One of the joys of researching games is discovering indie gems you didn't even know existed, and I recently found one at Steam that I can't stop thinking about. After doing a deep dive into a game called Eastshade by Eastshade Studios I came across a farm sim by the same developer which is basically a collection of Stardew Valley and Hogwarts Legacycomplete with an incredibly charming art style, a fantasy setting where magic does the heavy lifting, and even high-caliber voice acting. It's one of those games that I know I'll be playing as soon as it comes out, and I'm so ready for it that I'm almost willing to preemptively embrace any problems, technical or otherwise, that might come with it.
Songs by Glimmerwick is an upcoming open-world farm sim on Steam that takes the idea of enrolling in a magical school and places it within the framework of a game that Stardew Valley. I know I'm not alone in my love for Stardewas it remains one of the most popular indie games on the market for how it captured the core gameplay of the genre Harvest Moon helped the pioneer and added the heart that many of the later contributions gradually lost. As such, I'm always on the lookout for another similar game, and considering Hogwarts Legacy is one of those games I wish I could go back and play for the first time again, Songs by Glimmerwick is of course on my radar. The only thing left to do now is wait.
Songs of Glimmerwick wraps Hogwarts' legacy under a cozy, Stardew Valley-shaped blanket
I almost feel like saying Songs by Glimmerwick is like Stardew Valley meets Hogwarts Legacy doesn't do it justice, though, because while it takes some ideas from both of those games, it puts unique twists on their formulas that I'm sure you can't find in many other places. Yes, players attend a magical school, they run a farm to some extent, and there are plenty of activities in the game's world similar to those that players would find in both Stardew Valley and Hogwarts Legacy. However, Songs by Glimmerwick has its own art style and one of the most creative concepts for a magic system I've ever seen in a game, potentially allowing it to stand out even more than a title that Witchbrookfor example – which really looks like “Stardew Legacy”.
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Songs of Glimmerwick's core features
- STORY-DRIVEN WITCH ACADEMY RPG with both main missions and many minor character stories set in a magical forest world.
- MUSIC BASED MAGIC SYSTEM where spells involve playing songs from your songbook.
- RPG STYLE TASKS focused on different characters, mysteries and exploration.
- SHOW THE UNIVERSITY COURTYARD by planting mundane and mystical crops and using spells (such as summoning rain).
- UNIQUE SPELL INTERACTIONS such as talking to trees, enchanting tools, and overcoming environmental obstacles.
- LIVING WORLD with classes to attend, rumors to chase, festivals to enjoy and dynamic characters with lives of their own.
- FULL DIALOGUE bringing characters large and small to life.
- CHARACTER PROGRESSION SYSTEM allows you to gain experience and choose skills that improve gardening, trading, and special abilities.
- CUSTOMIZABLE APPEARANCE so you can choose how your character looks.
- EXTRA ACTIVITIES such as exploring the island, trying out in teams, fishing, diving seashells or joining forest expeditions.
Songs by Glimmerwick takes players to the forest fantasy world of Glimmerwick, where they have enrolled in its renowned magical university. There they will attend courses to increase their knowledge of magic, take care of the university garden, get to know the island's many inhabitants and participate in a variety of side activities often seen in cozy games such as Stardew Valley– including fishing, festivals and exploration. But there are plenty of other leisure activities in Songs by Glimmerwick also, like joining a band, diving for seashells, or joining the Green Sprites on forest expeditions.
Songs of Glimmerwick's outstanding feature is its magic system
The most notable feature of Songs by Glimmerwick is undoubtedly its music-based magic system. In the world of Glimmerwick, witches cast magic to cast spells rather than just a wand, giving spellcasting a more distinct flavor than other games that feature it. However, it's not just the fact that its magic system is fundamentally rooted in music that makes it stand out. Rather, it is how magic is used to perform in-game tasks, including gardening.
While Stardew Valleys farming requires players to do most of the work manually, Songs by Glimmerwick gives players spells that can enchant tools to function entirely by themselves. It is even possible to summon rain clouds in the game that will water the garden, as opposed to using a watering can in other farm life sim games. In addition to the gardening aspect of the game, players can also use magic to perform tasks such as talking to trees or frogs and overcoming otherwise insurmountable obstacles as they explore the open world.
Songs of Glimmerwick Gives Stardew Valley's Heart a Voice
One of the biggest reasons Stardew Valley is such a beloved farm life sim depends on how Pelican Town and its inhabitants feel alive and like a place and people you actually want to get to know. Character interactions in the game feel so deep and genuine that emotional connections can be made without the characters having actual voices. Still, Songs by Glimmerwick can have a one-up on Stardew Valley here, because it not only has fully voiced characters, but based on what's only been shown in the trailer, those performances are top-notch.
Of course, there are those out there who believe that voice acting can ruin a game, because it ultimately depends on the context. However, it undoubtedly fits in perfectly Songs by Glimmerwicks mold. Instead of primarily being a farming sim, Glimmerwick is a story-driven RPG experience that seems to play out more like its farm life gameplay loop is on the side rather than a core focus. Within that framework, the voice acting is more important, but only if it's done well, as bad performances can be more of a distraction than anything else. But again, Songs by Glimmerwick seems to have that part nailed.
In March 2024, developer Eastshade Studios mentioned on Steam that there were already 100 unique characters in Songs by Glimmerwick “and rising”, and that “many of them are dynamic with schedules and some even change their clothes sometimes.”
Songs of Glimmerwick currently has no release date, but I hope it arrives soon
As amazing as all this sounds to one Stardew Valley and Hogwarts Legacy hell like me, though Songs by Glimmerwick is currently without a release date. I wish it would come out tomorrow because I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I discovered it. Unfortunately, I may have to wait longer than I want, although I won't stop waiting at this point. I'm already sold Songs by Glimmerwickand I've only seen a glimpse of it. And after learning more about it, you might be too.
There is still hope. Eastshade Studios released a reveal trailer for the game four years ago, so it's possible that a launch could happen sooner rather than later. The developer's last devlog was also published on Steam in March 2025, and if the patterns hold there, another devlog could be on the way in March as well. And even if Songs by Glimmerwickdevelopment has taken quite a long time, they apparently work with a small team, so that's understandable. Finally, a reply to a fan's Steam discussion post in December 2025 confirmed that development was ongoing and that there would be a demo before the game's 1.0 launch. I hope it comes soon, because I can't wait to play this game.
Songs by Glimmerwick is currently available to wishlist on Steam.
