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A Sceptic's Guide to Magic

A Sceptic's Guide to Magic Game Cover
90%Game Brain Score
story, music
atmosphere, optimization
96% User Score Based on 45 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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A Sceptic's Guide to Magic Game Cover

About

A Sceptic's Guide to Magic is a single player action game. It was developed by Pilgrim Adventures and was released on August 16, 2019. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

In "A Sceptic's Guide to Magic," players assume the role of a skeptical forensic investigator, Lester Chapman, who gets drawn into a mystical world of witchcraft and primordial forces after witnessing a bizarre crime scene. As Lester delves deeper into the mystery, he forms an unlikely alliance with two teenage witches, Fianna and Val, to uncover the truth behind their friend's ritualistic murder. Along the way, Lester learns to reconcile his rigid scientific beliefs with the arcane mysteries of magic.

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A Sceptic's Guide to Magic screenshot
A Sceptic's Guide to Magic screenshot
A Sceptic's Guide to Magic screenshot
A Sceptic's Guide to Magic screenshot
A Sceptic's Guide to Magic screenshot
A Sceptic's Guide to Magic screenshot
A Sceptic's Guide to Magic screenshot
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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 45 reviews
story19 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • Engaging narrative that blends detective work with occult themes, featuring well-written characters and multiple endings.
  • Atmospheric pixel-art style and a moody soundtrack that enhance the game's dark themes and setting in 1990s Birmingham.
  • Innovative gameplay mechanics involving spellcasting and resource gathering that tie into the narrative, providing a unique point-and-click experience.
  • Some puzzles can be opaque and lack clear guidance, leading to moments of frustration and slow pacing.
  • Character development is uneven, with some supporting figures feeling archetypal and the antagonist lacking depth.
  • The RPG Maker engine results in a dated interface and long loading times, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • story
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "A Sceptic's Guide to Magic" is a narrative-driven blend of detective work, occult mystery, and folklore, unfolding over nine chapters with player choices influencing the outcome and leading to multiple endings. While the plot is engaging and features intriguing twists, some character development feels archetypal, and the pacing can falter in the middle. Overall, the game is praised for its well-written narrative and immersive storytelling, despite some critiques regarding its focus on shock value and uneven character depth.

    • “A Sceptic's Guide to Magic, developed by Pilgrim Adventures and published by GrabTheGames, is a narrative-driven indie adventure that blends detective work, occult mystery, and pixel-art storytelling into a single experience.”
    • “The story is the heart of the experience, unfolding across nine chapters that steadily deepen the mystery.”
    • “As the investigation progresses, the plot weaves elements of English folklore, arcane traditions, and even Greek myth into a narrative that balances grounded crime-solving with supernatural intrigue.”
    • “The plot 'twist' of Lester's dead son felt like it came from nowhere, and perhaps too late in the story to add much.”
    • “The plot kind of dithers here and there, and really loses focus in the middle of the story.”
    • “I don't know, maybe I am just too stupid for this game, or its interface and story are not intuitive at all, but I really had to do every step only with the help of this guide... so there is no fun at all.”
  • music
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric quality that enhances tension and fits the game's aesthetic, while others find certain tracks, particularly the Halloween-themed chip music, to be grating. Many players appreciate the nostalgic 90s vibe and the variety of tunes, including witchy melodies and unique end credits songs that change based on player choices. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for its ability to set the mood effectively, despite some criticisms of specific tracks.

    • “The soundtrack complements this with subdued, atmospheric music that heightens tension without overwhelming the slow-burn pacing.”
    • “I also love the witchy tunes and the minor key Christmas songs from the bonus chapter.”
    • “The soundtrack is excellent, the music sets the mood for every location on the map, and while there are a lot of recycled sound effects from the space pilgrim saga, the sound effects are all realistic enough, including in those unrealistic moments like magic being invoked.”
    • “My one complaint is that the music is gratingly bad.”
    • “The 90s vibe is excellent and can be felt in little touches throughout the game - the overhead perspective, the menu interfaces (where you purchase items, craft spells, and view your inventory), the retro art style, and even the music has a definitive midi quality.”
  • graphics
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics feature a moody pixel-art style that effectively captures its retro setting, though some players feel this limits character expression. While many appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and immersive environments, opinions are divided, with some criticizing the graphics as outdated and lacking detail. Overall, the visuals evoke a charming 90s vibe, complemented by fitting music and sound design.

    • “Visually, the game embraces a moody pixel-art style that captures the era and setting with understated detail.”
    • “The 90s vibe is excellent and can be felt in little touches throughout the game - the overhead perspective, the menu interfaces (where you purchase items, craft spells, and view your inventory), the retro art style, and even the music has a definitive MIDI quality.”
    • “They chose to use obsolete retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
    • “Crappy graphics and crappy gameplay with no real evidence the developers are capable of making any kind of modern PC game, confirmed by the way they dumped this into bargain basement shovelware bundles make this completely impossible to recommend.”
    • “While the limited art style restricts fine character expression, the environments are thoughtfully designed and succeed in immersing the player in Lester’s world.”
  • gameplay
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "A Sceptic's Guide to Magic" combines classic point-and-click adventure mechanics with spellcasting and resource gathering, offering an engaging experience with multiple endings and a well-crafted narrative. While some players appreciate the intriguing story and character development, others criticize the graphics and claim it lacks the quality of modern games. The spellcrafting system adds depth by requiring players to gather ingredients and solve puzzles, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

    • “The titular tome, a sceptic’s guide to magic, becomes both a narrative anchor and a gameplay tool, introducing Lester to spells and rituals that blur the line between rational investigation and occult practice.”
    • “Gameplay follows the framework of a classic point-and-click adventure but expands it through spellcasting and resource gathering.”
    • “The spellcrafting is an interesting mechanic because you must find both the ingredients and the apparatus as well as figure out which puzzle each spell would be useful for.”
    • “The developers claim to be using point-and-click mechanics similar to LucasArts/Sierra adventures, but this is a blatant lie; the game is a JRPG ripoff using a poorly executed retro pixel Final Fantasy look.”
    • “Crappy graphics and crappy gameplay with no real evidence that the developers are capable of making any kind of modern PC game, confirmed by the way they dumped this into bargain basement shovelware bundles, make this completely impossible to recommend.”
    • “A lot of people won’t bother with this game since it was made with RPG Maker, but I thought the gameplay was okay.”
  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "A Sceptic's Guide to Magic" is present but less frequent compared to the developer's previous work, "Space Pilgrim Academy: Reunion," and is often intertwined with darker themes. While the game features humorous dialogue and a bonus chapter that cleverly breaks the fourth wall, the overall tone is more serious, providing a mix of lightheartedness and depth.

    • “The story is fascinating and the humor is still there.”
    • “Once you complete the game for the first time, the bonus chapter is unlocked in the credits in a really hilarious breaking of the fourth wall.”
    • “I liked the characters and enjoyed the story, humorous but sometimes with a darker touch.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a compelling blend of logic and mysticism, enhanced by dimly lit environments and an evocative soundtrack that builds tension. Players appreciate the moody, intimate, and foreboding ambiance, which effectively integrates occult elements into its detective narrative. Overall, the reception highlights the game's strong atmospheric presence as a key strength.

    • “The soundtrack complements this with subdued, atmospheric music that heightens tension without overwhelming the slow-burn pacing.”
    • “Dimly lit streets, candlelit rooms, and arcane circles create an atmosphere that feels both intimate and foreboding.”
    • “This premise creates a compelling tension between logic and mysticism that defines the game’s atmosphere from beginning to end.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is generally well-optimized, running smoothly on modest systems, making it accessible to a wide range of players. However, it presents challenges with OBS capture, which is a common issue for RPG Maker-style games.

    • “The optimization is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay without any noticeable lag.”
    • “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the settings, making it easy to customize performance based on my hardware.”
    • “The game is not optimized for OBS, so it took a little work to get it to capture correctly, which seems to be a common problem with RPG Maker style games I've been finding.”
    • “Performance-wise, the game is lightweight and accessible, running smoothly on even modest systems.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate that there is no grinding through levels due to the absence of combat, which alleviates the typical tedium associated with RPG Maker games. However, some still find the necessity of physically moving the character to explore areas cumbersome compared to using a mouse cursor.

    • “RPG Maker games usually make grinding more tedious just by being themselves: the engine often forces the player to physically move the character to a spot, rather than using the mouse cursor to check the area.”
    • “You don’t have to worry about grinding up through different levels, because there is no combat.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is noted to be uneven, with supporting characters often appearing more as archetypes rather than fully fleshed-out individuals. Additionally, the main antagonist lacks depth, serving more as a looming threat than a well-developed character.

  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers express a desire for a return to more wholesome, emotionally uplifting narratives in gaming, contrasting with the prevalence of violent themes in current titles. While some appreciate the absence of playing as a murderer in the game, there is a clear longing for more positive and adventurous storytelling reminiscent of earlier sci-fi series.

  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers decent replayability due to its multiple endings, providing players with a reason to revisit the experience for different outcomes.

    • “The game offers a variety of choices that significantly change the outcome, making each playthrough feel fresh.”
    • “With different character paths and unlockable content, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
    • “It's a good night's entertainment, and the multiple endings do add some replay value.”
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2h Median play time
2h Average play time
2-2h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

A Sceptic's Guide to Magic is a action game.

A Sceptic's Guide to Magic is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing A Sceptic's Guide to Magic.

A Sceptic's Guide to Magic was released on August 16, 2019.

A Sceptic's Guide to Magic was developed by Pilgrim Adventures.

A Sceptic's Guide to Magic has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its atmosphere.

A Sceptic's Guide to Magic is a single player game.

Similar games include Unavowed, Adam Wolfe, The Long Reach, Space Pilgrim Episode I: Alpha Centauri, Arcane Investigations and others.