Hogwarts Legacy Replacement With 9/10 Reviews Officially Launches November 16

Published Nov 11, 2026, 9:44 AM EST

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Steam offers free games constantly, but they may not always be your cup of tea. There are so many genres at this point, and new ones are being created all the time. While open-world survival games did exist decades ago in some form, they're now one of the most popular sandboxes on PC.

The same also goes for the simulation genre, which came back with a bang once Stardew Valley sold millions upon millions of copies. Now, over on Steam, you can find the latest Hogwarts Legacy replacement, and it's coming way sooner than expected, while also providing a whole new take on a wizard-based school.

Originally launching in Early Access in mid-2025, Wizdom Academy is now fully poised for a 1.0 debut on November 16. At that point, it'll leave Early Access and will go on sale for $21.99, with an option for a $4.99 supporter pack. Here's how the game differs from other management simulators, according to creator Kipwak Studio.

"A 3D builder management sim. You are the Headmaster: build your wizarding academy floor by floor, train students into accomplished wizards, and keep your school alive through mana droughts, staff drama and rival academies. Your school, your rules. Step into the role of Headmaster and build your wizarding academy from the ground up. Design every room, recruit students from across the world, send professors on expeditions, and manage everything from mana reserves to staff ultimatums, all while the Directorium keeps a close eye on your results."

To that end, you'll stack floors on top of each other to build your favorite wizardry school, put classrooms in precarious spots, and decorate the halls for flair. You can choose the layout of the school and where classes are located, while building courtyards and secret passages alike.

Students can also be recruited as another element of the game beyond building, and they'll grow over time as you play. Over the course of their time at school, they'll develop traits and a personality, with over 100 traits to assign and 50 "Destinies" they can follow. However, they won't want to study all the time, as there's a built-in "prank" mechanic.

Right now, Wizdom Academy is sitting at "very positive" reviews in Early Access, so it stands to reason that the 1.0 could do even better. At the moment, the negative reviews mostly mention the bugs, which are priority one for fans.

Right now, the studio only has one request from fans leading into the 1.0 launch: "Have you enjoyed your time at Wizdom Academy but haven't left a Steam review yet? Now is the perfect time! Your honest review can make a real difference and help more players discover our indie game. Already left one? Consider updating it to reflect your experience with the game today. Every review and recommendation helps us reach more players. Thank you for being part of this journey!"

If you're looking for another wizard-school game, Wizdom Academy on Steam might be it. Take a look at how the reviews shake out at launch, as we're just a few days away.