- Sort of Magic tutorial: Restore the school by returning each object to its correct place.
- Core loop: Sort books, potions, ingredients, brooms, and hidden wands.
- Spell choice: Use Insight, Assemble, Homing Sense, or Auto Shelving for different cleanup problems.
- Co-op plan: Divide rooms and object types among up to four players.
- Release status: The planned Steam release date is September 28, 2026.
Sort of Magic tutorial: Learn the Core Loop
Sort of Magic is a cozy organizing game about restoring a magical school after a tiny cat causes a spell-related mess. The tutorial mindset is simple: identify an object, determine its matching category or destination, and return it to the correct location. There are no timers, combat encounters, or fail states described on the official Steam listing, so careful observation is more valuable than rushing.
The school contains more than 4,500 handcrafted objects, including books, potions, magical ingredients, brooms, and wands. Start by scanning the room before carrying anything. Group similar items mentally, then make short trips to reduce unnecessary movement.
| Object Type | Sorting Goal | Recommended First Action |
|---|---|---|
| Books | Rebuild book series | Find nearby shelves and compare book groups |
| Potions | Match colors and potion sets | Collect visually similar bottles together |
| Ingredients | Return matching magical materials | Check tables, containers, and work areas |
| Brooms | Return tools to their racks | Locate the rack before carrying several brooms |
| Wands | Find hidden collectibles | Search corners and clutter after obvious items |
Scan First
Look across the entire room before picking up objects. This reveals clusters, shelves, racks, and likely destinations.
Group Similar Items
Keep related books, potions, or ingredients together. Grouping reduces repeated searching and makes each delivery more efficient.
Clean in Zones
Divide a room into small areas and finish one area before crossing the room. This keeps the mess easier to track.
Begin with obvious storage locations and large object groups. Save hidden wands and difficult matches for a focused search after the main floor is clear.
Step-by-Step Cleanup Method
Use the following process whenever you enter a new room. The method works for solo play and provides a clear structure for online co-op sessions. Sort of Magic introduces fresh sorting challenges across six handcrafted rooms, so adapting the same routine is more reliable than memorizing one route.
Survey the Room
Walk around the room without collecting anything. Identify shelves, potion areas, broom racks, ingredient stations, and visible clutter. Note objects that appear to belong together.
Choose a Starting Category
Begin with the category that has the clearest destination. Books and brooms are often easier to recognize than mixed ingredients, making them useful for establishing order.
Create Short Delivery Runs
Carry only items that belong to the same destination or category. Deliver them together, then return to the nearest unfinished zone instead of wandering across the entire room.
Use a Spell When Searching Slows You
Select a spell based on the obstacle. Use revealing abilities for uncertain matches, summoning support for scattered pairs, and Auto Shelving when your inventory is ready for a bulk placement.
Sweep for Hidden Items
After the obvious clutter is organized, check corners, shelves, and less visible surfaces for wands or remaining objects. Finish the room only after the floor and storage points look consistent.
| Cleanup Phase | Main Objective | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Survey | Identify destinations and object groups | Picking up random items immediately |
| Group | Build category-based collections | Mixing unrelated objects |
| Deliver | Complete short, repeatable trips | Crossing the room for one item |
| Sweep | Find leftovers and hidden wands | Leaving hard-to-see areas unchecked |
Do not carry a mixture of unrelated objects unless you already know where each one belongs. A smaller, organized load is easier to place than a full inventory of uncertain items.
Choose the Right Sorting Spell
Spells are designed to make cleanup faster, not to replace observation. The official feature list identifies four abilities, each suited to a different stage of organizing. Start with the spell that solves your immediate bottleneck rather than selecting the same ability for every room.
| Spell | Function | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Insight | Reveals matching items on the ground | Locating related objects in a cluttered area |
| Assemble | Summons matching items | Bringing scattered matching objects together |
| Homing Sense | Reveals where an item belongs | Confirming an uncertain destination |
| Auto Shelving | Places everything you are carrying at once | Finishing a prepared batch of matching items |
Insight
Choose Insight when the correct match is hidden among many objects on the floor.
Assemble
Choose Assemble when matching items are spread across the room and gathering them is the main problem.
Homing Sense
Choose Homing Sense when you have an item but cannot confidently identify its destination.
Auto Shelving
Choose Auto Shelving after preparing a clean, compatible load for fast placement.
A practical spell rotation is to use Insight during the first search, Homing Sense for ambiguous objects, and Auto Shelving after you have gathered a confirmed group. Assemble is most useful when the room layout scatters related items across different areas.
Treat spells as targeted tools. Confirm the category first, then activate the ability that removes the specific obstacle instead of spending time testing every spell.
Solo and Online Co-op Strategies
Sort of Magic supports one to four players, including solo play and online co-op with up to three friends. The best co-op approach is not for everyone to grab random objects. Assign responsibilities so each player has a clear search area or category.
| Group Size | Suggested Assignment | Coordination Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | One room zone at a time | Use consistent sweeps and short delivery runs |
| Two players | Split the room into two zones | Communicate before moving shared object groups |
| Three players | Assign zones plus a cleanup scout | Keep the scout focused on leftovers and hidden items |
| Four players | Divide zones or object categories | Avoid duplicate searches and crowded destinations |
For solo play, establish a repeatable route around the room. For co-op, call out destination types before carrying items. One player can search for books while another handles potions, but both should communicate when a category is nearly complete.
The game is designed as a cozy cleanup experience rather than a combat challenge. Since the listing describes no timers, combat, or fail states, teams can prioritize clear communication and careful placement over speed-focused play.
Room Progress Checklist:
- Survey the room and identify major destinations
- Group books, potions, ingredients, and brooms
- Use a spell for uncertain or scattered objects
- Search corners and shelves for hidden wands
- Confirm the room is clear before moving on
Assign each player a zone before cleanup begins. If someone finds an item belonging to another zone, announce it rather than abandoning the current search without a plan.
Release Details and FAQ
The planned release date for Sort of Magic is September 28, 2026. The official Steam listing identifies Riwon as both developer and publisher, with Windows 10 and Windows 11 64-bit requirements listed. Online co-op requires an internet connection.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Developer | Riwon |
| Publisher | Riwon |
| Planned release | September 28, 2026 |
| Players | 1–4, including online co-op |
| Main setting | Six handcrafted rooms in a magical school |
| Object count | More than 4,500 handcrafted objects |
| Official page | Sort of Magic on Steam |
Q: What is the main goal in Sort of Magic?
The goal is to restore a magical school by returning books, potions, ingredients, brooms, and other objects to their correct places.
Q: Which spell should beginners use first?
Insight is a useful starting choice when matching objects are difficult to locate. Homing Sense is better when you have an item but are unsure where it belongs.
Q: Can Sort of Magic be played solo?
Yes. The game supports solo play as well as online co-op for up to four players.
Q: Does Sort of Magic have combat or a timer?
The official Steam description presents the experience as a cozy cleanup game with no timers, combat, or fail states.
Check the official Steam page for the planned release date, current feature details, language support, and system requirements.