Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy

A perfectly serviceable dungeon crawler that leans a little on the bland side, but there's still enough here to satisfy people with a deep urge for dungeon crawling or anime slapstick.

Fia and the Wondrous Academy isn't as wondrous as I'd hoped, but the gameplay loop and sound design help it earn a passing grade.

Mystery Dungeon sickos may be disappointed with a game that looks like one of those but thoroughly isn’t, but the combat mechanics feel distinct and fun to play with even if their busyness doesn’t always translate to a challenge. Sometimes a dungeon-crawler can just be cute, and that’s okay.

Dive into the whimsical world of Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy. Despite shallow characters and repetitive combat, it's charming.

The dungeon-crawling RPG Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy unfortunately ends up feeling somewhat too repetitive from a gameplay perspective. Its strengths lie primarily in the amusing dialogue and in gradually getting to know the cast of characters better over time. The combat system is solid, and the combination of different elemental attributes to create especially powerful spells adds a welcome layer of depth. However, the game constantly throws the same standard enemies at the player, and compared to the bosses they are extremely simplistic, which makes regular encounters far less engaging. Combined with the monotonous dungeon design, this makes it difficult for me to wholeheartedly recommend the title despite its entertaining story.

Filled with likable characters and a silly magical school storyline, there's a lot to like about Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy.

At $49.99, Fia and the Wondrous Academy is a bit pricey. But it’s loads of fun and can keep you occupied for dozens of hours.

Do you have what it takes to become a Great Mage?

Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy. It provides a cozy, approachable dungeon-crawling experience on the Nintendo Switch, complete with slapstick humor, anime charm, and oddball features like curry-based stamina management. It offers a fun, low-pressure journey for casual RPG enthusiasts or those interested in a peculiar bit of Japanese gaming history.

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.