Many kids (and adults) have spent an hour or two daydreaming about the idea of going to a magic school. There's something fascinating about the idea of stepping into another world, learning spell casting and potion making, and going into battle against magical creatures and deadly enemies.
If players are avoiding anything to do with Hogwarts Legacy, then there are alternatives: Hogwarts isn't the only magic school, after all. Whether players are looking for a cozy indie game with beautiful pixel art, or want to step into the role of managing a magic university, here are some alternatives to Hogwarts Legacy that they should check out.
8 Witchbrook
The much-anticipated indie RPG Witchbrook is due to be released sometime soon (the exact release date has yet to be announced). Many players are excited about it, though, and for a good reason! Witchbrook is the ideal game for Stardew Valley fans: it will have gorgeous pixel art, a sweet storyline, and interesting characters to get to know.
In Witchbrook, players will move to Witchbrook College in the seaside town of Mossport. Players can learn spells, brew potions, fly on a broomstick, forage for ingredients, and generally learn how to practice the magical arts. They can also make friends with the locals and settle into Mossport. It looks like a cozy, magical experience, and it's worth keeping an eye out for it this year.
7 The Sims 4: Realm of Magic
The Sims has a rich history of magical beings: from werewolves to mermaids to ghosts, magical elements are a popular choice with Simmers. The Sims 4: Realm of Magic is a Game Pack. It's not as extensive as a full-blown expansion pack, but it has more content than a Stuff Pack, which usually consists of CAS and Build/Buy Items.
The Sims 4: Realm of Magic introduces the neighborhood of Glimmerbrook. Sims can read classic teachings and be tutored by experts, allowing them to become a Spellcaster. This can have a significant impact on the game, as Sims can get up to all sorts of mischief using their new skills (making Sims fall in love, turning other Sims into objects, or even causing random fights between neighbors). They can even learn to summon their own familiar, which protects them from harm. It's a fun change from regular career progression/family/buying a bigger house cycle of Sims gameplay!
6 Academagia: The Making Of Mages
Academagia: The Making of Mages is an RPG set in the Academy of Magic. As new students, players will have the opportunity to learn new skills and get to know the other characters (there are over 80 students to interact with!). They will attend classes, enter competitions, and encounter random events. It's the kind of game where the player's choices can have a tangible impact on the outcome of the story, and it's packed with content: there are over 100 adventures to play.
Academagia is a great example of excellent world-building. There's rich lore to uncover here, which makes exploring the Academy of Magic an exciting prospect. The UI is delightfully retro but will involve a bit of note-taking (and a lot of reading). If players love choose-your-own-adventure stories and visual novels, chances are they'll enjoy getting lost in this world for a while.
5 Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
Skyrim is the kind of game players can get lost in forever, but if they want a magical school experience, they need to head to Winterhold. Located in the north, it's an (unsurprisingly) cold and snowy city with the famous College of Winterhold. Players must pass a test to join the College by demonstrating a spell.
Once players are in, they can learn spells from the Hall of Countenance. Teachers have their own particular interests, so players can pick and choose the kind of spells they want to learn (with more spells becoming available as the player reaches higher levels). Reaching Winterhold is a journey worth undertaking.
4 Ikenfell
Ikenfell is an adorable game about a group of students learning magic. Players will join a magic school, and the possibilities are endless for exploration: there are hundreds of artifacts and secrets to discover. It's a turn-based tactical RPG with some interesting timing mechanics, and each spell has its own timing to learn. It involves a lot of practice, but it's super satisfying to defeat enemies with expertly-timed spells.
It has a retro pixel-art style, an excellent soundtrack, and some interesting characters to get to know. If players enjoyed games like the Earthbound/Mother series and Undertale, they'd probably enjoy this one. And a bonus fact: Ikenfell has many LGBTQ+ characters that are depicted with sensitivity.
3 Spellcaster University
Spellcaster University is an interesting entry, as it allows players not to join a magic school but to run one instead. As the director, it's the player's job to manage a budget, find the best teachers, and set the tone for the university. Players can train druids and shamans if they want a peaceful life, or they can go into demonology and necromancy to train students in black magic.
Players will use magic decks to create their school. The decks available will depend on the direction players take (for example, the Nature deck will give players access to magical creatures, while the Deck of Light will unlock useful healing cards). Managing a magic university is a fun task, and Spellcaster University will appeal to Two Point Hospital/Two Point Campus players.
2 Final Fantasy 8
Okay, it's not technically just a wizarding school, but Balamb Garden deserves a spot here. Technically a training academy for wannabe SeeDs, students learn the art of combat and magic, including how to summon GFs (Guardian Forces). It's a very cool place to hang out, if occasionally quite dangerous.
Balamb Garden is a fun place to explore, sharpen magic skills, and engage others in the occasional card game. Later in the game, players discover much more to Balamb Garden than meets the eye. Although FFVIII is 24 years old, it holds up, and it's well worth playing.
1 Little Witch Academia: Chamber Of Time
Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time (based on the anime franchise by Yoh Yoshinari) features the Luna Nova Magic Academy, a prestigious school for witches. In the anime, students learn various magical skills, including astrology, numerology, alchemy, and broomstick flying.
Chamber of Time is a side-scrolling action game with RPG elements. Players can discover hidden secrets at the Academy, while battling their way through a series of dungeons, finding treasure, and getting stronger along the way. It's pretty wholesome, and it's a nice setting for fans of the anime to explore.