Witchbrook dev Chucklefish reignites excitement for the cozy life sim with a series of first looks that are giving serious Stardew Valley vibes: "EVERY citizen has their own look, name, and home"

Witchbrook
(Image credit: Chucklefish)

It's been a while since we've heard anything new about Witchbrook, but a recent update from developer and publisher Chucklefish shows more of the stunning pixel game off.

After finally confirming a release window for Witchbrook at the tail end of March this year, Chucklefish has surfaced again with some more news for excited fans – a dev blog containing a first look at the witchy life sim's day and night cycle, growing flowers, NPC schedules, vehicles, and more. The sneak peek videos come as a nice surprise, apparently marking the start of a series of similar dev blogs from Chucklefish.

"With each blog we'll be diving into a different part of the game," explains the developer in its post, "starting with the ever-bubbling cauldron beneath the surface, quietly weaving its energy through every corner of Witchbrook: World Simulation." That's where this first dev blog comes in, as it showcases some of the elements that ensure "the town of Mossport is a living, breathing, believable place" for players.

Witchbrook - Dev Blog 1: NPC Schedules - YouTube Witchbrook - Dev Blog 1: NPC Schedules - YouTube
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Chucklefish then delves into some of the details developers have poured into the world so far, starting with its changing seasons, day-night transitions, and villagers' daily routines. "The world is persistent," explains the studio, "which means EVERY citizen has their own look, name, and home. They’re not just background characters, they're part of the world's fabric." It's all giving some serious Stardew Valley vibes, and I can't wait to learn more.

As Chucklefish writes, the next dev blog "dives into Witchbrook College and some of the fun activities you'll be participating in" – and while the studio doesn't provide a solid date for the second dev blog's release, it likely won't be too long. After all, Witchbrook itself is meant to launch later this year, and it's already July. If you're anything like me and can't wait to see more of the cozy sim, make sure to wishlist it on Steam for updates.

Looking for more to play? Check out some of these upcoming indie games for other gems to be excited for.

Anna Koselke
Staff Writer

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.

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