Harry Potter meets Stardew Valley: New fantasy RPG launches to 95% positive Steam reviews

After around eight years of development, Eastshade Studios released Songs of Glimmerwick on September 30. The small studio, which is also behind the adventure game Eastshade, describes its new title as a story-driven “Witch Academy RPG.” Players spend an entire year at the magical university of Etchery, complete with classes, changing seasons, festivals and all kinds of stories involving fellow students and the island's residents.

The comparisons to Harry Potter and Stardew Valley are certainly understandable – and frequently come up in reviews as well as IGN's German preview. While Hogwarts is replaced by a completely original fantasy world, everyday life at a magic school still plays a central role. At the same time, the relaxed daily routine of gardening, gathering and various side activities is reminiscent of farming sims such as Stardew Valley.

Casting spells with a flute instead of a wand

The big twist lies in the magic system: Spells aren't cast with a wand, but played as music. Different songs can be used to summon rain clouds, enchant tools, talk to trees or open new paths through the game world. There is no combat, however. Songs of Glimmerwick focuses entirely on exploration, quests and relaxing life-sim gameplay.

Outside of classes, players can explore the open island, go fishing, search for seashells, join clubs and tend to the university garden. NPCs have their own daily routines and stories, while all main and supporting characters are fully voiced in English. However, there is no extensive romance system of the kind some genre fans might expect.

95% positive reviews at launch

One day after release, Songs of Glimmerwick has already received more than 70 reviews, with a very positive average of 95%. At the time of research, the game also ranked fourth on the Steam charts in the “Popular New Releases” category. Players praise the dreamy atmosphere, unusual art style, music and voice acting. The worldbuilding and characters are also being well received.

There are still a few points of criticism: Some players find the gardening mechanics and certain tutorials unintuitive. The game also reportedly suffers at times from somewhat clunky controls, limited inventory space and minor bugs. Judging by the reviews, however, players seem willing to forgive the indie title for these smaller shortcomings. Anyone who wants to explore the magical world of Songs of Glimmerwick can pick it up with a 10% launch discount for $22.49 instead of $24.99 until October 14. Steam Deck compatibility is rated as “Playable”.