Can You Build a Magical Academy to Save the World?
In the Harry Potter universe, magic is everywhere, whilst the story focuses much of its time on the training and exploits of the witches and wizards at Hogwarts School. We’ve enjoyed the big feasts in the main hall, the moving pictures, and the naughty ghosts roaming the corridors. But what we don’t think about is how the place was put together or how the actual running of it all works. Who sorts out the timetables for the terms? Is there an HR department? What’s the pay scale for the teachers? Is Hagrid a member of a union?
Well, even without the Potter tag to hand, Spellcaster University looks to answer some of those questions, all as you build a magical campus from scratch. But is there too much to do?
Headmaster’s Handbook
Sim games can be tricky, especially to begin with. Mostly you’ll be presented with so many things to do that you might feel like that first day on a new job, wishing you stayed at home. Spellcaster University puts you in charge of building a magic school from scratch, taking it from the ground up and then employing staff and getting students in.
The opening tutorial feels like a rapid induction, with so many facts and instructions thrown out that it does feel a tad overwhelming. But as you get into the game your confidence – and then the enjoyment – grows.
Demonic Invasions and Diplomatic Decisions
There is a story kicking around in Spellcaster University, one where the fantasy land you live in has a demonic force that rises up and attacks every 254 years. Due to some error with timings, it’s coming sooner than usual and it’s up to you to form a series of Spellcaster Universities, hoping to conquer the demonic force quickly with you being the headmaster in charge.
Campus Creation
You start the game by choosing a location for the first playthrough, whether that’s a forest or near a village. Then it’s about creating the school from scratch, adding in classrooms, student accommodation, and canteens. You can place these in whatever formations you like and then you choose the university houses and customise them.
Some of this is done through card-based mechanics with choices focusing on the likes of “recruit 5 students” for you to select from. Other cards come with special items, room upgrades or magical creatures. I like how this system of deck building is used too, which is odd because normally I don’t get on with such mechanics. Here though, in Spellcaster University, it feels simple and intuitive to use.
Juggling Classes, Factions, and Dungeons
In the classrooms you get to decide on how the place looks, but more importantly what magic practices to use and which teachers are best to work in that classroom. When you have everything up and running, things start to work nicely – or badly – plodding along on their own. But from there, further elements come into play. You can build relationships with nearby factions and send students off to plunder dungeons, and things cost money and mana for cards so these excursions are essential as you prepare for the final battle with the Dark King.
In a nice touch, Spellcaster University will allow you to amend difficulty levels at the start of the game, as well as to choose how long you want your campaign to run.
Simple Charm and Looping Tunes
There’s a straightforward graphical design kicking around in Spellcaster University; one that I grew to like the more the game progressed. It’s not going to win awards in this department but there is some almost-Discworld vibes to the design. Menus work well too, but the text is slightly too small to read. The sound is quite basic as well with a soundtrack playing in a loop which doesn’t distract.
An Addictive Magical Management Sim
Spellcaster University will have you juggling plates and that means multitaskers will have a lovely time. Playing with an original concept, building out a magical education setting, all whilst preparing for a massive attack, feels pretty new, but the more you play, the more you will like. Unfortunately, Spellcaster University is a bit overwhelming to begin with, and the tutorial is too short and simple, but if you fancy combining building, card decks, and management, you should find it all pretty addictive.
If you have always wanted to see how Hogwarts worked behind the scenes then Spellcaster University could be magic.
Your Links
Spellcaster University to provide Xbox, PlayStation and Switch magic in early 2024 – https://www.thexboxhub.com/spellcaster-university-to-provide-xbox-playstation-and-switch-magic-in-early-2024/
Enroll in Spellcaster University as it Opens Doors on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch – https://www.thexboxhub.com/enroll-in-spellcaster-university-as-it-opens-doors-on-xbox-playstation-switch/
Buy Spellcaster University on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/spellcaster-university/9PBS7N0RVLB0/0010
