Ian Hathaway, lead designer of Pumpkin Spice: A Magically Cozy RPG, shared insights into the game's development in an interview with Sequential Planet. Originally set in an Italian witch café, the project evolved into a flexible urban fantasy focused on empathy and shared magic. The game emphasizes non-violent conflict resolution and communal storytelling.
Pumpkin Spice: A Magically Cozy RPG, developed by Acheron Games, invites players into a world of autumnal warmth, witches, and spectral companions. Ian Hathaway, a former historian now in tabletop design, leads the project alongside Errico Borro and writer Giorgia D’Aversa. Published on February 25, 2026, the game draws from Italian folklore but shifted from a fixed location in Umbria—a site with pre-Roman spiritual ties—to an open urban fantasy setting.
Hathaway explained the early concept: “In that first draft, the witch’s café was placed somewhere in Italy.” The team opted for flexibility, allowing players to collaboratively create witches and the café, defining their own cozy atmosphere. At its core, the game redefines coziness through the Italian idea of meraviglia, described by Hathaway as “the wonder that you feel before the unknown,” fostering curiosity and empathy rather than fear.
Conflict avoids violence, with no hit points or lethal mechanics. Instead, challenges center on listening and non-violent solutions. The Fount of Magic, a shared finite pool, powers abilities but risks depletion. “Characters have the possibility, and more so as they develop their powers, to do incredible things,” Hathaway noted. “However, this always comes at a cost.”
Mechanics use symbol-based dice to generate narrative elements, sparking stories over calculations. The Game Master participates as a character, blending roles in a nod to Italian RPG trends. A solo mode was added post-campaign due to community demand, extending its narrative focus.
Illustrator SimzArt's work, including a poignant image of a witch embracing a spectral dog, shapes the visual tone. “It’s a very simple image, really,” Hathaway said, capturing the game's emotional essence. Aimed at newcomers and veterans, Pumpkin Spice suits those seeking connection and reflection, rooted in “the spirit of slowing down, listening to one’s emotions and the words of others.”
