Spellcaster University

About

"Spellcaster University is a simulation game where you run a magic university in a fantasy world. Build your school, manage resources, and choose which magic to teach, with different decks offering unique powers and rooms. Deal with external threats, balance your budget, and make decisions that impact the direction and reputation of your university."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+15

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,642 reviews

gameplay82 positive mentions

stability38 negative mentions

Fun, quirky, and original gameplay that combines card mechanics with management simulation.
Charming art style and humorous writing that adds to the overall enjoyment of the game.
High replayability due to random events, different magical schools, and unique student outcomes.

Lack of depth in gameplay mechanics, leading to repetitive experiences after a few runs.
Poor UI design and controls, making it difficult to manage rooms and students effectively.
Game relies heavily on RNG, which can lead to frustrating scenarios where players feel they have little control over their success.

gameplay
363 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
69%
8%
The gameplay of "Spellcaster University" is characterized by a unique blend of card-drawing mechanics and management simulation, allowing players to build and run a magical school. While the core mechanics are engaging and offer a fun, casual experience, many players find the gameplay to be somewhat shallow and repetitive after a few hours, with a reliance on RNG that can detract from strategic planning. Overall, the game provides a charming and addictive experience, but it lacks depth and variety, leading to a sense of monotony in longer play sessions.
- “Gameplay isn't like anything you have played before - draw cards to build a magic university with bricks, buffs only to see it destroyed a few times before you can destroy evil - and that makes this a very refreshing game to play.”
- “The game ropes you in with fun and easy building mechanics, but the longer you play the more you start to find the deeper layers of strategy.”
- “The gameplay loop is already satisfying and creative.”
- “The gameplay itself is quite simple even on the highest difficulty.”
- “The gameplay loop is pretty basic.”
- “The gameplay gets a little repetitive after some hours, but I find myself occasionally coming back to this game because of its cozy atmosphere.”
story
168 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
79%
4%
The game's story revolves around training students to combat an impending evil, with a campaign mode that offers a series of missions and quests. While some players appreciate the humor and creativity in the narrative, many find the plot simplistic and repetitive, wishing for more depth and character development. Overall, the story serves as a framework for gameplay, but lacks the engagement and complexity that could enhance the player's experience.
- “The story, which I first thought was a simple framing device, actually drew me in.”
- “There's enough storyline to be interesting, without being overly complicated.”
- “The game is presented with a cute, simple art style and a simple story that doesn't take itself all too seriously.”
- “The game's story is fairly iffy and lackluster.”
- “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.”
graphics
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
63%
3%
The graphics of the game are generally described as cute and charming, with a whimsical art style that enhances the overall aesthetic. However, many users note performance issues, including lag and graphical glitches, which detract from the experience. While the visuals are appealing, they are often considered simplistic and not particularly groundbreaking, leading to mixed feelings about their impact on gameplay.
- “The dynamic graphics and story of this game are quite creative and special.”
- “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 game is pretty poorly optimized; my PC, which can run stuff like Bannerlord and Detroit: Become Human on mid-high graphics, struggles to reach 20 FPS after the first 10-30 minutes of each game, even with low graphics and lower than 1920x1080 resolution.”
- “Even on the lowest graphic settings, the game will start freezing/stalling visually when your school gets too big or has too many students.”
- “The interface is clunky, the graphics are poor, and it's really hard to gauge your progress.”
replayability
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
45%
9%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, largely due to its random card-drawing mechanics and varied campaign challenges that encourage players to return for different experiences. While many players find the game enjoyable and engaging enough to play multiple times, some note that it can become repetitive after several playthroughs, leading to mixed opinions on its long-term replay value. Despite these concerns, the general consensus is that the game offers significant replay potential, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
- “The big bad of the land will chase you from one biome to the next, where you have to start over (and hopefully learn and grow from your mistakes)... but the replayability is pretty high because every school you build is different and in part, based on chance as you draw your resources from decks of magic cards.”
- “The way they make you start over on different maps, and choose buffs and curses was very clever and adds a ton of replay value to the game.”
- “It's filled with a lot of content and very replayable.”
- “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.”
- “Spellcaster University is a fun idea poorly explored, resulting in quickly repetitive gameplay and very limited replayability.”
humor
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and variety, featuring quirky animations, funny dialogue, and amusing card descriptions that enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the light-hearted and sometimes dark humor, which adds depth to the game's whimsical setting, making it enjoyable and engaging. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute significantly to its replayability and appeal, drawing comparisons to other humorous titles like "West of Loathing."
- “I love the sense of humor, and the delightful animations.”
- “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 game is full of quirky good humor.”
stability
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and glitches that hinder gameplay. While some players appreciate the game's potential and graphics, many express frustration over its unpolished state and lack of updates, leading to an overall impression of it being overly buggy and difficult to enjoy. Despite its enjoyable premise, the stability issues make it largely unplayable for many users.
- “The game overall is quite bug-free; aside from some UI issues, I haven't encountered any.”
- “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
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
71%
21%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues, bugs, and crashes, even on high-end systems. Users have noted that the game struggles with lag and stuttering, particularly as the player's school expands, leading to a frustrating experience that undermines strategic planning and gameplay enjoyment. Overall, the consensus is that significant improvements are needed to enhance performance and stability.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “This game is fun but it's so poorly optimized I have to stop playing it before it kills my PC.”
- “The performance breaks down like an old man walking up to the 6th floor when your school gets too large, dragging cards onto room slots is like trying to piss through a needle's eye, characters get stuck on walls and each other like Skyrim NPCs on skooma.”
- “This game is very poorly optimized and is hogging 90% of my GPU and 65% of my CPU on low graphics settings.”
music
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
49%
8%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its pleasant and whimsical nature that complements the game's cozy atmosphere, while others find it repetitive and lacking in diversity. Many agree that the soundtrack is enjoyable and fits the game's vibe, but there are calls for more variety to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's charm, though it may become monotonous over extended play sessions.
- “The chill atmosphere and whimsical music create a cozy ambiance, and the deckbuilding element adds a layer of strategy to the resource management.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and the art style is adorable.”
- “Great relaxing game, love the music and gameplay style they went with.”
- “I'm also not a big fan of this game's soundtrack.”
- “I also wish the music was more diverse and upbeat.”
- “The music can get repetitive, especially for marathon settings.”
grinding
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
5%
89%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it can be enjoyable and engaging initially, it often becomes tedious and repetitive over time. Many reviewers note that the gameplay can feel samey, with certain mechanics and tasks requiring excessive effort without significant rewards, leading to a decline in overall enjoyment. Despite these frustrations, some players still feel compelled to return to the game, suggesting that it has redeeming qualities that may appeal to those willing to endure the grind.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “There is a bit of a grindy/samey feel to gameplay at times, but I do often feel the urge to come back to it.”
- “I recommend playing about 1 level per session; if you grind out more, the game can begin to feel tedious and repetitive.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a cozy and whimsical ambiance, enhanced by charming music and cute visuals that create a delightful contrast with its darker themes. Players appreciate the balance of strategy and customization, although some find the gameplay can become repetitive over time. Overall, the enchanting atmosphere keeps players engaged and returning for more.
- “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 managing a magical school while grappling with personal challenges. The campaign mode is described as emotionally taxing yet rewarding, particularly when achieving difficult milestones, highlighting the game's ability to evoke feelings of triumph and existential reflection. Overall, it offers a unique blend of challenge and emotional depth, prompting players to confront their own ideals of leadership and responsibility.
- “Edit: After getting a perfect game, I just want to say that 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 aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing the misleading advertising that attracts the wrong audience, while others appreciate the absence of microtransactions, suggesting it could thrive as a free-to-play model with optional purchases or ad views. Overall, the game's fun factor is noted despite its monetization issues.
- “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 that the game allows you to progress without needing to spend real money, which is a refreshing change from many other games.”
- “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%
Reviews indicate that the game suffers from poor character development, with uninspired character design and a lack of engaging visual and auditory elements, leading to a dull 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.”