Whimel Academy

Embark on a fantastic journey to a prestigious magic school in Whimel Academy – a life simulation game with a lot of soul and a lovely art style. You play as a witch or wizard who has just enrolled in this Hogwarts-style school. Your goal will be to live a year in this magical place, learning everything there's to learn about magic and forging unbreakable bonds along the way.

Vibrant and undeniably cozy, Whimel Academy invites players to relax in its charming world. While games like Hogwarts Legacy left the whole "studying" aspect of a magic school in second place, Whimel Academy tries to simulate how wondrous attending such an institute would be.

The game might not be aimed at die-hard sim players, but for those looking for a relaxing game to unwind at the end of the day, Whimel Academy is the perfect pick.

Cozy Coven

Relaxing games have gained traction recently. With titles like Tiny Glade, developers seem focused on appeasing a niche that's rarely ever mentioned: gamers who are just looking for games to pass the time. I should know: investing time and effort in completing Battle Pass after Battle Pass takes a toll on you. Eventually, all you want to do is just boot a game that invites you to relax.

For a time, Stardew Valley filled that void. However, Whimel Academy is even more laidback than most sim games. While studying and managing your time is essential to navigating Whimel Academy, your topmost priority is to establish relationships with other characters.

Relationship Sim

In some aspects, Whimel Academy is a dating sim. Granted, the "dating" part of it is not very deep, but the game allows you to pursue romantic relationships with your classmates. It's not exactly as overt as Potionomics, but it does deliver some genuinely touching moments of character development.

One area that might be controversial for someone looking to get invested in the relationship-building aspect of Whimel Academy is the character design. Much like the rest of the game, characters are drawn using simple lines, lacking much detail. The soft art style can be great for those looking for a relaxing visual experience, but it does make characters look rather lackluster, especially when you compare them with Potionomics' animated witches and wizards.

A Lovely School Year

Everything about Whimel Academy is designed to soothe the player. As the school year progresses, you'll see seasons change and your school room turning all shades of gorgeous colors. Despite the soft art style, the warm colors and Ghibli-style animations create a unique atmosphere that is perfect for a feel-good game.

Though some gamers might call this a management sim, the reality is that it feels much more like a relaxing tool. Something to play when you're listening to some lo-fi beats or when you don't want to challenge yourself too much. Fans of the Harry Potter series will surely find here that magic school fantasy that Hogwarts Legacy promised – only with more pastel colors.

Pros

• Beautiful art style with gorgeous pastel colors
• Relaxing gameplay invites you to soak into the world and characters
• Genuinely adorable characters

Cons

• Character portraits could have a bit more detail
• Not recommended for those looking for a challenging game