Heartspell: Horizon Academy – Magical match-3 romance game

Game

Features

One-of-a-kind characters

Romance or befriend 11 main characters, each with their own art, voice, story, and gameplay mechanics.

Friendly, flirty, or spicy

Characters can be played through romantically or platonically, in any combination.

A fresh take on romance

Your dating choices never block things off, so you can experience the 15+ hrs of content in a single playthrough.

Match-3 gameplay

Match-3 with a magical twist as you learn spells from other students that unlock new gameplay possibilities.

About

Welcome to Heartspell: Horizon Academy, a magical dating game with a lot of heart and a little spice!

You’re the newest student at the Horizon Wizarding Academy, an eclectic institution deep in the spirit realms. Here you’ll learn magic, meet fellow students, and uncover secrets that threaten the very foundation of the academy. Heartspell: Horizon Academy is a game about dating sirens, werewolves, fairies, and a host of other wizarding students. Solve puzzles and build deep friendships in a rich world brimming with fantasy, wonder, and just a little spice.

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Gameplay

Screenshots, character art & logos

Press Kit

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What people are saying

Buzz

See all of our reviews on Steam!

[Heartspell’s] got way more then you’d expect out of a game like this. Full voice acting, some choices shifting dialog in different places, some characters having multiple different endings, it’s even got Polyamory negotiation and kink play. It’s soft cozy and wholesome but not without struggle and conflict. You earn your cozy time with whatever relationships you end up in by helping people and surpassing the final mystery.

Alexis Sara, writer on Thirsty Sword Lesbians

Top 10 Games of 2025

“…Heartspell: Horizon Academy is a rare gem, thoughtfully written and delightfully inventive in both narrative and gameplay. Whether you come for the romances, the great writing, or the strategic match-3 challenges, the experience consistently rewards your time…
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If you enjoy character-driven adventures with humor, heart, and style, consider allowing this game to put a spell on your heart.

Lilly, Lilly’s Corner Reviews

Heartspell Review

“I loved this game! I roleplayed as a cynical rich kid… The characters are so charming that I accidentally made friends (and a couple lovers) along the way.
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The magic systems, action scenes and world building are great… But what really stands out is the frequency and breadth of choices that feel like they really matter. It is so well paced narratively and it made me stop and think before picking my replies, which is a rare thing!”

Sarah Northway, creator of I Was a Teenage Exocolonist

Heartspell Review on Steam

“Heartspell started as an RPG in spirit… What if you could keep the intimacy of RPG romances but remove the friction — the genre baggage, the exclusivity, the repetition?
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That philosophy led them to design an unusually inclusive system: romances across gender, species, multiple partners, or none at all. … [T]he team put real effort into believable relationships between characters, not just with the player. The result is a cast that feels like a community — messy, dramatic, supportive — whether you’re dating them or not.

Josh Chiodo, Indieformer

Heartspell Review

This romantic match-3 adventure is a game well worth checking out.
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Not only is it gorgeous, but it features capable writing and an interesting premise. Likewise, the gameplay is well tuned, and though occasionally challenging, never gets in the way of enjoying the story. …Dire Kitten Games has a very steamy adventure cooking up nicely in [Heartspell]!

Josh Speer, Hey Poor Player

Heartspell Demo Review

[Heartspell] is an unmatched visual novel in terms of design and inclusivity.
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I cannot wait for a demo and full version of this game to be released so I can sink even more hours into it — I already spent two hours of my convention time playing it! This visual novel certainly isn’t one to be missed.

Sarah Raens, Game Raven Review

Heartspell Demo Review

I am in awe of the characters, they are so fun and playful, and each is different than the other, making the game really entertaining. The whole idea of dating whoever you want is a fun twist at a school for powerful wizards. The character designs are also top notch.
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I liked the idea of having modifiers of the x4 and x5 bonuses, and the cantrip spells [were a breath of] fresh air into the gameplay itself.

Juror, Seattle Indies Expo 2024

Heartspell featured @ SIX 2024

[Heartspell] makes for a charming game indeed!
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The dialogue writing is flavorful, and the character development is quite good. I was able to gradually pick up on the idiosyncrasies of the characters, each feeling distinct from the others. And as my player character’s relationships with them evolved, it really drew me in and made me want to learn more about them!

Juror, Seattle Indies Expo 2024

Heartspell featured @ SIX 2024

Match 3 spell casting mechanics are straightforward and satisfying. Cute gems and effects, interesting mechanic with collecting pure mana for casting cantrips. Really liked discovering what each character’s special thing was for spellcasting, and thinking how to optimize spells and abilities for that.
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Actually ended up playing till the end because I got so invested 😂

Juror, Seattle Indies Expo 2024

Heartspell featured @ SIX 2024