The Fool's Apprentice

About

The Fool's Apprentice is a single player role playing game. It was developed by The Planar Danse and was released on April 14, 2025. It received neutral reviews from players.

In The Fool's Apprentice, you play as Arcanist Tharn, guiding unruly apprentices through a strict magical curriculum. Use spells to control, teach, or discipline students while managing your Conservatory's research and resources. Your decisions shape the future of magic, balancing knowledge and survival in a mystical academy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 38 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game features charming visuals and a unique aesthetic that creates an engaging atmosphere.
The magic system offers a fun variety of spells and mechanics, allowing for creative experimentation with apprentices.
The concept of managing a magical academy with quirky, chaotic apprentices adds a humorous twist to the gameplay.

The game lacks a proper save feature, making it frustrating to progress without losing hard-earned achievements.
The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to navigate and manage apprentices effectively.
The tutorial is insufficient, leaving players confused about gameplay mechanics and objectives.

gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
The gameplay is characterized by a charming concept that is hindered by a clunky interface and poorly explained mechanics, leading to confusion among players. While some mechanics are engaging, others, like furniture theft by goblins, are viewed as unnecessary and frustrating. Additionally, the tutorial lacks interactivity and fails to adequately prepare players for the gameplay experience, resulting in a mix of enjoyment and frustration.
- “I'm impressed by how it balanced out the lore dive and the actual gameplay.”
- “The mechanics are engaging and constantly keep you on your toes.”
- “A few minor bugs and some gameplay pain points (like not as much progress being saved between runs as I'd prefer) but the developers seem to be addressing quickly and releasing regular updates.”
- “It’s got such a cute concept, and there is magic here — it’s just buried under a clunky interface and half-baked mechanics.”
- “There's also this unbelievable mechanic where goblins or people that look like apprentices (and maybe even sometimes your own apprentices???) come into your academy and steal your furniture???”
- “It is essentially a wall of text broken up into boxes with little interactivity or highlighting of each mechanic and then you are immediately thrust into the brunt of gameplay.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their enchanting and detailed visuals, featuring animated creatures, soft lighting, and a rich aesthetic that evokes a whimsical, slightly haunted atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the intricate designs, including art deco patterns and arcane runes, which contribute to a world brimming with personality and charm. Overall, the game's visuals create an immersive experience that captivates players and enhances the gameplay.
- “There's a lot of heart in the visuals - all the little animated creatures, magical clutter, and soft lighting give it a world that feels alive — like your own slightly haunted Hogwarts-lite.”
- “What really stands out is the atmosphere—gorgeous visuals, quirky design, and a world packed with personality.”
- “I love the detail of the art in this game, from the arcane runes and the small decor pieces you place to direct the study areas of the apprentices, to the larger arcane stations and the design of the various rooms. The beauty of each piece and overall aesthetic draws my interest anew at each item and reveal.”
- “The graphics and aesthetic of this game are lacking depth and detail, making the world feel flat and uninspired.”
- “The character models look outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The environments feel repetitive and bland, with little variation in design that makes exploration feel tedious.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by a blend of dark comedy and whimsical elements, featuring absurd scenarios like human disintegration and students transforming into frogs. Players appreciate the amusing interactions and mishaps within the magical school setting, making for a delightful and engaging experience, despite some minor bugs. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm to the game's concept and lore.
- “There is some dark humor with human disintegration being a totally viable option for disobedience, and there are some goofy shenanigans with turning students into goopy frogs.”
- “This game is a delightful mix of magical school management and dark humor.”
- “Whether you're solving magical dilemmas or laughing at student mishaps, there’s always something new to discover.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with users reporting frequent lag and performance issues, particularly during zooming actions. Many players express disappointment, especially for a full release title, as the performance does not meet expectations despite having the necessary system specifications.
- “Performance is abysmal even though I have the required specs.”
- “I do hope that the performance issues can be fixed soon, as for a full release non-early access game, it’s not great to have these issues.”
- “Also, performance is a bit spotty; I have experienced lag while zooming in or out multiple times.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express concerns about the monetization strategy, noting that initial open comments on Reddit advertisements were deleted, leading to a lack of transparency and user feedback as comments were subsequently disabled on later ads.
- “The Reddit advertisements started out with open comments, where I made sure to warn people, and those got deleted. Eventually, later ads had comments disabled.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending real money.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the story for its dynamic and unpredictable nature, with each playthrough offering unique experiences filled with unexpected events, magical challenges, and engaging dilemmas that enhance the overall enjoyment.
- “Each playthrough feels like a new story, full of unexpected events: stolen supplies, dangerous spell work, and bizarre magical dilemmas. I just love it!”
- “The narrative is rich and immersive, drawing you into a world where every decision impacts the outcome.”
- “The character development is exceptional, making you truly care about their journeys and struggles.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is considered highly replayable, with players finding the experience enjoyable enough to warrant multiple playthroughs.
- “Highly replayable and totally worth the ride.”
- “The game offers endless possibilities, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “With multiple endings and diverse character choices, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is generally praised for its chill and relaxing qualities, complementing the visuals effectively. Overall, it contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The music and the visuals are pretty good and chill, which is the only positive comment I can make so far.”
- “Chill music and vibes.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is highlighted for its stunning visuals, unique design, and a vibrant world brimming with personality, creating an engaging and immersive experience for players.
- “What really stands out is the atmosphere—gorgeous visuals, quirky design, and a world packed with personality.”