5TH Cell, the studio behind Scribblenauts, has announced Broke Wizards, a 1-6 player co-op game coming to Steam and Epic Games Store, where players take on odd jobs as overpowered wizards to pay rent to a giant Imp Landlord
5TH Cell, best known for the Scribblenauts series, has officially announced Broke Wizards, a new cooperative game for PC. The title is set to launch on both Steam and Epic Games Store, offering 1-6 player online co-op where players work together as wizard housemates to complete a variety of jobs and challenges in order to pay rent to a giant Imp Landlord. The announcement confirms a focus on light-hearted, chaotic gameplay, with players balancing gig work, combat, and downtime activities across a week-long in-game cycle.
Gameplay and Core Features
Broke Wizards is structured around a weekly rent deadline, with players required to earn enough money through a series of jobs and mini-games. These range from monster-slaying and town-saving missions to more unconventional tasks such as magical raven racing and playing a wizard-themed mobile game called Slitherin'. The game emphasises the comically overpowered nature of its wizard characters, challenging players to defeat threats without causing excessive collateral damage-otherwise, payment for jobs may be withheld.
Outside of work, players can relax together in shared spaces, engaging in activities like watching videos, jamming on instruments, or participating in PvP matches in a dedicated arena. Customisation options are also confirmed, including new clothing, magic boards, hats, wings, and the ability to hatch Pocketdragon eggs for companion creatures. Progression is tied to collecting Magic Keys, which are earned through most in-game actions and can eventually be used to unlock the deed to the house, freeing players from their Imp Landlord.
Development Status and Platform Details
Broke Wizards is currently in active development at 5TH Cell, with no specific release date announced. The game is confirmed for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, but there is no mention of console versions at this stage. The announcement positions Broke Wizards as a cooperative experience, with support for up to six players online. While the feature set is broad, including both structured jobs and freeform downtime, there is no indication yet of cross-platform play or offline modes.
5TH Cell has a track record of creating original, creative games, most notably the Scribblenauts franchise. The studio's approach with Broke Wizards appears to blend cooperative action with social and customisation elements, aiming for a playful tone rather than a competitive or high-stakes environment. This direction is consistent with recent trends in co-op gaming, where player-driven chaos and emergent moments are central to the experience. For comparison, other recent co-op titles have also expanded their feature sets to include a mix of structured and sandbox activities, as seen in updates to games like Dragonkin: The Banished.
What Remains Unconfirmed
At this stage, 5TH Cell has not provided a release window, pricing details, or information about early access or beta testing for Broke Wizards. It is also unclear whether the game will support local co-op, modding, or additional post-launch content. The announcement does not specify minimum or recommended PC requirements, nor does it clarify whether the game will require a persistent online connection. Further details about monetisation, such as cosmetic microtransactions or expansion plans, have not been disclosed.
Players interested in Broke Wizards can follow updates via the official website or wishlist the game on their preferred PC storefront. As with many early announcements, the final feature set and technical details may evolve as development progresses and more information becomes available.
Co-op games like Broke Wizards rely on synchronising multiple players' actions and states over a network, which can introduce challenges around latency, matchmaking, and session stability. Online co-op typically requires a stable internet connection and may use dedicated servers or peer-to-peer networking. The quality of the experience can vary depending on the underlying netcode, server infrastructure, and the number of players involved. As more games adopt flexible co-op structures, understanding these technical factors becomes increasingly important for players seeking smooth, reliable multiplayer sessions.
