Cozy Game Alert: WITCHBROOK

Nintendo has given us a veritable ton of game news to mull over these last few weeks, with the first-look trailer and release window for Witchbrook being the last thing cozy gamers expected to see during the March 2025 Nintendo Direct. After almost a decade in development, the social RPG and life-sim from Chucklefish has put a spell on genre fans. Grab your broomsticks at long last – Witchbrook College awaits.

Hogwarts Legacy Meets Fields of Mistria in Witchbrook

If you’re into witches and all things cozy, you’ll find yourself right at home in Witchbrook, where you’ll attend college as an aspiring witch in the seaside city of Mossport. On the surface, you’ll see similarities to recent magic-focused titles like Hogwarts Legacy and Fields of Mistria. If you’re like me, Hayao Miyazaki’s 1989 film, Kiki’s Delivery Service, might also come to mind. But while the game’s charming pixel art style has drawn perhaps the most comparisons to Stardew Valley, Chucklefish’s developing title features a few more spells than ConcernedApe’s farm-sim smash.

Honing your magic skills and cramming for exams merely scratches the surface of your daily itinerary at Witchbrook. Magic may be the name of the game, but you can also turn a profit on the talents you master, decorate a cozy woodland cottage, forge friendships and spark up romances with the folks around town and at school. There isn’t much off the table between classes. You might as well make the most of your enrollment.

Welcome to Mossport

As seen in the newly released first-look trailer for Witchbrook, the sprawling seaside setting of Mossport is filled to the brim with life, color and, of course, magic. The school’s overflowing gardens, social scene, classrooms and endless libraries are nothing short of enchanting. And there’s plenty else to see and do outside of your studies at the college, too. Hop on your broom or take your motorized scooter to the florist or a babbling brook. Stop at sweet eateries, boutiques or the market, and channel your magic to help out where you’re needed.

Visually, Mossport’s many sights are a major selling point. But gameplay looks just as enriching, with flying and home and character customization coming in at the top of my to-do list. According to the game’s Steam page, you can renovate your cottage, decorate to your liking and tend to the surrounding garden outside. Heck, even hanging out at home looks like fun. (Is that … a baby dragon hatching from an egg?) To top it all off, you’ll find someone special to share the magic with, too. I’m sold.

When Does Witchbrook Come Out?

Witchbrook is set to release on Steam, Xbox, Switch and Switch 2 this year. If you’re on PlayStation, stay tuned for updates from developer and publisher Chucklefish, as additional platform support is still in the works. Now that devs have teamed up with Robotality, per the official website, there’s a chance we could even see platforms expanded prior to the title’s 2025 launch.

Until then, those who have kept their eye on the game throughout its lengthy development period are itching for a chance to play. Why the wait? Well, to put it bluntly, the development team has taken the time to put in the work that a quality project requires. They’ve also acknowledged that “healthy and well-rested developers make better games.” Hey, no objections here. Almost a decade strong, the team’s work has certainly paid off. Witchbrook is ripe with lively visuals and a wholesome atmosphere that brings the best of Studio Ghibli to mind. Honestly, I’m willing to wait even longer if it means my time in Mossport will be made all the more magical at launch.

Witchbrook’s First-Look Trailer Is Out Now

The first-look trailer for Witchbrook was one of the biggest (and most surprising) highlights of last month’s Nintendo Direct presentation. Just check out the comments; hopeful players are still rejoicing at the news of an official release window. Watch the trailer here and consider this an invitation from yours truly to meet up at Witchbrook College when Chucklefish’s life-sim launches later this year.