If you’ve ever dreamed of receiving that letter from Hogwarts, Songs of Glimmerwick will give you a taste of that magical experience.
Songs of Glimmerwick, by Eastshade Studios, has launched after eight years of development, introducing players to a vast musical woodland fantasy world where you enrol in a witch academy and experience four seasons of school life and magical adventures.
In the cosy land of Glimmerwick, music is essentially your medium for magic, with different tunes used to conjure unique spells, whether to help with gardening, fishing, or manipulating the elements of the earth. You learn your craft at the academy, attending lessons, meeting professors and fellow students, and getting involved in their very quirky shenanigans.
From the very beginning, the set-up hooked me. I just wasn’t prepared for how truly nuanced and fun this life simulation and story-rich adventure would be.
Songs of Glimmerwick
Release date: 30 September, 2026
Platforms: PC via Steam, console ports planned for a later date
Developer: Eastshade Studios
What is Songs of Glimmerwick’s visual style like?
Eastshade Studios has done an amazing job of breathing life into Glimmerwick and transporting you there. The calmness of the woods and the peaceful yet bustling town feel almost tangible, making the world surprisingly easy to get lost in.
The game features a 2D art style and atmospheric lighting that adds depth to the visuals. It also sticks to a soft, muted colour palette, and as someone that gets overwhelmed with vibrancy, this choice in aesthetic is a treat for my eyes.
Songs of Glimmerwick gameplay explained
In Glimmerwick, you enrol at a witch academy called The Etchery, where you attend different classes, learn magical crafts, and gradually get to know the personalities of your fellow students and teachers while also solving plenty of problems and mysteries.
There are several different types of classes introduced, but two particularly stood out. The first is music class, where you practice to master a song by pressing keys on beat, much like the method in Guitar Hero and other similar games. Once you have mastered a song, you can perform it with a single click to cast its associated spell.
The other is potion-making, which uses the arcade Marble shooter-type mechanic, where you match the ingredients and brew as many potions as possible within a set time to master the recipe before you can eventually brew them freely.
These practice "mini-games" strike a great balance between requiring some effort and practice without becoming overly grindy. That feels important for a game like this, as excessive grinding could easily push it outside the cosy zone.
The two skills would be central to many parts of the game, as quests and gardening would require spell-casting and potion-making.
How does the clock system work in Songs of Glimmerwick?
There is a small detail that I absolutely appreciate in Songs of Glimmerwick, and it is its forgiving time system. In the game, you follow a schedule much like you would at any school, but for time-blind folks like me, who can hardly keep track of time and are terrible at making plans, the game's clock system is a godsend.
The clock stops whenever you need to attend a scheduled event, like a class or a show, and only continues once you have actually attended it. It is incredibly helpful and relaxing to know that the game is not going to rush you. You can carry on with whatever you are doing until you are ready to attend the scheduled event. It's also an interesting choice for a game in the same genre as Stardew Valley, another cosy game that famously has the player racing against time almost constantly.
Farming in Songs of Glimmerwick explained
Speaking of Stardew Valley, farming is also a big part of Songs of Glimmerwick, and I ended up enjoying it far more than I expected. There is a plethora of seeds and plants, with some growing naturally across the world and others being much rarer. The variety makes gardening incredibly fun.
You can obtain seeds from various sources, but the main way to get specific seeds is through sellers in town. Plants take several in-game days to fully bloom and allow you to harvest, but some potions and purchase-able items can fast-track their growth.
The garden customisation is also fantastic. You can craft different items to decorate and personalise your garden, and while it doesn’t really affect your in-game progress, it’s a great side-activity to do while on an empty schedule and I’ve found myself quite indulged in the decorating part.
Tending to your garden also never feels particularly repetitive or difficult, as there are tools and spells to help you along. You need to be on your toes to have a healthy garden however, as vermins are always lurking and plants can dry out and wilt.
Your income comes from your daily gardening and other work. It also brings a nice balance, giving you enough money to buy what you need without making it so easy that you can simply splurge on everything.
How seasons shift in Songs of Glimmerwick
The seasonal changes are very intricate and it contributes strongly to the game's environmental depth. As you travel through Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, the story unfolds seamlessly alongside each new phase.
The details that come with every season are hard to miss. Different rodents and other varieties of animals roam the world depending on the time of year, crops grow and change, seed supplies shift, school activities evolve, and the world itself feels like it is naturally progressing around you. These little touches make Glimmerwick feel alive, rather than simply a backdrop for the story.
How is the music in Songs of Glimmerwick?
Music is a key concept in the game, and Eastshade Studios has nailed the soundtrack and tunes crafted for the game. The soundtrack leans towards folkloric sounds which blends well to the serene woodlands.
There are plenty of small details in the way the game uses music that I appreciated. For example, while fishing, different types of fish have their own specific tunes. It is a small touch, but it makes fishing feel much less repetitive and gives even simple activities their own identity.
How is the character and world-building in Songs of Glimmerwick?
One standout factor that had easily absorbed me into this fantasy world is the ability to interact with and hear unique voice dialogue from almost every character in the game. I found myself interacting with almost every person I stumbled upon, and there were many.
Each character brings their own distinct thoughts, quirks and personalities, making even seemingly minor residents feel like genuine parts of the community. They also talk about different topics and problems on a regular basis, and it genuinely feels like you are experiencing life at an academy within a tiny, interconnected society. All of this comes together to create an incredibly natural atmosphere.
Some of these characters eventually become major parts of quests, and even after just a handful of conversations, I found myself becoming attached to them and the wider community.
The voice acting for every single character has been excellent, while the storytelling and scripts are well-written and sprinkled with plenty of humour, making them a lot of fun to engage with.
A world that expands in unexpected ways
The game starts relatively simply, with limited, but certainly not insufficient, areas to explore. However, the open world gradually expands in many ways, introducing secret passages and creative ways to reach previously inaccessible paths.
The school and its surrounding areas are large enough to feel like real places without becoming so vast that you constantly feel lost. Each area also feels distinct, making exploration and discovery all the more fun.
How is the gameplay pace in Songs of Glimmerwick?
One thing I love about this game is how quickly it gets you into the experience. There is no lengthy tutorial or wall of instructions. Instead, your tutorial comes naturally as you play, with much of what you need to learn being introduced during your classes.
It makes the experience feel more authentic. You really do feel like a new student arriving at a magical academy and figuring things out as you go.
At the same time, the game clearly understands that it is designed to deliver bite-sized adventures, while maintaining its cosy atmosphere. As a result, most quests feel like relaxing journeys of discovery, allowing you to uncover new things without ever becoming too intense.
How quests work in Songs of Glimmerwick
Quests are often prompted when you interact with characters or start a new day, with some beginning through forced interactions. There are constantly new quests, with very unique circumstances, appearing every other day. While they can quickly stack up in your quest log, they never feel convoluted, especially as most of them naturally connect with one another.
These quests often reward you with valuable items and unlock spells that become crucial later on. They also weave and mesh together nicely, allowing you to progress through several objectives at once.
I also love how the quests give you enough clues to figure things out without spelling out the solution and making everything too easy–it is the perfect middle ground for a person of my intellect.
Some cracks in the spell
If you ask me about the things I dislike about the game, there are practically none. However, there are a few minor details that might bother some players.
The character customisation, which comes at the very beginning of the game, feels a little awkward. I disliked the mouse-drag method for going through each styling option, as it felt somewhat clunky to use. Personally, I also feel it could have benefited from a little more variety, particularly when it comes to facial features.
The interface is clean, with almost everything you need tucked away in a Tab menu. This is great if you prefer a less cluttered screen, but more pragmatic players might appreciate shortcuts or additional information displayed directly on the interface. For example, I would have liked the ability to pin a recipe to the screen rather than constantly opening the Tab menu to check it. Having this as a toggle-able option would have been a welcome addition.
The map also eventually becomes quite vast. If you are not particularly mindful of your routes while multitasking, you can end up doing a LOT of walking from one corner of the map to another. A portal system or some form of fast travel would have been efficient.
Verdict
I should preface this by saying that I am not someone with a particularly good attention span, nor am I someone who regularly plays cosy games. Yet, I have played 35 hours of Songs of Glimmerwick over the past few days, and it has become my sole obsession.
The game is incredibly well-paced, keeping you hooked with well-timed quests and the progression of its seasons. It never feels repetitive, with new locations, characters, and activities gradually coming into the picture. It also hits the sweet spot between being relaxing and intriguing, creating an atmosphere that envelops you and draws you deeper into its fantasy world.
Songs of Glimmerwick has surpassed my expectations with just how comprehensive and intricate its world has turned out to be, despite initially appearing quite simple from my first impressions. The game has encouraged me to step outside the adrenaline-filled games I usually gravitate towards and unwind a little more with some cosy adventures.
I will certainly be looking for more games of a similar flavour to add to my library from now on. That's for sure!
Songs of Glimmerwick launched on 30 September 2026 on PC via Steam for US$24.99 for the Standard Edition and US$32.82 for the Deluxe Bundle. We received a copy of the game for this review.
Songs of Glimmerwick FAQs
When was Songs of Glimmerwick released?
Songs of Glimmerwick launched worldwide on 30 September, 2026.
Is Songs of Glimmerwick on Nintendo Switch?
Songs of Glimmerwick is currently only available on PC via Steam. Console versions for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch are planned for release at a later date.
Is Songs of Glimmerwick multiplayer?
No. Songs of Glimmerwick is a single-player life-simulation RPG.
How much does Songs of Glimmerwick cost?
Songs of Glimmerwick retails for US$24.99 on Steam. It currently has an introductory 10% discount, bringing the price down to US$22.49. The offer runs until 14 October, 2026.
Is Songs of Glimmerwick an indie game?
Yes. Songs of Glimmerwick is an indie game developed by Eastshade Studios.
How difficult is Songs of Glimmerwick?
Songs of Glimmerwick is a laid-back adventure, but some of its puzzles and exploration sections can be challenging. It also features several important “mini-games” that require some practice to master.
How many hours does it take to complete Songs of Glimmerwick?
Eastshade Studios estimates that Songs of Glimmerwick offers around 40 hours of gameplay. If you take your time, particularly when solving quests and exploring the world, it can easily stretch to around 50 hours.
Are all characters voiced in Songs of Glimmerwick?
Nearly all of the characters in Songs of Glimmerwick have voiced dialogue, with the exception of some townsfolk.
Is there combat in Songs of Glimmerwick?
No, there is no combat in Songs of Glimmerwick. Instead, you primarily use spells and potions to complete quests and interact with the world.
Are there microtransactions in Songs of Glimmerwick?
No. Songs of Glimmerwick does not feature any microtransactions.
How do you report bugs in Songs of Glimmerwick?
To report a bug or error in Songs of Glimmerwick, press F10 in-game to open the Bug Reporting prompt. Alternatively, press Esc and select the Report Bug button.
What is in the Songs of Glimmerwick Deluxe Bundle?
Eastshade Studios has also released a Songs of Glimmerwick Deluxe Bundle, which includes the base game, Supporter Pack, and Original Soundtrack.
The Supporter Pack includes an exclusive dapper hat and robes, as well as MP3 versions of the Cup and Kettle songs performed at the local teahouse. It also adds a badge to the game's title screen.
Meanwhile, the Original Soundtrack features 47 songs from the game.
