Magical Diary: Horse Hall

About

Magical Diary: Horse Hall is a single player role playing game with fantasy and romance themes. It was developed by Hanako Games and was released on May 31, 2012. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Magical Diary: Horse Hall" is a single-player fantasy RPG with an intriguing story, compelling game mechanics, and a wholesome yet humorous tone. As a student at a magical school, design your character, make friends, learn spells, and navigate exams and relationships. With high replayability, over 70 spells to learn, and multiple solutions to puzzles, this game offers a rich and immersive experience.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 913 reviews

story126 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

The game offers a lot of choices and character customization, allowing players to shape their own story.
The character writing is engaging, with well-developed personalities and interesting storylines.
The mix of visual novel and RPG elements, particularly the dungeon exams, adds a fun and unique twist to the gameplay.

The game is relatively short, only covering one school year, which may leave players wanting more.
Some spells and magic mechanics feel underutilized, with limited opportunities to use them outside of exams.
The art style may not appeal to everyone, and some characters may feel cliché or one-dimensional.

story
386 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
65%
2%
The game's story is engaging and features a variety of branching paths influenced by player choices, allowing for high replayability. While some players found the narrative to be reminiscent of Harry Potter, it is generally praised for its unique world-building and character depth, despite some storylines feeling underdeveloped or rushed. Overall, the writing is well-crafted, with a mix of humor and serious themes, making it a compelling experience for fans of story-driven games.
- “Between classes, you'll experience different events and make choices that affect the way your story proceeds.”
- “The characters have depth and personality, and the story presents a world that seems at once familiar with a very obvious nod to the world of Harry Potter but ready to show its claws as a completely unique beast with strong integrity and intriguing worldbuilding that strays far from what might seem like a parody or cheap reference on the surface.”
- “The story is enjoyable; definitely interesting and unique enough to keep you engaged.”
- “I did feel like there were a few story threads related to some of the side characters that were introduced but not fully developed or that didn't end in a satisfying way.”
- “The plot is lackluster (proceed through the school year at a magical academy), and although there are some creepy elements that could have been expanded upon, they aren't.”
- “The story relies too heavily on the aforementioned novel series with none of the magic, and the characters who were based off of actual HP characters (e.g. Hermione, Snape, etc.) are very watered-down, very fanfic-y versions of those characters.”
replayability
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
4%
The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple story paths, romance options, and achievements, encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes. While some players noted limitations in dungeon exploration and the overall length of the game, many found the character interactions and branching narratives compelling enough to warrant multiple playthroughs. Overall, it is regarded as a fun and engaging experience with high replay value, particularly for fans of visual novels and dating sims.
- “A super fun dating sim with different paths and tons of replayability!”
- “This game is oddly compelling and the numerous romance options and stories give this game awesome replayability.”
- “There are so many paths to go down and things to do differently in each run through that the replay value is super high.”
- “Replayability is only very limited, and you might squeeze out a few hours more by doing some different routes and trying new magic to solve the dungeon puzzles.”
- “Worst of all, the dungeons have limited replay value; once you’ve found one easy solution, it’s boring to go through again, even if you look for another easy solution.”
- “A decent game, replay value is low unless you make a save point for every possible combination of choices because sometimes even a slight choice can totally affect the ending of the game.”
gameplay
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
71%
4%
The gameplay is a blend of visual novel elements and light RPG mechanics, focusing on time management, character relationships, and puzzle-solving in dungeons. While some players appreciate the engaging story and magic mechanics, others find the gameplay simplistic and occasionally overwhelming due to the amount of narrative exposition. Overall, the game offers a unique experience, though it may leave some wanting more depth and complexity.
- “The gameplay allows you to be very diverse, making each 'exam' passable by nearly any specialization choices in study.”
- “The game consists of a really good mix of choose-your-own-adventure visual novel style gameplay and stat-based dungeon-crawl RPG goodness.”
- “Gameplay wise it’s all about building relationships & your skill with various schools of magic for the easy but well done dungeon puzzles which can be solved or failed in various ways depending on what schools you’ve worked on.”
- “The game could have been interesting if it was longer; it was too short so there was barely any story to it and barely any gameplay either.”
- “This game is at the same time insultingly simple, and yet an absolute mess of trial and error gameplay.”
- “Compared to games like Academagia and Long Live the Queen, Magical Diary has a story that's too linear, gameplay that's too simplistic, and RPG mechanics that are too shallow.”
graphics
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
73%
7%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting a nostalgic, albeit dated, anime art style reminiscent of early 2000s designs. While some find the visuals charming and fitting for the lighthearted tone of the game, others criticize them as crude and unpolished, suggesting they may detract from the overall experience. Despite these graphical shortcomings, many reviewers emphasize that the engaging story and character development more than compensate for the visuals.
- “The art style does magically propel your brain back about two decades to DeviantArt, but I found that nostalgic rather than off-putting.”
- “The game’s cute, colorful art style might be misleading, as it tells a really well-crafted story with decent amounts of depth and multiple, interesting routes.”
- “Overall, a fun game with decent graphics, engaging characters, and surprisingly in-depth and good writing.”
- “Now, I'm not expecting Mona Lisa-tier graphics, but I won't be the first person to admit that most of the characters look ripped straight out of one of those 'how to draw anime' books you'd find as a kid in one of those Scholastic book fairs.”
- “The graphics are freebie level and lower (both sprites and backgrounds), the cast is limited (3 boy paths, 2 girl paths), the story is simplistic and on the short side, there is no voice acting, and so on.”
- “The biggest downside is its somewhat mediocre art style/character design, but I managed to get used to that, and even the art has its own weird sense of charm as well.”
humor
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, with players noting its ability to evoke genuine laughter through quirky dialogue and amusing character interactions. Many reviews highlight the blend of light-hearted moments with deeper storytelling, making the experience both entertaining and engaging. Overall, the game is described as funny, cute, and filled with memorable, humorous situations that enhance its replayability.
- “When you graduate, the game gives you a funny prediction of your future life based on an assessment of your playing style and relationships.”
- “The storyline with the teacher nearly had me in tears; it was so funny.”
- “I came for the joke of being a Mary Sue in 'American Hogwarts,' but I stayed for the fantastic worldbuilding, well-developed characters, and surprisingly funny, quirky, and touching dialogue.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The music in the game is generally described as fitting and pleasant, effectively setting the mood for various scenes, though it can become repetitive and somewhat irritating over time. While some players appreciate the light-hearted and sometimes dark tones of the soundtrack, others find it bland and forgettable, with a limited number of tracks. Overall, the music complements the game's atmosphere but lacks memorability and variety.
- “The music was absolutely perfect for the game; each song fit the mood of the scene it was in, and I could usually guess which characters were going to appear depending on the song.”
- “It's adorable, the music is very soothing, and it's an overall fun game to play.”
- “Great game, great music that is fitting; I love the concept.”
- “The music already started to grow a bit repetitive by the end of my first play session, and eventually starts to get irritating (especially if it gets stuck in your head).”
- “The game's weakest point is probably its presentation, mainly the art and music.”
- “Cons: some scenarios are too rigid and fixed in the game no matter what decisions you make; the music can invoke diabetes and/or nausea.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its realistic portrayal of flawed characters, which can lead to mixed feelings about their relationships. Players report being deeply engaged through a blend of happy and sad moments, with some routes offering particularly touching and memorable experiences. The game explores complex themes such as emotional and physical abuse, gender neutrality, and personal growth, making it a heartfelt and impactful experience despite its flaws.
- “Some routes were more relaxed than others, but all had a decent mix of happy and sad moments, making you emotionally engaged and interested in what’s going to happen next.”
- “A truly overwhelming and emotional experience.”
- “It is one of the few games that has real emotional depth behind it, and that alone should make it a success.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while it offers intriguing discoveries about the characters akin to a hidden object game, it lacks depth due to the simplistic design and limited choices. The art style, though criticized for its mediocrity, has a unique charm that complements the narrative's serious undertones and character growth. Players seeking substantial character development and meaningful choices may find the experience rewarding, but the game ends prematurely, leaving potential storylines unexplored.
- “In some parts, it seriously surprised me with its sober tone and serious character development.”
- “If you are looking for a game where there is character development, consequences for your choices, options, and a good storyline, then I would highly recommend purchasing this game.”
- “Don't be put off by the generated anime character designs; Magical Diary creates an interesting world chock-full of three-dimensional characters.”
- “There isn't much character development because these are kids and it's a school; it's more like you discover interesting things about them like a hidden object game.”
- “The character designs are pretty poor in that they all share the same 10 hairstyles and 4 sets of faces.”
- “The only unfun thing about this game is that it ends after your freshman year, which really sucks considering there's so much lore and character development that could go on with such a story like this.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring multiple playthroughs to achieve certain goals, such as unlocking achievements or maxing out skills. The repetitive nature of the gameplay, particularly in dungeons and romantic routes, can lead to a lack of engagement and interest over time. Overall, while some appreciate the experience, many feel that the grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This can get a little tedious after a while--most of the romantic routes don't really trigger properly until after Christmas, so you'll spend the first four months of the game going through similar motions on each playthrough.”
- “The game dragged on and on, and the plot was almost nonexistent in terms of keeping me interested in continuing through the tedious mediocrity.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by well-integrated sound effects and music that effectively complement various situations, whether in the dorm, classroom, during battles, or on dates.
- “The sound effects combined with the music perfectly enhance the atmosphere of various situations in the game, whether it's in the dorm, in class, during a battle, or even on a date.”
- “The immersive atmosphere draws you in, making every moment feel significant and engaging.”
- “The game's environment is rich and detailed, creating a captivating atmosphere that keeps you invested in the story.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report occasional graphical bugs on the Mac version, but generally find the game stable and worth playing.
- “Some graphics got buggy on my Mac version, but overall it's worth a try!”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced several glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”

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11h Median play time

9h Average play time

5-13h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Magical Diary: Horse Hall is a role playing game with fantasy and romance themes.

Magical Diary: Horse Hall is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 9 hours playing Magical Diary: Horse Hall.

Magical Diary: Horse Hall was released on May 31, 2012.

Magical Diary: Horse Hall was developed by Hanako Games.

Magical Diary: Horse Hall has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its character development.

Magical Diary: Horse Hall is a single player game.

Similar games include Magical Diary: Wolf Hall, Growing Up, Witches x Warlocks, Hustle Cat, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist and others.

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