If you’re a fan of Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings, this story-rich game has everything you could hope for. 

Lawmage Academy is the newest up-and-coming solo-developed JRPG, and I’m totally here for it. In this turn-based single-player fantasy game, you play as a student who attends Lawmage Academy, a prestigious magic school set in the fantastical country of Magusgaia. Unexpected adventure awaits as you train alongside other students to become a Lawmage whose job is to protect the realm from the threat of magical creatures. At the Academy, you’ll learn to craft potions and perform spells, fight strategically by exploiting weaknesses and breaking down shields, and gather ingredients to craft potions and charms to aid you on your missions. Many dark secrets await as you explore the Academy. 

Lawmage Academy will have you completely immersed in its compelling story and complex character development.

Every choice you make matters. The game begins with a series of questions used to sort you into one of the four Academy houses: Foxhelm for the courageous, Soulstice for the wise, Drakewood for the loyal, and Vissage for those who seek balance. During your stay at the Academy, you learn that nothing is what it may seem. The decisions you make aren’t straight-forward: nothing is purely good or bad. The way you express yourself throughout the game changes each outcome, and the way you connect to your friends influences your growth together. All of this adds up to a truly personal and engaging experience.

Getting to know the developer of Lawmage Academy will help you understand why this game is so incredibly compelling: by day, Verinius is a human rights lawyer and activist fighting for equality for those less fortunate in his country. The genesis of Lawmage Academy began shortly after Verinius graduated from law school back in 2018. While waiting for his bar exam results, he picked up a free version of RPG Maker MV and decided to develop a game where he could express his ideas about law, ethics, morality, and justice. A short year later, he released the first prototype for Lawmage Academy. Since then, Lawmage Academy has received outstanding support, including becoming 1st RPG Maker Game of the Month and becoming a finalist in Game On 2019 for best narrative. Lawmage Academy will also be featured in the upcoming Indie World Order Convention and Indie Fiesta this month. 

Overall, I highly recommend this story-rich fantasy JRPG. 

The public demo for Lawmage Academy is now available on Steam and Itch.io. An expansion to the demo will be released in early 2021 to hold us over until the game’s full release in 2022.