customize, customize: Build and personalize your farm, your home and your character to your heart’s content. Hundreds of customization options await you!”
This is especially exciting for farming and life simulation games as they are to be played for a long period of time and creating your own world is a big part of the joy. The developers further explain that customization options don’t stop here, players will be able to adjust pretty much anything to their liking.
Change how fast time goes by
Some players find the time restrictions in games like Stardew Valley or Story of Seasons to be somewhat of a burden. Hearthstead tackles this issue by allowing players to adjust any of these things “Find fishing too hard? Toggle easy fishing! Time goes by too fast? Tweak the timescale!” This level of customization is something I personally am very excited about!
Hearthstead is currently in development for PC with no release date yet. The developers are not ruling out a release for Nintendo Switch and other consoles later on! You can follow the developers on Twitter for up to date information on the games progress of course I will be keeping an eye on this little gem myself as well!
For more farming related news, Chucklefish is working on the Stardew Valley of Magic.
A new Story of Seasons for Nintendo Switch has also been confirmed and is well underway!
Hearthstead Features
Enjoy your fantasy life in the town of Hearthstead. You own a piece of the land and it’s up to you to decide how to engage with the game world.
Farming, crafting, fishing, foraging, town events, holidays and more! Activities and tasks are abundant and ready for you to engage with.
A colorful and varied cast of characters for you to meet: Dozens or interesting individuals make life in Hearthstead and its surrounding area. Uncover interesting stories and take part in the life in town.
Customize, customize, customize: Build and personalize your farm, your home and your character to your heart’s content. Hundreds of customization options await you!
Player options and accessibility are key: The game features many options to fine tune the mechanics to your own style of play. Find fishing too hard? Toggle easy fishing! Time goes by too fast? Tweak the timescale! You’ll be able to play and enjoy Hearthstead your way!
Want a little bit of Animal Crossing New Horizons in your home? Check out this adorable gardening kit!
- Sep 14, 2019
Stardew Valley is one of many beloved indie games that are currently available to play. Eric Barone also known as ConcernedApe is the sole developer of the game and has now spoken out to clarify some misunderstandings among the community in regards to his relationship with publisher Chucklefish.
Chucklefish is a British company that used to publish Stardew Valley, and is now working on Witchbrook which is considered the Stardew Valley of magic. Eric has since parted ways with them and taken over self publishing once again. Eric states in his latest blog post “Throughout the 4.5 years of development, I was the only person to work on Stardew Valley. Neither Chucklefish nor any contributors working with Chucklefish were involved in creating the game, in any capacity.”
Making clear once again that Chucklefish had no impact on Stardew Valleys 4.5 years of development, other than writing the net code for the multiplayer update that was released for the PC and Nintendo Switch console last year.
Chucklefish has recently been accused of underpaying their employees, a sensitive topic that is very important to Eric who recently formed a small team to help him focus on future development for Stardew Valley. Eric said “I can also say that, both personally and in my capacity as the recent founder of a small team, I believe in compensating developers for their contributions in working on games.”
You can check out his full statement on the official Stardew Valley Development Blog. Eric also recently teased fans with Fish ponds that will be coming to Stardew Valley with the next major update. The long awaited multiplayer update for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are also only weeks away from release according to Eric.
- May 28, 2018
We recently posted about Chucklefish (publishers of Stardew Valley) collaborating with Pixpil games to deliver an exciting new game entitled Eastward. In a recent interview with Red Bull, more information about the previously elusive game has come to light. Therefore we thought we’d take this opportunity to update anyone interested.
Eastward is an upcoming JRPG adventure game with pixel graphics, which is set in a post-apocalyptic Shanghai. The game, which focuses on a father and his daughter, is said to be very emotive and exciting. Eastward has beautiful graphics similar to Chucklefish’s farming simulation Stardew Valley and their upcoming magic school game Witchbrook (which you can read more about here). Therefore, Pixpil’s decision to partner with Chucklefish is undoubtedly a positive and prosperous one.
Pixpil initially started out as a small team of three. As the game progressed however, the team started to grow. There are currently around a dozen people from Pixpil working on Eastward. The company’s office is located in a Shanghai shopping mall, and is surrounded by many furniture stores. Pixpil have said that the ‘small and sneaky’ location of their headquarters has influenced the game.
Having also been compared to games such as Zelda and Earthbound, and inspired by Japanese anime, and the hustle and bustle of Shanghai, it’s safe to say the game has a wide variety of influences.
Pixpil’s co-founder and designer, Feng Ye talks about the game’s protagonists:
“The main characters are John and Sam,” Ye explains. “A tough, hard-working guy, and a long white fluffy-haired girl respectively, who start their journey in a mysterious underground place isolated from the rest of the world. In the outside world, the human population has shrunk to an all-time low, and strange creatures are beginning to descend on the cities. After leaving their small underground village, John and Sam are about to discover what has made the world become so dangerous and what destiny awaits them.”
Despite taking place in a bleak post-apocalyptic world, the upcoming JRPG still has a plethora of interesting characters to discover and engage with. For example a merchant character called William, who has an adopted robot-boy assistant, undergoing surgery to become a real boy.
Although the game is single player, players will have the opportunity to switch between the two protagonists in order to solve puzzles. The game will feature John the most, but will still incorporate his daughter Sam in order to add variety and different characteristics. On same occasions, the pair will need to be separated in order to proceed. This mechanic adds more complexities and possibilities to the gameplay.
The game combines 2D art with 3D effects. Eastward consists of tried and tested game art methods, as well as more modern effects, created with a variety of equipment, and a bespoke Homebrew engine. This very unique combination has resulted in beautiful graphics.
Eastward’s visual allure is one of the key reasons that Chucklefish got involved, according to producer Rosie Ball. “From the moment we saw Eastward we absolutely fell in love with the art style, and we just wanted to find out more! After we spoke to the Pixpil team and got hands-on with the game, we were so happy to discover that it’s not just a pretty game. It’s also really interesting from a technological point of view, with what it’s doing creatively with pixel art. The Pixpil team are being very innovative with their techniques, and that’s something that really excites us at Chucklefish.”
The developers have also made it clear however, that they want the audio in the game to be just as compelling. Due to difficulties in finding local composers familiar with their game language, Pixpil have decided to outsource audio to Joel Corelitz The Unfinished Swan, Gorogoa, Tumbleseed) and Hyperduck Soundworks (Dust:An Elysian Tail, The Adventure Pals). Pixpil are working closely alongside them to ensure the music and audio is exactly how they want it and that the soundtrack is well-matched to the game.
It has been hinted that Eastward is ‘moving towards completion’, although no fixed date for the game’s release has been set. Pixpil have said that they are very proud of their game, and belive that their partnership with Chucklefish has been very helpful in getting the ball rolling. Currently, the game is only set to be released for PC and Mac, although developers have expressed interest in releasing the game on other platforms, such as Linux.
Could this mean a spot beside Stardew Valley in the Nintendo eShop?
The full interview can be read here.
- May 20, 2018
[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ittle Witch Academia and Harry Potter fans; Hold onto your broomsticks! The enchanting, Ghibli-esque world of Little Witch Academia now has its own video game!
Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time is an action adventure RPG game. The game was initially released in Japan for PS4 on the 30th November 2017. In early 2018, it was announced that the release of the game’s PC version would coincide with it’s PS4 release in the west.
The game was finally published worldwide on Steam and PS4 by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment on May 15th 2018. The game costs $49.99 to download on the PlayStation Store and $39.99 on Steam.
Chamber of Time is an addition to the popular Little Witch Academia franchise ‘witch’ contains films, manga and a TV series’. The franchise has become cult viewing all over the world, especially since the films and TV series became available on Netflix.
For those unfamiliar with Little Witch Academia, entries to the series take place at Luna Nova Academy, a school for witches in training. The protagonist of the franchise is Akko, an optimistic and energetic (albeit slightly impulsive) Japanese girl who comes from a non-magical background. In my opinion, this is similar to the various Harry Potter characters that come from a Muggle family.
Chamber of Time offers players the ability to uncover the various mysteries of Luna Nova Academy. The game features the lovable protagonist Akko, as well as a variety of her friends. Players can explore dungeons, cast spells and use various magic to discover the seven wonders, as well as to resolve the mysterious time-shit that has occurred.
The game features exclusive cut-scenes made directly by the franchise’s anime studio, Studio Trigger.
With elements of RPG, this side-scrolling action game offers fans the ability to level-up character as well as finding ‘drops’ whilst exploring, which help to enhance in-game builds.
Ultimately, the game adheres to the humorous and endearing Little Witch Academia storyline that we all know and love, as well as offering a unique and interactive perspective of the world through a fun video game.
Does the concept of magic school games excite you? Why not check out the two upcoming magic school games Ikenfell and Witchbrook (formerly known as Spellbound) here.
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