For those of us who never quite recovered from the heartache of not receiving a Hogwarts letter, a whole world of witchy games is just on the horizon. It feels like every week a new magical indie project chock-full with witches gets announced.
Why wait for new releases, when so many games that focus on crafting potions are just itching to be played? Step into the shoes of a budding herbalist or witch in training with these enchanting games.
Updated on October 20, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: Potion-making is a surprisingly engaging gameplay mechanic that has made its way to a ton of games. In fact, certain titles do a great job of letting you go in-depth when it comes to concocting these brews, with the end result either being completely disastrous or quite beneficial in the long run. Here are some of the most notable games that use the concept of brewing potions to great effect.
11 Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
The Harry Potter games have seen their fair share of ups and downs, but they still hold a special place in the hearts of many people who played this game in their childhood. One of the games in the series that had a notably better reception was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Given the emphasis of the source material on potion making, it goes without saying that the game has extended minigames where you need to brew potions properly without making a mistake. Doing so is critical to progress in certain sections throughout the game too.
10 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is lauded by many as one of the greatest role-playing games ever made. The game's combat is pretty great, with Geralt being pretty competent through a mix of his sword skills and magic.
However, if you've played the game on higher difficulties, then you know how critical alchemy is to defeating some of the harder enemies in the game. These potions let you increase both you damage and resistances in battle, rendering you virtually unstoppable against even the toughest enemies in the game.
9 Potion Permit
The gameplay loop of gathering materials in the world to craft a host of items is something that many games have utilized to great effect. One such title in the same vein and that has charmed people with its aesthetic is Potion Permit.
You take on the role of a master chemist who goes to the town of Moonbury and spend your time gathering materials, engaging in combat, brewing a wide range of potions, and taking care of anyone who falls sick. The characters in the game are pretty memorable, and you will definitely form an attachment to the game long after you're finished with this experience.
8 Potion Craft
Learn the potion trade from the expertise of an alchemist. Potion Craft teaches you not only how to brew and bottle, but how to sell your potions to merchants and village people alike. Experiment with different herbs and fungi to learn new recipes and fill out your alchemical map.
Potion Craft even has something of a business tycoon feel to it, as you interact with customers with puzzling orders and haggle for the highest price. All wrapped up in a one-of-kind medieval tapestry art style, Potion Craft is a cozy potion crafting adventure.
7 Alchemy Garden
Potion-making does not need to be conducted in stuffy, dark dungeons. There is a whole world of herbs and magical plants to discover. Alchemy Garden leans into the adventure and exploration of potion craft. Venture out into a lush wilderness to discover new herbs, magical ores, and other alchemical components that you can bring back to your shop to craft into potions.
Find the perfect balance between adventuring, gardening, and managing your shop. Alchemy Garden is still in early access, however, so be aware that not all areas are fully explorable yet.
6 Wytchwood
These days it feels like all the witches are small and cute, so it is refreshing to find a game that harkens back to the classic witch stereotype of hobbled backs and nose warts.
Wytchwood is a comfy crafting adventure set in a gothic fairytale world, and as the "old witch of the woods", it is your responsibility to either help or hinder the countryfolk and creatures you come across. Harvesting magic ingredients for spells, reagents, and potions is a huge component of the gameplay, a perfect cozy crafting experience.
5 Alchemy Story
Farming and witchcraft never looked so cute. As the only apprentice alchemist in a town besieged by an adorable curse that has turned the villagers into animals, you are the only one who can hope to reverse the witch's spell. Tend to your garden, explore the countryside, and collect new ingredients to brew special potions.
Some potions will aid you in your day-to-day chores, from giving you more stamina to decreasing the growth time of your harvest. Other potions will help you in the quest to restore the village back to normal.
4 Spellcaster University
Just imagine a Hogwarts edition of Two Point Campus. Spellcaster University puts a charming and magical twist on business management tycoon games. Step into the shoes of a wizard school headmaster, constructing a magical university from the ground up, literally.
Build schools in fantastical lands and guide students to their wizardly destinies. No good wizard school operates without a potions class or two, and you can experiment with potion components to craft new concoctions to aid you in managing your school.
3 Alchemist Simulator
Not to be confused with Potion Craft, which uses the same title for its tagline, Alchemist Simulator lets you enjoy the potential for chaos in potion-making.
With a strong focus on trial and error, this game allows you to learn the tricks of the alchemist trade all while attempting to run a successful potions business. You are guaranteed to blow a couple of things up along the way, yourself included — but that is all in the fun of it.
2 Potion Paws
What's an adorable little cat to do with an abandoned house in the woods besides turning it into a witch's cottage? Potion Paws is an extremely casual adventure game in which you devote your time to fixing up an old house, collecting materials from the surrounding spooky forest, and crafting powerful potions.
The game is still in early access, but if you do not mind a little cozy grinding, Potion Paws is a super relaxing exploration and crafting experience.
1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Learn potions from Professor Snape himself in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery! It's the first-ever Harry Potter game to allow you to create your very own witch or wizard, mastering wizardry from the very same teachers who instructed Harry Potter.
Since Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is a mobile game, the mechanic of potion brewing itself is rather straightforward. Quite simply, it involves watching Snape's demonstrations, collecting ingredients, and tracing shapes to cast spells with your wand in order to correctly brew potions. If you are looking for a laid-back Harry Potter game, Hogwarts Mystery is a good place to start.