Witchbrook recently popped up on the official list of upcoming games on Game Pass, only to quickly disappear like magic.
While a Day One release on Xbox Game Pass hasn't been officially confirmed by Microsoft yet, this storefront leak has sent our hype levels through the roof. We have been looking forward to this magical life-sim for years. Why should you absolutely keep this one on your radar? Here are 6 reasons why Witchbrook is going to be something special.
1. From the Creators of Starbound and Wargroove
Witchbrook is being developed by none other than Chucklefish, mostly known for their immensely popular space-sandbox Starbound, but they are also the masterminds behind the highly addictive strategy title Wargroove. For this magical adventure, they are co-developing with Robotality, the talented studio that previously helped them craft Wargroove 2. With this much indie pedigree behind the wheel, we know we are in safe hands.
2. Getting It Right
Witchbrook has been in active development since 2019. Yes, that is a long time, but that’s actually a good thing. Initially, the game was widely described by media as "Harry Potter meets Stardew Valley". The developers, however, wanted to steer clear of clichés. To ensure Witchbrook becomes a truly unique experience, they made the bold move to delay the game and rework major parts. They are taking their time to create something genuinely original, and that only makes us more excited for the final result.
3. Magical Multiplayer
At its core, Witchbrook is a life-sim for up to four players. You start your journey as a new resident in the bustling, seaside city of Mossport. As a student at Witchbrook College, you’ll attend classes to unlock magical abilities to support yourself, local businesses, and the community. The best part? You don’t have to experience school life alone. You can invite up to three friends to join your magical world online to study, explore, and hang out together.
4. A Relaxing World
This is not your typical action-oriented RPG; Witchbrook focuses heavily on atmosphere and socialization. The gameplay trailers showcase a wonderfully cozy loop: players walking through campus, visiting the academy, driving around on mopeds, gazing through a giant telescope, and enjoying sweet treats at local cafes. Your magic is used for everyday wonder - like watering fountains, tending to fruit baskets, flying on your broomstick, or participating in a spooky magical circle to communicate with other dimensions. Oh, and did we spot a baby dragon? Yes, we did.
5. It Looks Like Pixel Heaven
You can’t help but fall in love with Witchbrook’s visual style. The game features a gorgeous, distinct 2D isometric pixel art style heavily inspired by anime. The attention to detail in Mossport is staggering: pigeons scatter as you walk past, leaves drift lazily in the wind, squirrels dart through the park, and flags wave realistically.
The city feels like a living, breathing place, which becomes even more apparent when the seasons change and a fresh blanket of snow covers the streets. Chucklefish has gone all-out to make Mossport magical all year round. The developers have even shared a gorgeous interactive map of the city that you can explore right now.
Witchbrook Interactive Map
6. Season Of The Witch
The world of Witchbrook features a full day-night cycle and dynamic seasonal changes. Everything in Mossport adapts to the time of year. Resources, available jobs, town decorations, and weather conditions change constantly. Even the NPCs adjust their daily routines and outfits to match the weather, and darkness kicks in much earlier during the winter months. This means you’ll have to plan your days accordingly. Will certain plants only grow during specific seasons? We can't wait to find out.
Witchbrook Winter
7. Make Your Cottage a Home
Back in 2017, Chucklefish initially announced the project as a magical RPG, but by 2019 they pivoted towards a much more relaxing yet engaging simulation experience. One of the highlights of this cozy focus is housing customization. You can fully renovate and decorate your own woodland cottage, transforming both the interior and the surrounding garden into your personal magical sanctuary.
Character customization is just as deep. Chucklefish promises a wide variety of silhouettes, outfits, and styles. The game features an inclusive range of skin tones and hair textures - including various protective styles and fringe options - ensuring every player looks unique when taking their broomstick for a spin. Best of all, you can always visit the local salon in town to shake up your style or trim your beard.
8. Rich in Character(s)
You certainly won’t feel lonely in Mossport. Witchbrook is absolutely packed with life, featuring hundreds of unique citizens, students, shopkeepers, coven members, and wandering tourists. Thanks to a persistent world design, every single inhabitant has their own permanent home, unique look, schedule, and personality. While some citizens will gladly ask for your help, others might bluntly tell you to mind your own business.
The local ecosystem is equally alive, populated by a wild variety of birds, small critters, and larger animals that roam the city. To keep performance smooth, the game intelligently simulates low-fidelity routines for citizens in the background when you aren't around, turning up the graphical detail the moment you step into their neighborhood.
The attention to realism even extends to local traffic. The citizens of Mossport strictly follow British road rules. If you decide to cause mayhem and block the streets, expect a chaotic traffic jam and a salvo of angry car horns shortly after. If you prefer to travel without causing a public scene, you can always just take the local bus.
Through early teasers, we’ve already gotten to know two of the campus faces:
- Hana Satō: A positive and trendy friend who works a part-time job at the local boutique Calico, always keeping an eye out for the latest fashion.
- Eli Ivers: A well-known, friendly face around campus. When he isn't hunting down the next big headline for the school paper, you can find him working at the School Shop near the College.
Witchbrook is scheduled to release for PC, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X|S. Please note that a Day One release on Xbox Game Pass has not been officially confirmed by Microsoft or the publisher at this time.
This article was written by a human and edited by Gemini 1.5 Flash.
Disclaimer: All content is created with the help of AI. Be aware of possible hallucinations or factual errors. When in doubt, always check with official sources.
