Although cozy games, especially those that boast a quasi-retro pixelated art style, are ubiquitous in the indie scene, Witchbrook He seems to take the genre from a slightly different angle. The Stardew ValleyThe slice-of-life inspired project has been in the works since at least 2018 and is currently targeting a 2026 release date.
Witchbrook takes the player to the picturesque, mystical town of Mossport, home to the eponymous Witchbrook College. This premise should sound immediately familiar to those familiar with the seed Harry Potter franchise as it mixes the everyday mundane with fantastic magical elements. Through this cross-pollination Hogwarts heritage and Stardew Valley, Witchbrook hopes to capture a unique experience in the cozy/casual gaming space on Steam, which is pretty oversaturated at the moment; ideally, Witchbrook will do something interesting and fresh, despite wearing the influences of its genre on its sleeve.
Witchbrook will be another cozy game inspired by Stardew Valley
Presentation and structure are two areas where Witchbrook is the most similar Stardew Valley. The game features the same pixelated graphics as modern classic ConcernedApe, but its open-ended gameplay and social simulation systems also serve as strong parallels. at first sight Witchbrook intends to include a range of Stardew-isms, including:
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Unique, predetermined NPC plans
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Romantic sub-stories
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Changing seasons and seasonal events
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RPG development
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Character and home customization
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Crafting and trading systems
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co-op for 4 players
Witchbrook's developers have also compared it to other classic games, particularly browser-based MMOs from the 2000s such as Hotel Habbo. On the November 2025 Dev Blog Witchbrook Senior Artist Jade Evans also cited browser-based dress-up and makeover games as a particular inspiration, suggesting that character customization will play an even more prominent role than in other Stardew– as pleasant games.
How magical Witchbrook vibes from Hogwarts help guide its cozy construction
While Stardew Valley it definitely has fantastical elements, from the existence of wizards to the various mystical creatures littering the mines of Pelican Town, it's not exactly magical. These fantasy aspects are like condiments or perhaps accompaniments to a main meal that is much more grounded. Stardew Valley and its heirs often focus on creating fun and engaging systems rooted in repetitive core practices like farming, foraging, and slowly cultivating relationships with people in your community.
And of course similar activities will appear Witchbrookbut the magical college premise offers a fun and worthwhile twist. The player character is, after all, a visitor to Witchbrook College, and this informs their set of cozy game activities. Witchbrook will offer players a number of different academic paths to follow, allowing them to learn a number of important skills and disciplines, including:
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Making potions
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Divination
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Alchemy
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Astrology
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Tarot
Players can further apply these skills to a variety of tasks and favors. For example, a player skilled in divination can act as something of a personal psychic to the citizens of Mossport, while an alchemist or skilled potion maker can create various medicines to treat those suffering from certain ailments. WitchbrookThe developers say that the practical applications of magic in a relatively entrenched economy were inspired by works by the likes of Terry Pratchett Tiffany Aching series, as well Kiki's Delivery Service. Both are stories that focus on the use of magic for the public good, so they may offer a good indication of how Witchbrook he incorporates his sorcery from a mechanical and narrative perspective.
In a particularly informative developer blog, producer Rosie Ball explains how Witchcraft College itself is loosely based on the building and landscape architecture of Cambridge University.
What to expect from Witchbrook in 2026
As already mentioned, Witchbrook has been pushed from a planned release date of 2025 to sometime in 2026. Even so WitchbrookThe developers are reporting “major development progress” in 2025, suggesting that the delay might not be that extreme: the game could still launch in early 2026. That would probably be for the best, as it would Witchbrook some much needed peace before the holidays, which is just about that time GTA 6 it is expected to hit the gaming market like a wrecking ball.
WitchbrookThe developers say that the practical applications of magic in a relatively entrenched economy were inspired by works by the likes of Terry Pratchett Tiffany Aching series, as well Kiki's Delivery Service.
Potential fans can explore a few for now Witchbrook development updates that continue to be shared by Chucklefish and Robotality, one of which includes a detailed interactive map of Mossport. Also worth noting is Chucklefish's plans to bring Witchbrook on Xbox Game Pass on day one, which could very well lead to a larger player base despite the mass cancellation of Game Pass in 2025. Until then, viewers can deal with a host of other Stardew– likes the market. Hopefully, Witchbrook is able to blow these other competitors out of the water and make a big splash of its own.
- Released
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2025
- ESRB
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Teen // Suggestive themes
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op
