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A Pinch of Magic

A Pinch of Magic Game Cover
86%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
character development, gameplay
86% User Score Based on 170 reviews

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PCWindows
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A Pinch of Magic Game Cover

About

A Pinch of Magic is a single player action game. It was developed by Crystal Game Works and was released on April 16, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

Varsha is a young witch who has just graduated high school. While their friends were off jet setting and travelling around the world, Varsha had to go back to their hometown Lynnsdale to take care of their grandparents who ran a small magic store. There were two major issues though: one, magic is strictly banned and two, their grandparents store is on the verge of bankruptcy. Play as Varsha as yo…

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A Pinch of Magic screenshot
A Pinch of Magic screenshot
A Pinch of Magic screenshot
A Pinch of Magic screenshot
A Pinch of Magic screenshot
A Pinch of Magic screenshot
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86%
Audience ScoreBased on 170 reviews
story35 positive mentions
atmosphere3 negative mentions
  • The game features a cute art style and charming characters, making it visually appealing.
  • It's a free-to-play visual novel that offers a relaxing experience with LGBTQ+ friendly content.
  • The story, while short, is engaging and allows for character customization, including pronoun choices.
  • Kiana's route is significantly shorter and less developed compared to Mikhail's, leading to a feeling of imbalance in the storytelling.
  • The gameplay lacks depth, with minimal choices and interactions, making it feel more like an e-book than a game.
  • Some players found the writing to be mediocre, with issues in pacing and character development.
  • story
    95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally described as cute and enjoyable, with charming art and a light-hearted romantic theme, but many reviewers feel it is too short and lacks depth. While one character's route is more developed than the other, leading to an uneven experience, there is a consensus that the narrative could benefit from more choices, endings, and character development. Overall, players appreciate the potential of the story but express a desire for a more fleshed-out and engaging plot.

    • “I genuinely enjoyed the story and the art is just beautiful.”
    • “The story is beautiful, twisting and mesmerizing.”
    • “The story kept me wanting to see what happens next, and while it may not be very exciting, it felt like a good light-reading set in a rather casual setting.”
    • “The game is fun and cute, but you can certainly tell a lot was cut from the original story; it does not always flow, and the character development feels rushed and incomplete.”
    • “The story lost most of its charm after you pick which route you want to see.”
    • “The story tries to redeem him by pulling out the typical tropes like 'ahhh my dad is mean, so I'm mean too', 'ahhh I have a secret that when revealed makes me misunderstood :(', 'haha random bonding moment look we get along now', among other things.”
  • graphics
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute art style and charming character designs, creating a cozy and visually appealing experience. While some users noted a desire for more custom artwork and improvements, the overall aesthetic, including the color scheme and UI, received positive feedback, especially considering the game is free. The visuals are complemented by harmonious music, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The art style is cute, and I love that you can pick the main character's sprite and pronouns separately.”
    • “Every CG, background, and character sprite is so beautiful to look at - the art style is adorable and the color scheme is super cozy.”
    • “The visuals are really nice, and the music is also great, and wouldn't sound out of place on any good lofi/jazzy playlist that I'd listen to regularly.”
    • “I wish there was much more custom artwork, but due to time restraints, I am just happy to see a couple.”
    • “Even kissing is done without visuals.”
    • “Most everything else about the game was fine-- controls, design, music, artwork, and everything else was alright for the most part, especially considering that this game is not only free, but was made in a month's time. However, it's still lacking in a lot of areas, and I feel it could definitely use some improvement.”
  • music
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its calming and pleasant ambiance that complements the visuals and story, while others find it repetitive and distracting. The soundtrack features a blend of eighties synth pop and piano tracks, but some transitions between songs are noted as jarring. Overall, while many enjoy the music's vibe, there are calls for improvement to better align it with the game's emotional tone.

    • “The soundtrack is a mix of eighties sounding synth pop with some piano tracks thrown into it in places.”
    • “All in all, the soundtrack does have a fun café vibe that comfortably melts into the background as the story becomes more engaging.”
    • “The visuals are really nice, and the music is also great, and wouldn't sound out of place on any good lofi/jazzy playlist that I'd listen to regularly.”
    • “I admit I was not overly fond of a lot of the music and kept the volume down low.”
    • “The music is repetitive and the loop is too audible to ignore.”
    • “The music is rather repetitive and I ended up pressing the mute button after a few minutes.”
  • emotional
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming and quirky storytelling, with players appreciating the heartfelt character writing and humor. While some felt the narrative could have been more emotionally impactful and challenging, the overall sentiment highlights the game's ability to evoke warmth and kindness through its simple yet touching plots and engaging dialogue.

    • “Each of their stories is so heartfelt, and all three endings feature truly beautiful character writing that sheds light on the different parts of the world they're living in.”
    • “While the plot was pretty simple, it was heartfelt (especially with Kia's path).”
    • “I enjoyed this game for its humor and heartwarming dialogue.”
  • character development
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is generally perceived as rushed and incomplete, with some players noting that the transition between character relationships feels abrupt. While the character designs and personalities are well-executed, the short length of the visual novel limits the depth of development. However, players appreciate the cute interactions and the ability to make choices that influence character dynamics.

    • “It's good in a sense that the character designs and art are well done, and the personalities seem fleshed out for what they are.”
    • “It's a super short visual novel, so I wasn't expecting amazing character development, but with Mikhail, it's very odd how the main character and he go from being blunt, indifferent, and not really liking each other to co-workers who tease each other and get along well overnight.”
    • “The game is fun and cute, but you can certainly tell a lot was cut from the original story. It does not always flow, and the character development feels rushed and incomplete.”
    • “Character development is cute, and I love the choices you can make.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's humor is characterized by clever puns and light-hearted, warm-hearted dialogue that resonates with players, often eliciting genuine laughter. While some may not appreciate the pun-centric approach, many find it adds a delightful touch to the overall experience.

    • “The game was funny, light-hearted, warm-hearted, and made me laugh out loud several times.”
    • “I enjoyed this game for its humor and heartwarming dialogue.”
    • “They were so funny and added a nice touch.”
  • gameplay
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in this visual/interactive novel is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many finding the dialogue poorly written and unengaging. However, some users appreciate the choice system, noting that it strikes a balance between simplicity and authenticity, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “Also, the gameplay (well, the choice system?) is good; not too complicated, not too artificial, it feels good!”
    • “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is well-received, with a fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, earning a score of 4 out of 5.

    • “The soundtrack is perfectly suited to the game, enhancing the atmosphere it creates.”
    • “The soundtrack mainly fits with the game and the atmosphere it creates.”
    • “The overall atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real immersion.”
    • “Despite the potential, the game fails to create a compelling atmosphere that draws players in.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening the experience to a frustratingly slow reading process where each sentence requires a click to advance, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.

    • “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best. Imagine the best novel you ever read, whether it's 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', '2001: A Space Odyssey', or 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
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3h Median play time
3h Average play time
3-3h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

A Pinch of Magic is a action game.

A Pinch of Magic is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing A Pinch of Magic.

A Pinch of Magic was released on April 16, 2021.

A Pinch of Magic was developed by Crystal Game Works.

A Pinch of Magic has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its character development.

A Pinch of Magic is a single player game.

Similar games include Hustle Cat, Witches x Warlocks, Seduce Me the Otome, Wolf Tails, First Snow and others.