Game: Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy
Genre: RPG
System: Nintendo Switch/Switch 2 (also on PlayStation)
Developer | Publisher: Idea Factory, Compile Heart, Sting | Idea Factory
Age Rating: EU 12 | US Everyone 10+
Price: US $49.99 | UK £44.99 | EU € 49,99
Release Date: July 29th, 2025
Review code provided with many thanks to Reef Entertainment
Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy – An Unheard of Gem
Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy may just win the 2025 award for “most fabulous game title.”
You’d be forgiven for having absolutely no idea the Mado Monogatari series even exists, it started life as a Japan-exclusive dungeon crawler on the old MSX computer, decades ago. While you might not know the original RPGs, you probably know its more famous spin-off: the puzzle series Puyo Puyo.
This latest entry leaves the puzzles behind for a more cuddly, anime-infused dungeon crawler. It’s light on grit, big on charm, and probably most appealing to casual players or those with a soft spot for obscure Japanese imports.
Another School Year, Another Magical Mess
You step into the robes of Fia, a young student determined to become a master mage at the prestigious Ancient Magic Academy. But after a rather eventful entrance ceremony, Fia and a handful of classmates find themselves in the academy’s “naughty class.” Now they’ll have to learn teamwork, tackle magical trials, and still find time to study for exams, though “exams” here tend to involve slaying monsters instead of filling in answer sheets.
Expect a high-energy anime storyline full of hijinks and big-hearted moments. There’s genuine character development for the core cast, though it comes with a caveat, voice acting is only in Japanese, with English subtitles. That’s fine for purists, but some cutscenes, especially early on, run long, and less patient players might be tempted to skip through and miss the character development.
Class in Session
The core loop is simple but satisfying: explore the academy’s tower, tackle randomly generated dungeon floors, battle monsters (yes, including adorable blobs straight out of Puyo Puyo), avoid traps, grab loot, and face a boss at the top. Then, return to class to “hand in” your work, just like a magical exam.
Between dungeon runs, you can roam the school grounds, chat with NPCs, and take part in extracurricular activities like fishing, gardening, and item synthesis, all of which can give you a boost for your next crawl.
A unique touch is the VT meter, a sort of stamina gauge that depletes as you explore or even when smashing pots for loot. Running out is rarely catastrophic as long as you manage it and keep a steady supply of curry on hand for replenishment.
Battles in Real Time
Combat here is an unusual blend: technically turn-based, but everything moves in real time. Your attack range is shown with a small on-screen meter, letting you aim for single targets or swing more freely to hit multiple foes. As you fight, a magic gauge fills, letting you unleash spectacular “Great Magic Artes” complete with over-the-top cinematics.
Enemies can be ambushed in the field for an advantage, and your AI-controlled teammates generally hold their own, though you’ll want to keep an eye on their health. At the start, you choose your character class, which determines your available weapons and skills.
On Normal difficulty, the game leans easy, probably by design. It feels aimed at newcomers to dungeon crawlers rather than veterans seeking punishing depth. There is depth to the combat with certain enemies weaker to specific magical attacks. But it feels you can still get by well timed attacks and activating magic. A harder mode exists, but this is clearly a friendlier, lower-stress take on the genre.
Presentation & Personality
The school grounds are bright and cheerful, giving off an upbeat, cosy vibe. Dungeons themselves are a bit less inspired, with repetitive stone textures despite their random layouts. Still, the game’s happy-go-lucky tone, peppy soundtrack, and enthusiastic Japanese voice work give it an infectious energy. Even without understanding the language, the performances carry the mood, sometimes edging into 90s-era cheesy in a way that’s oddly charming.
Conclusion – School’s Out for Summer
Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy is a pleasant, approachable dungeon crawler ideal for casual players or anyone curious about a quirky slice of gaming history that never left Japan, until now. It’s not flawless, and the repetition will be noticeable for some, but as a low-pressure, bite-sized RPG, it delivers a warm and whimsical adventure. One can’t help being drawn in by its positive energy.
Final Verdict: I Like it.
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Was looking forward to this, but wasn’t sure what to expect.