Magicube

About

Magicube is a single player action game. It was developed by nebu soku and was released on June 29, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Magicube is a thought-provoking puzzle platformer game with 50 levels, where careful planning and timing are essential for success. The game boasts PICO-8 specifications, allowing players to customize settings such as sound, window/fullscreen mode, and controls. Use to move, to jump, to cast spells, to undo, to restart, and to access the menu.

Genres & Tags

Indie

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 184 reviews

gameplay8 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The puzzles are incredibly well-designed, offering a satisfying challenge that requires deep thinking and creativity.
Each level feels meticulously crafted, providing a rewarding sense of accomplishment upon completion.
The game successfully combines simple mechanics with complex problem-solving, making it a standout in the puzzle genre.

The difficulty level is extremely high, which may frustrate players who are not experienced with challenging puzzles.
Some solutions can feel gimmicky or rely on obscure mechanics that are not intuitively apparent.
The art and sound design are minimalistic and may not appeal to everyone, potentially detracting from the overall experience.

gameplay
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
84%
4%
The gameplay is characterized by its simple mechanics, primarily revolving around the magicube and gravity, which create a challenging and engaging puzzle experience. Players appreciate the clever design of levels that encourage creativity and experimentation, although some feel that certain mechanics, like the blue cube, lack depth. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to deliver difficult puzzles without overwhelming players with complexity, making it a standout in the puzzle genre.
- “Very simple mechanics and very difficult puzzles - the perfect combination.”
- “Every self-contained level is deliberate, from the layout to the boxes to your character's moves, and the mechanics demand you get creative and experiment.”
- “The amount of creativity and variety accomplished with such simple mechanics is really impressive.”
- “I can't tell you the number of times I sat, stupefied, feeling like there must be some obvious mechanic or nuance that I missed.”
- “There is no way mechanics this simple should be this bloody hard to solve.”
- “There's an appeal to this type of gameplay for sure, but it comes at a cost that's hard to weather even when you go in with an idea of what to expect.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The music features a handful of looping chiptune tracks that some players find repetitive and grating at first, but many agree that it eventually becomes charming and enhances the game's atmosphere. Notably, the second track, reminiscent of a jazzy 16-bit JRPG bar tune, has received particular praise. Overall, while the music may not be universally loved, it contributes to the game's unique vibe and is enjoyable enough for some players to listen to outside of the game.
- “However, over time the music grew on me, and it became part of the game's charm.”
- “One final note: the music in this game is great, in particular the second track that starts when you get to the skull-themed levels, a sort of pleasantly sleazy, lazy-jazzy track that wouldn't be out of place in a 16-bit JRPG mid-game bar interlude.”
- “Enjoyed every minute <3 the music is also such a vibe; I would listen to it even outside of the game.”
- “The music consists of about half a dozen short, looping chiptune tracks.”
- “My only criticism would be the music, which can get quite grating.”
- “While the graphics are simple and the music can be a bit repetitive, the game excels with its exceptional puzzles that are very satisfying to solve.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
65%
21%
The graphics of Magicube are simple and reminiscent of 8-bit retro style, reflecting the limitations of the pico-8 game engine. While the visuals are considered passable and the music can be repetitive, the game's charm lies in its challenging puzzles rather than its aesthetic appeal. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose but do not enhance the game's depth or narrative.
- “While the graphics are simple and the music can be a bit repetitive, the game excels with its exceptional puzzles that are very satisfying to solve.”
- “As most people have commented, this game, with its charming simple 8-bit retro graphic style (even the music is 8-bit), belies a deceptively difficult and mentally rewarding set of brilliant, elegant, and all-around satisfying, tough-as-nails brain scratches.”
- “Magicube is made on a novelty game engine called pico-8, so its graphics and sound are limited to what a console from the 8-bit era could do.”
- “Aesthetically, the game is passable, but I think the music is a bit much.”
- “Don't let the simple graphics and low price lead you to believe this was hastily put together.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits stability issues, with several easily exploitable glitches that undermine the challenge of its puzzles and detract from the overall experience. Players express a desire for these glitches to be patched, as they disrupt the intended gameplay and diminish the satisfaction of solving puzzles.
- “Lastly, there are a few very easy to find glitches that completely trivialize a good portion of the already tiny level pool, and while I don't imagine anyone playing this kind of game will cheat, it would be nice if they could be patched.”
- “It is a nice game for people who like hard puzzles, but I would say that a lot of the solutions lack elegance. It feels much more that you are using 'glitches' than having precious 'eureka' moments.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game lacks a compelling narrative or engaging visuals, focusing instead on delivering 50 challenging puzzles without any deeper story elements to enhance the experience.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, with some experiencing significant frustration and distress when unable to progress through challenging levels, leading to sleepless nights and feelings of being mentally trapped.
- “I cried myself to sleep multiple nights because I couldn't solve a level, and it kept getting stuck in my head, hitting a wall over and over again.”