Witchspire made its gameplay debut at the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2025 on December 4, and it’s everything cozy gaming fans have been waiting for. Developed by Envar Games, a studio that’s worked on League of Legends, Overwatch 2, and projects for Netflix and Wizards of the Coast, this magical survival adventure game combines creature collecting, base building, and spell-slinging combat in a hand-crafted world inspired by Studio Ghibli and Breath of the Wild. The 45-second gameplay trailer showcased flying on broomsticks, gathering resources with magic, and exploring diverse biomes filled with both friendly and corrupted creatures. Witchspire launches into Early Access on Steam in 2026, and playtest signups are open now.
What Makes Witchspire Different
Envar Games describes Witchspire as a magical survival game that constantly asks how can we make this cooler with magic. Traditional survival mechanics get a fantastical twist that makes resource gathering feel less tedious and more whimsical. When ore is scarce, you can summon a mineral comet from the sky. When wood runs low, you conjure an entire forest into existence. Movement abilities like Spirit Jump let you scale sheer cliffs, while Blink allows instant dodging during combat. These magical solutions transform typical survival grind into something that feels fresh and creative.
The building system uses Astral Projection, which lets players leave their physical bodies and soar freely as spirits while constructing their homes. This eliminates the need for scaffolding or worrying about fall damage while placing blocks at awkward heights. You can survey your cottage from every angle while floating on a broomstick, making the creative building process feel integrated into the witch fantasy rather than a clunky construction minigame. The gameplay trailer showed players using spells to chop trees and gather resources, reinforcing that magic permeates every aspect of the experience.
Familiars and Combat
Creature collecting forms a core pillar of Witchspire through a system called Familiars. Players begin by choosing one of four starter companions, then can tame more than 60 unique creatures encountered throughout the world. These aren’t just cosmetic pets or battle partners. Familiars serve practical purposes back at your home base, running spinning machines, tending crops, and helping with various tasks. In combat, they become powerful allies, though the trailer also showed corrupted versions of creatures that have been twisted by dark magic, suggesting Familiars can be turned against you.
Combat appears action-oriented rather than purely survival-focused. Players can specialize in different magical disciplines like spellblade combat, and gear progression through robes, hats, trinkets, and weapons makes the biggest difference in effectiveness. The world features a full day-night cycle where nights bring deadlier monsters, but your base remains safe. Envar Games has positioned Witchspire as a gateway game for Animal Crossing players who have been lured in by friends who play games like Rust, suggesting the survival elements won’t be overly punishing or hardcore.
Covens and Cooperation
Players join a Coven early in the game, which influences their character’s appearance, stats, and magical specialization. The coven system encourages players to specialize in different types of magic and playstyles, though you’re not locked into specific roles. Four-player co-op is fully supported, and groups can naturally divide responsibilities with some players focusing on farming and building while others handle exploration and combat. However, nothing stops a party from going full combat if that’s their preference.
The world spans multiple islands with diverse biomes including grasslands, sun-scorched deserts, frozen tundra, and more. Flying on broomsticks is essential for island-to-island travel, and players can craft multiple broom types with different speed stats. Fast travel is available through portals you build or discover. Progression works through multiple layers including character leveling that unlocks the Luminaries tech tree, constellation-inspired upgrades that open recipes, passives, and building parts. Individual skills like logging or spellblade combat level up separately, helping unlock related upgrades in the tech tree.
Early Access Plans
Envar Games plans to launch Witchspire into Steam Early Access during 2026, though no specific release window has been announced. The team has opened playtest signups on Steam, inviting a smaller group of players to try a portion of the game early and provide feedback directly to developers. Lead Producer Liam O’Neill stated that building a community around the game helps identify problems early and ensures the game is easy to understand before wider release.
This marks a significant milestone for Envar Studio as their first internally developed game after years of contributing to projects for Riot Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Tencent, Netflix, and Wizards of the Coast. CEO Atey Ghailan described Witchspire as a new chapter for the studio and their first step in building a AA studio while establishing Witchspire as a fresh, quality IP in the survival and adventure genres. The studio’s Swedish heritage influences the game’s aesthetic, with sparkling lakes and deep fjords visible in the trailer footage.
FAQs
When does Witchspire release?
Witchspire is scheduled to launch into Steam Early Access in 2026 on PC. No specific release date or window has been announced yet, but playtest signups are currently open on the Steam store page.
What platforms will Witchspire be on?
Witchspire is currently confirmed only for PC via Steam Early Access. Console versions have not been announced, though many Early Access games eventually expand to consoles after the PC release.
How many players can play Witchspire together?
Witchspire supports up to four-player co-op. Players can work together on base building, exploration, combat, and creature collecting. Groups can specialize in different roles or all focus on the same activities.
What are Familiars in Witchspire?
Familiars are creatures you can tame and befriend throughout the game world. Players start with one of four starter Familiars and can collect more than 60 unique creatures. They help in combat and also perform tasks at your home base like running machines and tending crops.
Is Witchspire a hardcore survival game?
No. The developers describe it as a gateway survival game that’s welcoming to players who enjoy cozy games like Animal Crossing but want to try survival mechanics. Survival systems activate primarily when exploring dangerous areas, and your home base remains safe.
How does magic work in Witchspire?
Magic replaces traditional survival mechanics with fantastical alternatives. You use spells to gather resources, summon ore comets when minerals are scarce, conjure forests for wood, and use movement abilities like Spirit Jump and Blink. The Astral Projection system lets you build structures while floating as a spirit.
Who is developing Witchspire?
Envar Games is developing and publishing Witchspire. The studio has previously worked on League of Legends, Overwatch 2, and projects for Netflix, Tencent, Blizzard Entertainment, and Wizards of the Coast. This is their first internally developed game.
Conclusion
Witchspire arrives at the perfect moment when cozy gaming and survival crafting are colliding in interesting ways. Games like Palia, Disney Dreamlight Valley, and various farming simulators have proven players want relaxing experiences with progression systems, while survival games continue dominating the multiplayer space. Witchspire’s magical twist on resource gathering and building could be the sweet spot that appeals to both audiences. The Studio Ghibli aesthetic combined with Breath of the Wild exploration and creature collecting creates a compelling package that stands out in an increasingly crowded survival genre. Whether the magic systems stay engaging through dozens of hours or become repetitive gimmicks remains to be seen, but the foundation looks solid. With playtest signups open and a 2026 Early Access launch planned, interested players can get hands-on experience soon and help shape the final product. If Envar Games can deliver on the promise shown in this gameplay reveal, Witchspire could become the definitive cozy witch survival experience everyone has been waiting for.