It’s easy to get lost in the thought of attending a school for magic – many people, both young and old, have imagined it! There’s something incredibly appealing about escaping to a different world, learning how to cast spells and brew potions, and facing off against magical beasts and dangerous foes.
If you’re a fan of magical schools filled with spells, wands, and secrets, but want something different from Hogwarts, there are plenty of other options. Whether you prefer a charming, independent game with lovely pixel graphics or a game where you run a magical university, here are some alternatives to Harry Potter games worth exploring.
Games featuring magic schools also count, meaning they don’t have to specifically call their school a “wizarding academy” to be included.
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The Sims 4: Realm of Magic
Welcome To Glimmerbrook!
Players of The Sims have always loved magical creatures – from werewolves and mermaids to ghosts, fantastical elements are consistently popular. The Sims 4: Realm of Magic is a Game Pack, meaning it’s more substantial than a typical Stuff Pack (which mainly adds clothes and furniture) but not as large as a full Expansion Pack. It adds a significant amount of new gameplay content.
With The Sims 4: Realm of Magic, players can explore the new world of Glimmerbrook and learn magic! Sims can become Spellcasters by studying ancient texts and receiving guidance. This adds a lot of exciting possibilities to the game, letting Sims cause playful chaos – like making Sims fall in love, transforming others into objects, or starting neighborhood squabbles. They can also summon a magical familiar to protect them. It’s a refreshing break from the usual Sims goals of climbing the career ladder, raising a family, and upgrading homes!
Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Head To The College Of Winterhold And Study In The Magical Arts
Skyrim is a game that’s easy to lose yourself in, and for players interested in attending a school of magic, Winterhold is the place to go. This northern city is known for being cold and snowy, and it’s home to the renowned College of Winterhold. To become a student, players need to prove their magical ability by successfully casting a spell.
After joining, players can learn spells from the Hall of Countenance. Different teachers specialize in different types of magic, letting players customize their skills, and more spells become available as they level up. The trip to Winterhold is definitely worthwhile.
Mana Khemia (Both Games)
Enrol At An Alchemy School
If you’re a fan of the Atelier series, you should definitely try Mana Khemia and its sequel – they’re beloved PS2 games! These titles focus heavily on alchemy, which feels distinct from magic systems in other games. It’s a blend of magic and science, where making potions is similar to casting spells.
Mana Khemia focuses heavily on the daily life of a student, with players going to classes, taking tests, and finishing homework. Like the Atelier series, it includes these relaxing, everyday moments alongside a broader story, but emphasizes the slice-of-life aspects.
Academagia: The Making Of Mages
Live (and Read) Your Magical Dream Life
Academagia: The Making of Mages is a role-playing game taking place at a school for magic. You play as a new student and will learn spells, build relationships with classmates (there are over 80!), attend classes, and compete in challenges. Your choices really matter and will change the story, and there’s a lot to do – over 100 adventures await!
Academagia truly shines with its detailed and immersive world. The game is full of interesting history and stories, making the magical Academy a fascinating place to explore. While the interface has a charmingly old-school look, be prepared to take notes and do a lot of reading. If you enjoy choose-your-own-adventure books or visual novels, you’ll likely find yourself captivated by this game for hours.
Despite its strengths, Academagia has a couple of drawbacks. It’s a very text-based game that starts slowly and has a significant learning curve. Also, the current campaign only covers the first year of the game, and future years haven’t been released yet.
Little Witch Academia: Chamber Of Time
Harry Potter Isn’t The Only Famous Magic School Franchise With Video Games
Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time, inspired by the anime created by Yoh Yoshinari, takes place at Luna Nova Magic Academy, a renowned school for witches. Students there study a range of magical abilities, such as astrology, alchemy, numerology, and how to fly on broomsticks.
Chamber of Time is an action game where you explore levels from the side, with RPG-style character progression. You’ll uncover hidden areas within the Academy, fight through dungeons, collect treasure, and become more powerful. It’s a generally positive and enjoyable experience, especially for those who enjoy the anime it’s based on.
Chamber of Time isn’t a particularly good game, and you’d likely only enjoy it if you’re already a fan of Little Witch Academia.
Ikenfell
A Cute Turn-Based RPG All About Magic Students
Ikenfell is a charming game where you play as students at a magic school. You can explore a world full of secrets and find hundreds of hidden artifacts. It’s a turn-based RPG that requires skillful timing – each spell has a unique rhythm to master. While it takes practice, landing perfectly-timed spells to defeat enemies is incredibly rewarding.
This game features charming retro pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack, with a cast of memorable characters. Fans of games like Earthbound and Undertale will likely find a lot to love. Plus, Ikenfell stands out for its thoughtful and inclusive representation of LGBTQ+ characters.
Spellcaster University
Run Your Very Own Magic School
Spellcaster University offers a unique gameplay experience: instead of attending magic school, you run one. As the director, you’re responsible for the university’s finances, hiring qualified teachers, and shaping its overall atmosphere. You can focus on training students in nature-based magic like druidry and shamanism for a more peaceful approach, or delve into darker arts like demonology and necromancy to teach black magic.
In this game, you build your own magical school using collectible decks. The type of deck you choose—like the Nature deck with its magical creatures, or the Deck of Light with healing spells—will determine what options are available to you. Managing a magical university is a lot of fun, and fans of games like Two Point Hospital should really enjoy Spellcaster University.
Two Point Campus – Spiffinmoore
Yeah, Of Course, Two Point Campus Also Has A Magic School
So, with Two Point, the latest game lets you run a magic school – but you’ve gotta unlock it first! Spiffinmoore is the fifth campus, and it’s basically Hogwarts. I had to get at least a one-star rating on the first four campuses before I could even start building my wizarding school, and honestly, it’s a tough one. Like all Two Point games, it’s all about leveling up the campus, making money, and keeping your students happy – which is way harder than it sounds!
The Spiffinmoore level in Two Point Campus is heavily inspired by Harry Potter, particularly its British boarding school aesthetic, which strongly resembles Hogwarts. Though it’s not a huge portion of the game, Two Point Campus is so well-made and enjoyable that it’s easy to recommend to almost anyone.
Final Fantasy 8
Balamb Garden Isn’t Hogwarts, But It Teaches Magic
Balamb Garden isn’t just a school for wizards, but it definitely feels like one! It’s a training facility where students learn to fight and use magic, and they can even summon powerful creatures called Guardian Forces. It’s a really awesome place to be, though things can get a little risky sometimes.
Balamb Garden is a lively hub where you can practice magic, improve your skills, and even play cards with others. As you progress through the game, you’ll uncover hidden depths to this place. Despite being released 24 years ago, Final Fantasy VIII remains a fantastic and worthwhile experience.
It’s also worth noting Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which takes place at a military school that feels a lot like a school for magic.
Upcoming Game: Witchbrook
You Will (Hopefully) Soon Get To Enroll In A New Magic Academy
The indie RPG Witchbrook has been in development for a while, but it looks like it could finally be released in 2026! Players are really looking forward to it, and with good reason. If you enjoy games like Stardew Valley and Starbound, Witchbrook seems like it will be perfect for you, offering beautiful pixel art, a charming story, and memorable characters.
I’m so excited about Witchbrook! From what I’ve seen, you play as a student at Witchbrook College, which is in this adorable seaside town called Mossport. You get to learn magic – spells, potions, even fly on a broom! Plus, you can gather ingredients out in the world and really get into the whole witchy lifestyle. It also seems like you can build relationships with the people who live there and just become part of the community. Honestly, it looks incredibly cozy and magical, and I’m definitely keeping an eye out for its release this year!
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2026-02-16 19:39