Magicka

Confused and buggy, but very entertaining under the right circumstances. Bring friends.

Starting at €9.99Buy now

Magicka is a satirical action-adventure game set in a fantasy world filled with parody and humorous nods to popular culture. Players assume the role of a robe-wearing, staff-wielding wizard with the ability to combine elements to cast spells. With a unique spell casting system, Magicka offers a challenging and entertaining experience as players battle enemies and bosses in a campaign that can be played solo or with friends.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,292 reviews

humor1,255 positive mentions

stability271 negative mentions

The spellcasting system is innovative and allows for a wide variety of combinations, making gameplay creative and engaging.
The game is filled with humor and pop culture references, providing a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
Playing with friends enhances the fun, as the friendly fire mechanic leads to chaotic and hilarious moments.

The game is plagued by frequent crashes, especially in multiplayer, making it nearly unplayable.
There is a lack of developer support and updates, leaving many bugs unresolved and the game in a broken state.
The controls can be clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustration during gameplay.

humor
1,263 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Magicka" is widely praised for its charm, clever writing, and abundance of pop culture references, making it a standout feature of the game. Players often highlight the hilarious chaos that ensues during multiplayer sessions, where friendly fire leads to comical mishaps and unexpected deaths. Overall, the game's lighthearted tone and inventive spellcasting mechanics create a uniquely entertaining experience, especially when played with friends.
- “The game's humor and self-awareness are evident throughout, with pop culture references and satirical elements sprinkled into the dialogue and gameplay.”
- “Magicka is a hilarious mix of magic, teamwork, and trolling.”
- “The humor is great, and the added humor of everyone team-killing either on purpose or accidentally is even better.”
- “Suffice to say the story exists to be a vehicle for far, far too many unfunny jokes.”
- “My gripe is that they took this system and built an unfunny joke game around it.”
- “The warmed-over 'Swedish Chef' mock-language is painful and unfunny.”
gameplay
630 mentions
52 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Magicka is characterized by its innovative spellcasting mechanics, allowing players to combine various elements to create a wide array of spells, which adds depth and creativity to combat. While the game is praised for its humor and chaotic multiplayer experience, it is also criticized for frequent crashes, bugs, and a lack of variety in gameplay, which can lead to repetitive encounters. Overall, the unique mechanics and cooperative play make it a fun experience, especially with friends, despite its technical shortcomings.
- “I highly suggest you buy this game with a friend and enjoy the gameplay and humor till its story's end.”
- “The gameplay mechanics rely heavily on experimenting with the basic magical elements and mixing them together to form spells.”
- “The unique spell-making mechanic is very fun and allows for many different strategies to be employed.”
- “I've had 5 or 6 crashes over an hour of gameplay.”
- “Constant crashing, achievements not working, bugs during gameplay (UI disappears, not being able to cast spells on self, during the zeppelin fight you can respawn in the air, dying instantly...).”
- “The gameplay is uncreative ARPG, and I find the humor too juvenile to entertain.”
story
609 mentions
43 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of Magicka is characterized by its humorous and light-hearted tone, filled with pop culture references and comedic dialogue that often parodies fantasy tropes. While the narrative is generally simple and not deeply developed, it serves as an entertaining backdrop for the chaotic gameplay, especially in multiplayer settings where friendly fire adds to the hilarity. Overall, players find the story amusing and enjoyable, particularly when experienced with friends, despite some criticisms regarding its brevity and occasional bugs.
- “The story is filled with pop culture references and witty humor that will keep you laughing throughout the game.”
- “Magicka is a game that is really fun to play with some friends, the story is easy to follow and is being told very funny.”
- “The story is hilarious and the combat is satisfying.”
- “The only downside in my eyes of this game is the story, which is a lot like a Borderlands-style story where you're just waiting for the cringe to end so you can enjoy the unique gameplay this game offers.”
- “While the game does indeed possess named characters, calling them 'characters' feels overly generous; as does calling the story a 'story' at all.”
- “Suffice to say the story exists to be a vehicle for far, far too many unfunny jokes.”
stability
278 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players describe it as "unplayable" in its current state, particularly in multiplayer modes, while others note that despite its fun mechanics, the persistent technical issues detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as a chaotic mix of enjoyment and frustration due to its instability.
- “This game runs great.”
- “10/10, no glitches.”
- “Now, the game is 99.99% bug free.”
- “The game is extremely buggy, crashing constantly and is stupidly hard.”
- “Overall the game was fun and it holds up in 2023, but the constant crashing and freezes make it unplayable for more than 20 minutes.”
- “I would recommend the game but in the state it was left it's just unplayable -> very buggy (a huge crashfest).”
graphics
209 mentions
40 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a colorful and cartoonish art style that complements its whimsical and humorous tone, though they may not be considered high-end by modern standards. While many players appreciate the charming aesthetic and visual effects, some have reported performance issues and bugs, particularly on systems with integrated graphics. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received for an indie title, providing a fitting backdrop for the game's unique spell-casting mechanics and comedic elements.
- “The graphics and effects on the spells are done well for an older indie game, and the gore setting is a nice complement.”
- “Visually, the game embraces a colorful and cartoonish art style that complements its whimsical nature.”
- “The graphics are amazing and nostalgic too; there aren't a lot of games like this one, so I highly recommend!”
- “The graphics kind of suck and it is not stable if you are running it on anything other than Windows XP or Vista.”
- “The game is a great concept but very poorly optimized: I played Skyrim on high graphics quality on my older computer which ran flawlessly, but neither machine has run Magicka, a much simpler game in terms of world size and graphics, to an acceptable standard.”
- “It's also notorious for giving people with even newer laptops issues simply for being run on a laptop, and often won't work entirely on systems with on-board graphics.”
replayability
60 mentions
45 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its high replay value, especially in multiplayer and co-op modes, where chaotic gameplay and diverse spell combinations enhance the experience. However, some users note a lack of replayability for solo players or those not interested in completionist challenges, citing bugs and stability issues as potential drawbacks. Overall, while the game offers significant replay potential, particularly with friends, opinions vary on its long-term engagement for solo play.
- “Very, very late review but I absolutely love this game, even after half a decade of being out, the replay value is amazing.”
- “This game is packed to the brim with replayability, from the many insane and wacky robes to don to the online co-op with friends; all it takes is one badly aimed rock to start an all-out war amongst yourselves.”
- “The game has a lot of replayability and I look forward to Magicka Wizard Wars as it develops as a MOBA.”
- “Game doesn't really have any replayability unless you're a completionist.”
- “Not much replayability or endgame content but well worth the purchase.”
- “A good game for multiplayer but overall short so no replay value.”
music
55 mentions
44 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its fitting and enjoyable soundtrack that enhances the whimsical gameplay and humor. However, some players find it repetitive and not particularly memorable, suggesting that it could benefit from more variation to match different game situations. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, opinions vary on its long-term appeal and impact on the gaming experience.
- “The accompanying sound design, including humorous voice lines and whimsical music, complements the gameplay perfectly.”
- “Magicka has one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard.”
- “The music is just gorgeous and catchy, the environment is immersive and has plenty of secrets to discover.”
- “Sound effects get the job done and the soundtrack, while not memorable and sometimes a little grating, gets the job done generically enough as well.”
- “The soundtrack to this game grates on the eardrums after a while like a PTSD attack fueled by a renaissance fair.”
- “Music bores you sometimes, but actually my main problem with it was that it does not change with the situation.”
optimization
36 mentions
17 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
42 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly on newer operating systems, leading to frequent crashes and performance problems even on capable machines. While some players find enjoyment in its core mechanics, the overall experience is marred by bugs, awkward controls, and a lack of ongoing support from developers to address these issues. Despite its potential, many users recommend caution due to the frustrating performance and optimization shortcomings.
- “The game has a super simple premise, but there's a very high level of optimization and ways to play.”
- “Fantastic game, really, just be aware of the poor optimization on not-stellar setups.”
- “It could be a really great game if the developers would fix all the problems with multiplayer, weird optimization, and a ton of various bugs.”
- “It makes my heart heavy to unfortunately say that the modern game is unoptimized and abandoned, leading to crashes almost every chapter as the game constantly touches the 32-bit 4 gigabyte memory threshold.”
- “Overall the game feels poorly optimized and still suffers from numerous bugs; there has never been a session where I didn't encounter a bug or issues.”
- “Not only is it poorly optimized, but it crashes frequently.”
grinding
21 mentions
14 % positive mentions
5 % neutral mentions
81 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding in the game. While some players appreciate the lack of traditional grinding for levels or items, finding the gameplay engaging and challenging, others criticize the tediousness of repeated encounters, forced dialogue, and technical issues that disrupt the flow, particularly in single-player mode. Overall, the game offers a unique approach to combat and progression, but the execution can lead to frustration due to its repetitive elements and bugs.
- “Hilarious single (or multiplayer) storyline with lots of twists and flips while making monsters explode is still great. The game gets harder and is not too grindy while still being challenging and entertaining so far.”
- “Every single enemy encounter is a puzzle on its own; there is no grinding for levels or items, and you can only count on tactics to defeat your foes.”
- “+no grinding”
- “Having to restart and reinvest your time into these monotonous areas of grinding to get to the part where the game broke just to find out it breaks again?”
- “There's no reward for grinding.”
- “Unbelievably tedious afterwards.”
atmosphere
20 mentions
50 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a whimsical, lighthearted tone enhanced by its hand-drawn aesthetic and quirky character models, creating an immersive and enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the charming voice work, humor, and the synergy between the atmosphere and gameplay, although some feel that the overall depth of the story could be improved. Overall, the atmosphere is celebrated for its comedic elements and engaging references, making it a fun environment for cooperative play.
- “The hand-drawn aesthetic adds character and fits well with the game's overall atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is just fantastic and immersive.”
- “This lighthearted atmosphere synergizes well with the unique gameplay to create an experience that is incontestably fun.”
- “The story and atmosphere seem lighthearted enough, but it's not enough to save what really just amounts to a game you can play with some friends if you are getting drunk or something.”
- “It needs better story, better atmosphere and better gameplay.”
- “The game, its story, its world, and its atmosphere have no intention - and likely never will have any real intention - of trying to enthrall the player with serious tones and deep plots.”
emotional
17 mentions
94 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of nostalgia and empowerment, with players feeling a genuine connection to the wizarding experience it offers. While some express disappointment over bugs and a lack of narrative depth, many highlight the game's ability to evoke feelings of joy and camaraderie, making it a unique and heartwarming experience. Overall, it captures a sense of wholesome fun and emotional engagement, particularly when played with friends.
- “Magicka is probably the only game that I've ever played that has made me feel like a true and rightly powerful wizard, which really is everything you could ever want in a game, right?”
- “Equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring.”
- “Still, I will say that this game is one of the most unique and heart-warming experiences I've ever had in my gaming life.”
monetization
11 mentions
0 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with players highlighting an overwhelming presence of microtransactions and in-game ads that detract from the overall experience. Many users feel that recent updates have transformed the game into a buggy, unplayable state, prioritizing profit over quality and gameplay integrity. Overall, the shift towards a DLC-focused model has left fans disappointed and frustrated.
- “This is one of my all-time favorites, but it's unplayable as of 2021; too many bugs patched in since they spammed microtransactions.”
- “Paradox Interactive has made it clear that they want to turn this game into a DLC cash grab while somehow breaking the game by doing so.”
- “The game used to be very good, but it's now a buggy mess left in a halfway state of Paradox trying out a new monetization strategy for the game and updating some mechanics of it, neither of which were ever finished, and the game is now prone to even more crashes, bugs, and multiplayer issues than ever before.”
character development
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is minimal, with no dedicated system for character growth beyond learning new spells. Players primarily focus on customizing their powerful wizard through mechanics and gear rather than engaging in a plot-driven narrative or meaningful character arcs. Overall, the emphasis is more on gameplay mechanics than on character evolution.
- “It has decent mechanics, top-tier character designs, and some clever humor.”
- “The majority of character development is your own knowledge of using the spell system.”
- “You should not expect a plot-driven story or character development.”
- “No character development system, just staff and weapon for your customizable powerful wizard.”
- “No true character development outside of learning new spells.”