The Owl House Meets Stardew Valley In 2026 GOTY Contender

Published Jul 31, 2026, 12:15 AM EDT Yuliya Geikhman has been writing professionally for over 17 years. She started out in the MMO scene with Pando Media Booster and now dives into everything gaming at Screen Rant. She's a lifelong gamer, a relentless industry sleuth, and a passionate follower of everything happening in the games industry. Stardew Valley and The Owl House may seem like they have nothing in common, but one game has managed to combine elements of both into the perfect cozy witchy experience. Stardew Valley—a beloved pixel farming and life simulator with combat and exploration—already has quite a bit of magic flowing through it. The Owl House, on the other hand, is all about magic. The Disney animation follows the young Luz, who stumbles into a magical realm and pursues her dreams of becoming a witch's apprentice. It's full of comedy and whimsy, but also deals with darker and more serious themes. Witchbrook is an upcoming game by Chucklefish and Robotality that aims to combine Stardew Valley and The Owl House into one delightfully magical cozy gaming experience. It's a perfect formula that may just make Witchbrook the 2026 game of the year when it finally arrives. If You Like The Owl House, You Need Witchbrook On Your Radar Witchbrook puts you in the shoes of a character like Luz in a charming pixel world similar to Stardew Valley. Travel to the magical seaside city of Mossport, with its cute isometric streets and neighborhoods. Here, you'll attend Witchbrook College, a magic school for aspiring witches (like yourself). Mossport and its local witch college are full of secrets, and it's up to you to explore and discover its forgotten lore, become familiar with the spirits that reside in the shadows, unsover magical enchantments, and so much more. Like in Stardew Valley, the upcoming magical game has plenty of unique characters to meet and befriend, from the locals to teachers and members of your coven. And, who knows? You may even find love as you get to know the people of Mossport and Witchbrook College. Witchbrook will have players balancing their studies with extracurriculars and personal exploration. You'll have to attend classes, do homework, hone your magical skills, and ace your tests. In your free time, spend time at the local shops and cafés, play games at the local arcade, take a photo walk, go on a date, or even start your own business. Of course, like in Stardew Valley and The Owl House, you'll also have a chance to express yourself and discover your identity. Dress up and design your character, and decorate your home with adorable furnishings and decor. Change things up with the seasons and watch Mossport do the same, as the residents don mittens for the cold winter or the leaves change colors for the cozy autumn. Best of all, you'll be able to enjoy Witchbrook by yourself or with friends. The title will support up to four player cooperative play, so you can explore the cozy game together. When Does Witchbrook Actually Release? Chucklefish The cozy and magical Witchbrook has been in development since 2016, as a top-down, 2D project called Spellbound. The current 2.5D iteration of the title was launched in 2020, and announced for a Winter 2025 release window. Many fans were hoping for a Halloween release, a perfect time to enjoy a cozy, spooky game. However, in October 2025, the game was delayed to 2026. According to the official Witchbrook website, Chucklefish is "proud to be a zero-crunch studio." This means the studio values the health and rest of its developers more than meeting arbitrary deadlines. Although the game may take longer to develop, it also means it will be the best version of itself when it does launch, crafted by creators who are "healthy and well-rested." Thanks to the reasoning given, the cozy community has been understanding of the longer wait. As of right now, Witchbrook is scheduled for release sometime in 2026. When it launches, it will be available on PC, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and Xbox. It's also currently available to wishlist on Steam and the Xbox store. More platforms may be announced at a later date, so keep an eye out for a potential PlayStation version in the future. The release will be as inclusive as possible, with more than half a dozen languages available at launch. Witchbrook is geared up to become the cozy gaming community's next indie darling. The adorable style, cozy and witchy atmosphere, and wholesome story (both within the game and its development) mean the game is all set to follow in the footsteps of Stardew Valley and The Owl House. Systems Released February 26, 2016 ESRB Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco Developer(s) ConcernedApe Publisher(s) ConcernedApe Engine Proprietary Multiplayer Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer Cross-Platform Play Stardew Valley does not currently support crossplay between different consoles and PC Cross Save cross-progression is only available between the PC and mobile versions of the game Number of Players 1-4 players (console) / 1-8 players (PC)