New Cozy RPG Takes the Best of Stardew Valley and Adds a Magical Setting

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Lots of indie games focus on creating a relaxing, cozy experience, and many use a pixelated, retro art style. However, Witchbrook seems to be doing things a little differently within this genre. This life-simulation game, inspired by Stardew Valley, has been in development since 2018 and is now aiming for a 2026 release.

Witchbrook is set in the charming, magical town of Mossport, home to Witchbrook College. The game’s blend of ordinary life and fantastical magic will remind many players of the Harry Potter series. By combining elements of games like Hogwarts Legacy and Stardew Valley, Witchbrook aims to offer a fresh experience in the often-crowded world of cozy games on Steam. Despite clearly taking inspiration from other titles, the developers hope Witchbrook will stand out with its unique approach.

Witchbrook Will Be Yet Another Stardew Valley-Inspired Cozy Game

Witchbrook and Stardew Valley share a lot in common, especially in how they look and are organized. Like the popular game Stardew Valley, Witchbrook uses pixel art. Beyond the visuals, the games also feel similar in how you can play freely and build relationships with other characters. In fact, Witchbrook seems to take inspiration from many of Stardew Valley’s key features, including:

  • Unique, predetermined NPC schedules
  • Romance sub-stories
  • Changing seasons & seasonal events
  • RPG progression
  • Character and home customization
  • Crafting and commerce systems
  • 4-player co-op

It’s worth knowing that Witchbrook is being created and released by Chucklefish, the company also behind the popular game Stardew Valley, which they first published in 2016.

The creators of Witchbrook have compared it to popular early 2000s online games like Habbo Hotel. In a development blog post from November 2025, Senior Artist Jade Evans explained that the game is also inspired by browser-based dress-up games, hinting that players will have extensive options for customizing their characters—even more so than in similar cozy games like Stardew Valley.

How Witchbrook’s Hogwarts-Esque Magic Vibes Help Guide Its Cozy Construction

Although Stardew Valley includes fantastical things like wizards and magical creatures in its mines, it isn’t fundamentally a magical game. These elements add flavor, but the core gameplay is much more realistic. Stardew Valley and similar games prioritize creating enjoyable and addictive loops based on everyday activities like farming, gathering resources, and building relationships with the people around you.

Like other games in the genre, Witchbrook will include familiar activities, but its setting—a magical college—adds a unique and appealing element. As a student at Witchbrook College, your character will experience cozy gameplay centered around academic life. The game will let you choose from different academic paths, helping you learn useful skills and explore various subjects, such as:

  • Potion-crafting
  • Divination
  • Alchemy
  • Astrology
  • Tarot

Players will be able to use their skills to help others through various tasks and requests. For instance, someone skilled in divination could become a sort of psychic advisor for the people of Mossport, and talented alchemists or potion-makers can brew medicines to heal the sick. The developers of Witchbrook drew inspiration for this practical, everyday use of magic from stories like Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching series and Kiki’s Delivery Service. Both of these stories highlight magic being used to help people, giving players a good idea of how Witchbrook will integrate witchcraft into both its gameplay and story.

In a recent and insightful developer blog post, Producer Rosie Ball revealed that the design of Witchcraft College draws inspiration from the buildings and grounds of Cambridge University.

What to Expect from Witchbrook in 2026

I was a little disappointed to hear that Witchbrook is now aiming for a 2026 release instead of 2025, but the developers seem really happy with how things are going! They say they’ve made amazing progress this year, so it might not be a huge delay – maybe we’ll even see it in early 2026. Honestly, I think that’s a good thing. With GTA 6 expected to dominate the holiday season, Witchbrook deserves some space to shine without getting completely overshadowed.

The creators of Witchbrook drew inspiration from stories that blend magic with everyday life, such as Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching books and the film Kiki’s Delivery Service, when designing how magic is used in the game’s realistic world.

Fans eager to learn more about Witchbrook can follow the ongoing development updates from Chucklefish and Robotality, including a look at a detailed, interactive map of Mossport. Chucklefish also plans to release Witchbrook on Xbox Game Pass right away, which could help the game reach a larger audience, even with recent reports of Game Pass subscriptions decreasing in 2025. In the meantime, players can enjoy the many similar games to Stardew Valley already available. Hopefully, Witchbrook will stand out from the competition and become a big success.

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2025-12-30 22:05