Spellcaster University

About

Spellcaster University is a single player strategy game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Sneaky Yak Studio and was released on June 15, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In Spellcaster University, you manage a magical school, recruiting teachers and building a unique institution shaped by your chosen magic styles. Customize your university as a hub for black magic, nature magic, or combat training, while defending against orc attacks and navigating strict education controls. Utilize dynamic magic deck mechanics to shape every playthrough with new spells, artifacts, and challenges.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+15

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,768 reviews

gameplay91 positive mentions

stability37 negative mentions

Charming graphics and whimsical art style that enhances the magical theme.
Engaging gameplay loop with a mix of strategy, resource management, and humor.
High replayability due to random card draws and different objectives for each campaign.

Heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences and lack of control over outcomes.
UI issues, including difficulty in placing cards and managing rooms, detract from the overall experience.
Limited depth in character interactions and progression, making it hard to form attachments to students or teachers.

gameplay
398 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
69%
8%
The gameplay of Spellcaster University is a mix of card-drawing mechanics and management simulation, allowing players to build and run their own magical school. While the core gameplay loop is engaging and offers a whimsical experience, many players find it repetitive and limited in depth, with mechanics that can feel shallow and overly reliant on RNG. Despite its charm and potential for creativity, the game suffers from a lack of clear explanations for its mechanics and can become monotonous after a few hours of play.
- “The gameplay loop is already satisfying and creative.”
- “The gameplay is engaging and can be good for satisfying your strategic game urges, especially if the RNG is bad.”
- “Fun basebuilder with good mechanics.”
- “However, you will quickly come to find that the game mechanic used to gain new rooms, decorations, furniture, pets, and architecture limits your creativity.”
- “The gameplay can become limited at some point and feel a bit repetitive.”
- “The main negatives are that the formula can start getting a bit stale after you learn the mechanics.”
story
185 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
79%
4%
The story in the game is a familiar fantasy trope centered around running a wizarding school while preparing for an impending evil threat, which some players find engaging but others see as a repetitive backdrop. While the whimsical writing and humorous elements add charm, many reviewers express a desire for deeper narrative connections and more varied quests, as the current structure can lead to a sense of monotony. Overall, the campaign offers a basic storyline that serves its purpose but lacks the depth and engagement that could elevate the experience.
- “The story and writing is whimsical and fun.”
- “The story, which I first thought was a simple framing device, actually drew me in.”
- “While I kind of wished there were more overt story elements and that the lives of the students and staff were more pronounced, you do get enough to make a charming and different story every game.”
- “The story is background noise; it’s a mcguffin to give reason for a timer on each map.”
- “This is nice as a way to build up a school and do your own thing for a while, but without the storyline being involved, it quickly becomes a repetitive bore.”
- “The game is presented with a cute, simple art style and a simple story that doesn't take itself too seriously.”
graphics
154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
61%
3%
The graphics of the game are generally described as cute and charming, with a whimsical art style that enhances the overall experience. While some players appreciate the aesthetic and find it suitable for the gameplay, others criticize the graphics for being outdated or lacking detail, with occasional performance issues and glitches. Overall, the visuals are seen as adequate for an indie title, contributing to the game's charm but not reaching high-end standards.
- “I love the visuals, a bit quirky and cute.”
- “The graphics are adorable, and the music is happy and bubbly.”
- “The art style is simple and charming, the gameplay is surprisingly deep and there's plenty of replayability.”
- “The graphics are not up to the latest standards in gaming, so don't expect AAA-level attention to detail, but for this nice little addition to the world of gaming, it really doesn't matter.”
- “It's not interesting enough to be engaging, not colorful and cute enough to be eye-catching (the graphics are really pretty boring), and not fun enough to make me want to keep playing past a few hours.”
- “The game is very poorly optimized and is hogging 90% of my GPU and 65% of my CPU on low graphics settings.”
replayability
115 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
46%
10%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its charm and the variety offered by random elements like magic cards and different school builds, leading to enjoyable repeated playthroughs. However, some reviewers noted that the mechanics can become repetitive and that the overall variation may not be substantial enough to sustain long-term interest. Overall, while many find it highly replayable, others feel it lacks depth after a few runs.
- “It's got replayability coming out of its ears because your students graduate, carry forward bonuses, and basically haunt your future schools like magic-wielding ghosts of Christmas past.”
- “The nature of the game makes for high replay value. Every school you build is different and, in part, based on chance as you draw your resources from decks of magic cards.”
- “This game is almost infinitely replayable, and I'm playing the 1.00 release.”
- “The gameplay is hollow and there doesn't seem to be much replayability.”
- “I really want to love this game, but just some basic design flaws prevent it from being a replayable game, which it deserves to be.”
- “It's a very repetitive game, however, and the replayability is lacking as the game focuses on scenario differences that do not affect the game all too much.”
humor
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, quirky characters, and amusing mechanics, such as evil beds and alchemical vending machines. Players appreciate the light-hearted and sometimes dark humor that permeates the gameplay, with many finding the dialogue and animations genuinely funny. Overall, the game offers a delightful mix of charm and humor, making it an enjoyable experience for those who appreciate comedic elements in gaming.
- “✅ Genuinely hilarious mechanics (evil beds! alchemical vending machines!)”
- “Every card comes with some funny text that gives you info on the world of the game; the factions are batshit insane, and the futures students can have are also very funny.”
- “The love and humor that went into crafting this game is evident all over the place.”
music
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
48%
7%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players noting its pleasant and whimsical qualities that enhance the overall atmosphere. However, several users criticize its repetitiveness and lack of diversity, suggesting that while the soundtrack is enjoyable initially, it can become monotonous over extended play sessions. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's vibe, but improvements in variety and engagement are desired.
- “Plus, the music is awesomely better than it had to be for a seemingly simple game.”
- “The chill atmosphere and whimsical music create a cozy ambiance, and the deckbuilding element adds a layer of strategy to the resource management.”
- “The graphics are charming, the ambient music is catchy and thematic, and there's a level of charm that permeates the entire game.”
- “The music gets a bit repetitive and is not the strong suit of the game, but I am surprised how well made it is overall!”
- “I also wish the music was more diverse and upbeat.”
- “The looping music can start to get irritating.”
stability
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of crashes, freezes, and glitches that hinder gameplay. While some players appreciate its potential and graphics, many express frustration over the unoptimized performance and memory leak issues, making it difficult to enjoy the game fully. Overall, the game is described as buggy and in need of substantial updates to improve stability.
- “The game overall is quite bug-free; aside from some UI issues, I haven't encountered any problems.”
- “Otherwise, the game runs great and has had no problems or FPS issues.”
- “I just hope that it continues getting updated until it's bug-free.”
- “Very buggy and hasn't been updated in over a year.”
- “This is a great game in premise, but the frequent freezes, crashes, and reboots it triggers makes it unplayable.”
- “The game freezes within several minutes of launch.”
optimization
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
70%
25%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, including lag and crashes, even on high-end systems. Many users noted that the pathfinding for NPCs is poorly executed, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, while others mentioned that the game feels unresponsive and buggy. Overall, the lack of effective optimization detracts from the enjoyment and strategic elements of the game, making it difficult for players to fully engage with its mechanics.
- “There is a lot of room for strategy and optimization as each student who leaves your school goes on to a 'future' which either provides you instant effects (giving you resources, improving relationships, or giving you items) or permanent effects for the rest of your playthrough.”
- “It's somewhere in between a puzzle game and a school simulator, and it has a lot of room for optimization for every little decision.”
- “Finally, overall poor performance even on a very strong system.”
- “This game is very poorly optimized and is hogging 90% of my GPU and 65% of my CPU on low graphics settings.”
- “The game itself is brilliant and quite cute, but it needs to be way better optimized so I'm not worried about melting my tower while playing.”
grinding
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
4%
92%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration due to clunky mechanics and a lack of quality-of-life features. While some enjoy the initial fun and motivation, many report that the gameplay becomes monotonous over time, with excessive micromanagement and random elements contributing to a grindy experience. Despite these drawbacks, some players still feel compelled to return for short sessions, suggesting that the game has redeeming qualities amidst its grinding challenges.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Because of this, the game becomes repetitive and tedious.”
- “The annoying elements of randomness, the inability to replace teachers, and the constant ticking clock that drives the game to tedious number work all make for an experience which is incredibly fun initially but drops off heavily as the game goes on.”
- “It feels like it could have been something good but it ends up getting tedious pretty quickly; I cannot see myself picking this game up to play again.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
28%
29%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its cozy and whimsical ambiance, enhanced by charming music and cute visuals that create an engaging experience. Players appreciate the balance of strategy in deckbuilding alongside the lighthearted theme, which adds to the overall enjoyment despite some repetitive gameplay. The charming atmosphere keeps players returning, making it a delightful and immersive experience.
- “The chill atmosphere and whimsical music create a cozy ambiance, and the deckbuilding element adds a layer of strategy to the resource management.”
- “A terrific little game, atmospheric and charmingly brought to life.”
- “I didn't feel like the patron gave me enough gold; most didn't seem useful, and the gender selection is only aesthetic/for atmosphere (in case you want a school solely for witches and whatnot).”
- “Gameplay gets a little repetitive after some hours, but I find myself occasionally coming back to this game because of its cozy atmosphere.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, likening their experience to that of a headmaster in a magical school, grappling with both triumph and existential dread. The challenge of winning on difficult mode is highlighted as a significant emotional hurdle, evoking feelings of accomplishment and introspection about leadership and responsibility. Overall, the game prompts players to reflect on their abilities to nurture heroes rather than perpetuate trauma.
- “Edit: After getting a perfect game, I just want to say, winning on difficult mode is the most emotionally challenging thing I have done in a long time.”
- “This game really made me feel like I was a headmaster of a magical school while fighting off the existential dread of my life's work's inevitable demise.”
- “If you ever looked at Albus Dumbledore, Professor Ozpin, or All Might and said 'I can run a school better than you,' then here you go, step up to the challenge, and see if you can raise heroes as opposed to creating a legion of child soldiers with emotional scars.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for misleading advertising that attracts the wrong audience, detracting from the overall experience. While some users suggest it would be better suited as a free-to-play model with optional purchases or ads, others appreciate the lack of microtransactions, highlighting the game's enjoyable, interactive nature reminiscent of idle mobile games.
- “It's got that idle phone game feel, but more interactive, and you don't have microtransactions. It's really fun, and I can't quite explain why.”
- “The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't pressure you into spending money, making it enjoyable for everyone.”
- “I appreciate how the game balances free content with optional purchases, allowing players to enjoy the experience without feeling forced to spend.”
- “This part of the game is conveniently left out of the advertising, and it's easily the worst part.”
- “It would probably do well as a free-to-play mobile game with the option of purchasing items or watching ads to gain money or resources.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers note a significant deficiency in character development, citing a lack of engaging sound and visual elements, including a dull color palette and uninspired character design, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “There is a huge lack of sound in the game as well as real visual stimulation; even the color palette is boring, as well as character design.”

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21h Median play time

40h Average play time

9-50h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 25 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Spellcaster University is a strategy game with fantasy theme.

Spellcaster University is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 40 hours playing Spellcaster University.

Spellcaster University was released on June 15, 2021.

Spellcaster University was developed by Sneaky Yak Studio.

Spellcaster University has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Spellcaster University is a single player game.

Similar games include Cardboard Town, Two Point Campus, Backpack Hero, Godhood, Dice & Fold and others.

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