Master Magistrate

About

Master Magistrate is a single player action game with a mystery theme. It was developed by IRODORI and was released on June 12, 2020. It received very positive reviews from players.

In "Master Magistrate," become the Magistrate of Nakamachi tasked with upholding law and order in a picturesque Japanese town. Solve cases, pass judgment, and interact with a lively cast of characters, all backed by full Japanese voice acting and a 40+ song soundtrack. Four cases and over 150 CGs await in this indie detective game.

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Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 59 reviews

story20 positive mentions

The story is surprisingly well-written with engaging plot twists and character development, particularly in the Yamanami route.
The game features a blend of investigation and trial gameplay reminiscent of Ace Attorney, with a compelling historical setting and entertaining characters.
The visuals and voice acting are high quality, enhancing the overall immersive experience of the game.

The trial mechanics can be vague and less intuitive compared to Ace Attorney, leading to confusion during courtroom segments.
Some routes feel disconnected from the main story, with slice-of-life elements that may detract from the overall pacing and engagement.
The game lacks a clear autosave feature and can suffer from minor technical issues, such as crashes and translation inconsistencies.

story
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
75%
3%
The story of the game is a well-crafted blend of mystery and character development, drawing comparisons to the Ace Attorney series with its engaging plot twists and immersive world-building. While the main narrative focuses heavily on investigation and trial elements, it also features strong character arcs and a significant exploration of themes like power and justice. However, some players noted that the slice-of-life segments felt less compelling, and the adult content is primarily relegated to post-story epilogues, which may not appeal to all players.
- “The story is surprisingly well-written and the characters are likable.”
- “The story focuses on power, corruption, and justice, keeping you hooked as you navigate complex situations with lasting consequences.”
- “The writing is what grabbed me, however, with a truly engaging story with fun and interesting characters.”
- “If you're only interested in moege moments, you may want to skip this one since the main story is focused a lot more heavily on the investigating and trials than it is on that, and I don't think the three slice-of-life routes are very strong.”
- “Forget exciting mysteries, the story just does a bunch of intensely boring slice-of-life (and I love slice-of-life) full of all the anime tropes, and I threw in the towel.”
- “It's recommendable, it's an okay game, but the story and 'interjections' have a lot of inconsistencies!”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The gameplay is reminiscent of the Ace Attorney series, featuring strategic elements such as puzzle-solving, evidence gathering, and decision-making that enhance the experience. While it is generally beginner-friendly and offers a simple yet enjoyable mechanics, some players found the initial cases to be less engaging. Overall, the game balances storytelling with interactive gameplay, providing a satisfying experience despite not being as gameplay-intensive as its inspirations.
- “Solving puzzles, gathering evidence, and weighing the impact of your decisions add depth to the gameplay.”
- “The visuals are great, the gameplay is simple, yet fun to play around with, and the story is pretty interesting too, with a nice touch of comedy.”
- “The gameplay loop is essentially watching a bunch of story scenes until a murder case happens, followed by investigating areas for clues and talking to witnesses.”
- “This doesn't mean the gameplay element is bad, but I did feel like the first two cases were a bit lackluster.”
- “The first trial is also quite short and exceedingly easy, as you’re being introduced to the game mechanics.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its cohesiveness and ability to enhance the atmosphere, though some feel it lacks standout moments. The soundtrack features a variety of instruments, contributing to a captivating ambiance that complements the game's art and narrative. Overall, while not groundbreaking, the music is considered solid and enjoyable, effectively setting the mood without becoming tiresome.
- “Excellent music and great voice acting, highly recommended!”
- “The atmosphere and ambiance really captivated me, and I probably spent over 10 minutes being fascinated by how beautiful the world was when I first started the game. The soundtrack is phenomenal too, with a lot of instruments like the koto being put into play, thus making the traditional aura stand out a lot more.”
- “The story is very good and entertaining, the art is beautiful, and both the music and character voices complement the game.”
- “Music is pretty well done, but also nothing outstanding.”
- “The art and music are both more than serviceable.”
- “Not background music (prefer OST disc 2, track 15, Seifuumeigetsu).”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
45%
11%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and gorgeous art style, which effectively enhance the serious tone of the story and immerse players in the world. Reviewers highlight the impressive anime character artwork and the variety of beautiful CGs, noting that the visuals complement the engaging gameplay and narrative. Overall, the graphical presentation is considered a standout feature of the game.
- “The visuals enhance the serious tone of the story, helping you feel immersed in the world.”
- “Not that the art style isn't already one by itself... damn, speaking about the art, it's friggin gorgeous! I loved it.”
- “Graphic-wise, the game is gorgeous and contains a lot of different CGs.”
- “On the graphical side of things, the game does have some good art to it.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be emotionally engaging, with well-developed characters that evoke investment in their journeys. The emotional weight of decisions adds complexity, while moments of humor and heartwarming scenes contribute to a rich emotional experience, with some players reporting tears.
- “They have their own motivations and flaws, and you’ll get emotionally invested in their journeys.”
- “The emotional weight of your decisions sticks with you, adding complexity and depth to the game.”
- “It's emotional and I even cried a little.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game features impressive and believable character development, with vibrant and detailed designs that enhance the narrative. Players appreciate the individuality and personality of the characters, which are effectively conveyed through voice acting and interactions, contributing to a rich and immersive experience.
- “The game really has interesting character development that impressed me.”
- “+ excellent character development that is actually believable and relatable.”
- “There was a lot of care put into accentuating the characters' individuality and personality, be it through the detailed character design, voice acting, or interactions with the protagonist and the other characters.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its detailed art, beautifully designed environments, and captivating historical ambiance. Players are particularly impressed by the immersive world and phenomenal soundtrack, which enhances the traditional feel of the game. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements creates a compelling and enchanting atmosphere.
- “The game’s art is detailed and atmospheric, with beautifully designed environments and character models.”
- “The atmosphere and ambiance really captivated me, and I probably spent over 10 minutes being fascinated by how beautiful the world was when I first started the game. The soundtrack is phenomenal too, with a lot of instruments like the koto being put into play, thus making the traditional aura stand out a lot more.”
- “They praised the great direction sense, well-crafted scenario, immersive atmosphere, and fascinating soundtrack, amongst other aspects.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently described as funny and heartwarming, enhanced by great storytelling and well-developed characters with unique quirks. Players appreciate the hilarious responses and the encouragement to make wrong choices for comedic effect, with even minor translation issues being addressed in a humorous manner.
- “Funny and heartwarming.”
- “A great storytelling combined with excellent characters, each with their own quirks and humor.”
- “In fact, some of the responses are hilarious and the achievements encourage you to make wrong choices.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Master Magistrate is a action game with mystery theme.

Master Magistrate is available on PC, Phone, iPad, iPhone and others.

Master Magistrate was released on June 12, 2020.

Master Magistrate was developed by IRODORI.

Master Magistrate has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Master Magistrate is a single player game.

Similar games include Return to Shironagasu Island, Tyrion Cuthbert: Attorney of the Arcane, Murders on the Yangtze River, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Summer Pockets and others.

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