This summer's new survival game is like Valheim if it went to Hogwarts

Survival RPGs with co-op elements seem to be all the rage these days, with developers big and small trying to capitalize on the formula popularized by the likes of Valheim and Palworld. This comfortable subgenre can be hit or miss, but an upcoming indie game by name Witch's scepter promises to, if nothing else, delight audiences with its charm.

Witch's scepter is clearly focused on Palworld audience. Not only is it an open-world survival game with co-op and a simple, colorful art style, but it also has a creature-collecting mechanic remarkably similar to Pocketpair's much-discussed early asset hit. In addition, Witch's scepter tries to divide its focus fairly evenly between crafting, exploration, and combat, with each “arc” in the gameplay loop feeding into the others rather than existing as separate parts of a whole. With a heavy emphasis on easy-to-learn systems, fast progression, creative expression and cooperative play, Witch's scepter aims to grow into one of Steam's most compelling survival RPGs.

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Witchspire is a casual survival experience

Witch's scepter Early Access Release Date: June 10, 2026

About like Palworldthere is technically a story in Witch's scepteralthough it is far from the main focus. The point is that you, the player, control a custom witch or wizard in a society that has followed a long forgotten one. As such, there are countless mysteries to uncover, dangers to face and discoveries to make – a fitting starting point for the survival formula. But what interests me Witch's scepter is that, despite its similarities to “Pokémon with guns”, it actually has a surprisingly wholesome and chill vibe.

Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)

This can be attributed in part to the mysterious and whimsical nature of witchcraft, which is largely presented in the style of The legacy of Hogwarts here. In other words, Witch's scepter is not a dark tale of transgressive magic, but rather an academic, edgy adventure into untamed lands. There may be danger, but with hard-hitting and versatile magical powers, not to mention the help of some surprisingly adorable familiar creatures, there's not too much to fear. With other recent “Valheim like”, such as WindroseBeing decidedly aggressive or brusque, this more colorful and mellow approach is a nice change of pace.

Witchspire will succeed with two types of magic

Witch's scepters traditional magical background will probably play a big part in its success. The inclusion of elements such as wands, pointy wizard hats, flying broomsticks and cauldrons is what makes the game stand out from its contemporaries. Even basic mechanics like chopping down trees and mining ore are filtered through the sieve of witchcraft, rooted in the player's mastery of magical skills and equipment. As such, it may be absolutely necessary for Witch's scepter to make the most of its unique premise, leverage it with unique spells or magical techniques, occult-inspired storytelling or environment design, or similarly whimsical, magical iconography. The more Witch's scepter leans into this premise, the more chance it has to stand out against its tough competition.

For the same reason, how Witch's scepter Incorporating magic into the game will also be important. Based on what we've seen of the game already, there seems to be a pretty good variety of different magic spells, available for use both in and out of combat. For example, different wands have unique basic and special attacks, and you can quickly switch between them on the battlefield, lend Witch's scepter a surprisingly tactical air. Using magic for activities like logging and mining is also interesting, as such activities feed directly into the core magic progression loop. And the astral projection feature, which allows players to leave their avatar's body while building, is a little stroke of genius. Here's hoping it all comes together in the final product.