Reference
The Magus Circle Characters: The Mages of the Circle
The Magus Circle is built on a premise that does a lot of work: mages from other universes are called into this one. That is what lets the cast be a Renaissance alchemist, a set of characters with drink-derived names, and whatever else the studio has planned — without any of them needing to share an origin.
Quick answer
Six playable mages, each with their own story, abilities and ending. Milk, an alchemist from late-1400s Italy, is the first playable character. Matcha and Anchan are also confirmed as playable. The hub mansion houses NPCs including The Gambler and Sandra, and engaging with them unlocks higher antes and in-game buffs.
The premise
The developer’s own portfolio states it directly: “Magi from other universes are also called into the world. All playable characters, each with unique abilities and skills.”
The studio has described the setting as isekai — the genre where a character is transported into another world. In The Magus Circle that framing is used to justify a cast pulled from across time and space rather than from one coherent fantasy kingdom.
It also explains the mansion. You are not the only summoned mage; the hub is where the others live.
Milk: the first playable mage
The developer’s portfolio gives Milk a fuller description than any other character:
“The great alchemist who existed during the Italian Renaissance in the late 1400’s. Known for her courage and wittiness, she is one of the most notable scholars and magician of her time.”
That is a specific, dated identity rather than generic fantasy flavour, and it fits the isekai framing precisely: she is a historical figure removed from her own era.
Milk was the character playable at the PlayXpo demo booth, which makes her the mage most players have actually controlled. A Bunny Form and the skill Magic Missile both appeared in the pre-release demo interface attached to her.
Confirmed characters
| Character | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | Playable, confirmed | Alchemist from late-1400s Italy; first playable character |
| Matcha | Playable, confirmed | Named in the developer’s portfolio under other characters |
| Anchan | Playable, confirmed | Named alongside Matcha |
| Curio | Mentioned by developers | Referenced in a developer announcement; role not explained |
The developer’s portfolio lists Matcha and Anchan followed by “etc”, indicating that further characters exist beyond the ones named. Since no official source has confirmed additional names, we do not list any — including names that circulated from screenshots of the demo.
NPCs in the Magus Circle Mansion
Not everyone in the hub is a playable mage.
“Within the Magus Circle Mansion, other NPC characters also reside on the premises. Engaging with them unlocks higher antes and in-game buffs.”
Two are named:
- The Gambler
- Sandra
The mention of antes is a deliberate word choice — it carries the gambling sense of a stake being raised. Combined with the out-of-run progression described on the STOVE listing, the picture is a hub where talking to residents raises what is at stake and what you get for it.
The official store description supports the same hub purpose from the other direction: when you fall in battle you return to the safety of the circle, where you can learn new powers and befriend other mages.
Story structure
Two official-adjacent facts frame how the narrative works:
- Each character has a different story. The developer told press at PlayXpo that all six characters have distinct stories.
- Multiple endings exist. The same conversation confirmed several endings have been prepared.
The official Steam description reinforces the structure: meeting other mages reveals lore, and part of the premise is working out why you were summoned. It also notes that you progress a narrative between runs rather than only inside them — so the hub is a story location, not just a menu.
An unconfirmed detail: tarot cards
A player posting on the STOVE community mentioned that unlocking a character also required unlocking a tarot card for that character.
This is a single player comment, not official documentation, so we flag it. It is nonetheless plausible given the game’s imagery — “Magus” is tarot’s first trump, the Magician — and given that enemies observed in the pre-release demo appeared to carry arcana-style names. We mention it because it is genuinely useful if true, and we label it because it is not verified.
Why we do not list the full roster
Screenshots from the pre-release demo showed a character-selection list containing several names beyond the confirmed three. Two reasons we do not publish those as fact:
- The list came from a screenshot, not from the developer or the store page, and screenshots of an in-development build are not authoritative.
- Names can change before launch on September 24, 2026.
The developer’s portfolio saying “Matcha, Anchan, etc” tells you additional mages exist. It does not tell you what they are called. When an official source names them, this page will say so.
FAQ
How many playable characters are there? Six, per the developer at PlayXpo, each with a different story and with several endings prepared.
Who is Milk? The first playable character — a great alchemist from late-1400s Italy, described by the developer as courageous, witty, and among the notable scholars and magicians of her time.
Who else is confirmed? Matcha and Anchan, both stated to be playable with unique abilities.
Are there non-playable characters? Yes — The Gambler and Sandra are NPCs in the Magus Circle Mansion, and interacting with them unlocks higher antes and in-game buffs.
What is the isekai connection? Mages from other universes are called into this world, which the developers described as the popular isekai concept.
Is there a tarot card system? A player on the STOVE community mentioned unlocking a tarot card per character. Unconfirmed, and flagged as such.
What to do next
The upgrades guide covers what characters share across runs and what is unique to each. How to play explains how a run works from the mansion outward.
Sources and update note
Based on the developer’s own portfolio page, hands-on press coverage from PlayXpo, the official Steam store description, a Steam developer announcement, and community comments on the STOVE Early Access listing. Unconfirmed material is labelled inline.
Content last verified: September 11, 2026. Launch is September 24, 2026; character names and story details may expand before release.
Frequently asked questions
How many playable characters are in The Magus Circle?
Six. A developer speaking to press at PlayXpo confirmed a total of six characters, each with a different story, and said several endings have been prepared. Steam's own store description refers to meeting other mages and unlocking their abilities rather than stating a number.
Who is Milk?
Milk is the first playable character. The developer's portfolio describes her as the great alchemist who existed during the Italian Renaissance in the late 1400s, known for her courage and wittiness and counted among the most notable scholars and magicians of her time. She appeared as the playable character at the PlayXpo demo booth.
Who else is confirmed?
Matcha and Anchan. The developer's portfolio names them alongside Milk under other characters, and states that all of them are playable with unique abilities and skills. We do not list further names because they have not been confirmed by an official source.
Are there characters who are not playable?
Yes. The developer's portfolio lists The Gambler and Sandra as NPCs who reside in the Magus Circle Mansion, and says engaging with them unlocks higher antes and in-game buffs. Curio has also been mentioned by the developers, but their role has not been explained.
What is the isekai connection?
The premise is that mages from other universes are called into the world, which the developers described as the currently popular isekai concept. Milk being a historical Italian alchemist fits that framing directly: she is a real-era figure pulled out of her own time.
Is there a tarot card system?
A player on the STOVE community mentioned unlocking a tarot card for each character when unlocking the character. That is a single player comment rather than official documentation, so we flag it as unconfirmed. The game's own name and the term Magus both connect to tarot imagery.
Related pages
Sources
This page was compiled from the sources listed in our content evidence trail (refs: S6, S7, S1, S4, S8). Official material — the Steam store page and the developer's own site — takes priority; hands-on press coverage and aggregated player reviews of the February 2026 demo are used where official detail does not exist, and are labelled as such.
Unofficial fan site. Not affiliated with By Witchlight. Content last verified September 11, 2026.