Mind Over Magnet

About

"Mind Over Magnet" is a puzzle-based game where players must navigate a dangerous factory using magnetic powers. Players can team up with different magnet friends, each with unique abilities, to solve over 60 single-screen puzzles. The game also includes a hidden bolt collection side quest and is currently in development by Mark Brown, creator of the Game Maker’s Toolkit YouTube channel. Note: some features and visuals may be subject to change.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,697 reviews

gameplay162 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

Charming visuals and sound design that create a delightful atmosphere.
Clever puzzle design that provides satisfying 'aha!' moments without being overly frustrating.
Well-polished gameplay with smooth controls and a helpful hint system.

Very short playtime, typically around 2 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
Puzzles can feel too easy, lacking the depth and challenge expected from a puzzle game.
The story is minimal and doesn't add much to the overall experience, leaving some players wanting more.

gameplay
544 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
67%
3%
The gameplay of "Mind Over Magnet" is characterized by its charming mechanics and clever puzzle design, effectively introducing new concepts at a steady pace. However, many mechanics feel underutilized, often appearing only once or twice, leading to a sense of missed potential and a lack of complex, multi-layered challenges. While the game is polished and accessible, its short length and reliance on tutorial-style puzzles may leave experienced players wanting more depth and variety.
- “It does a great job of exploring its mechanical possibilities and introducing new mechanics periodically.”
- “The game looked pretty, mechanics and connections were clearly communicated, and every world was uniquely vibrant.”
- “The mechanics are well executed, and the puzzles are all very manageable.”
- “Some of the puzzles were more timing-based, others seemed needlessly tedious, and I was just impatiently waiting for the game to focus more on problem-solving than understanding new mechanics.”
- “It feels like there was a bunch of 20-second puzzles to introduce a mechanic but really little payoff or further exploration afterwards.”
- “Most mechanics are only explored once or twice (e.g. colliding magnets), making the game feel more like a showcase of mechanics than a puzzle game where they are meant to be understood and used.”
music
230 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
30%
1%
The music in the game is generally praised for its charm and ability to complement the gameplay, creating a relaxing atmosphere that enhances the puzzle-solving experience. While many players find the soundtrack enjoyable and fitting, some note that it can become repetitive or grating during longer sessions, with a few even opting to mute it due to distracting sound effects. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to its polished presentation and engaging design.
- “The music fits the leisurely gameplay perfectly.”
- “The game's adorable visuals, crisp design, and catchy soundtrack come together beautifully, complementing a series of clever puzzles that are packed with satisfying 'aha!' moments.”
- “The music is lovely, the story is intriguing and relevant to today's discussions about AI, the sound effects are super satisfying, and the game is super polished; it's great.”
- “I had to turn off SFX and music because the drill head sound is extremely annoying after hearing it a lot.”
- “Apart from the puzzle design, the music is very repetitive, and got a bit jarring for me very soon into the game, and I ended up turning it off after the first world.”
- “I definitely have some problems with it, such as a lack of really challenging levels, the drill sound effect drilling into my skull, and the music being a bit stagnant and never looping properly.”
story
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
73%
5%
The story in the game is generally considered minimal and often feels like an afterthought, serving primarily to provide context for the puzzles rather than engaging players meaningfully. While some players appreciate the lighthearted and charming elements of the narrative, many find it shallow and lacking depth, with critiques pointing to its brevity and lack of character development. Overall, the consensus is that the game excels in puzzle design, but the story does not significantly enhance the experience.
- “The story was fun, and the characters brought the game to life.”
- “Each world adds a new little wrinkle to the design of the puzzles and the small included story is a lot of fun.”
- “The music is lovely, the story is intriguing and relevant to today's discussions about AI, the SFX is super satisfying, the game is super polished, it's great.”
- “The story is thin.”
- “The story contributes nothing to the gameplay.”
- “What story is in the game feels like it was obligatory as a means of exposition rather than actually getting us to like any of the characters.”
graphics
170 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
41%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and polished vector art style, which complements the engaging gameplay and clever puzzles. Many reviewers highlight the visuals as aesthetically pleasing and well-executed, although some note that they can feel simplistic or lack depth. Overall, the combination of cute character designs, clean graphics, and a fitting soundtrack creates a delightful atmosphere that enhances the gaming experience.
- “Wonderful little puzzle game, very polished gameplay and beautiful vector art graphics.”
- “The game's adorable visuals, crisp design, and catchy soundtrack come together beautifully, complementing a series of clever puzzles that are packed with satisfying 'aha!' moments.”
- “The graphics are charming and pleasant to the eyes and the calm background music sets the perfect tone to the gameplay.”
- “It's charming, but it has no substance beyond that - the visuals are bland and never really stood out.”
- “The art style is clean but lacks personality; the story is cute but forgettable, and the puzzles are designed really well so no one gets stuck, but this makes them too simple.”
- “At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how well you make the visuals, music, sound effects or mechanics, if you don’t have an idea of what you want your game to be, the best it can be is mediocre.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
73%
14%
Overall, the game has limited replayability, primarily offering developer commentary as the main incentive for revisiting it. Players note that while the game effectively explores its mechanics in a short playtime of 1-2 hours, the lack of additional content or features, such as a level editor, diminishes its long-term appeal. The commentary adds some value, but many feel it does not justify the game's price tag given its brevity.
- “The game would also have a lot of potential for replayability if a level editor or workshop for custom levels were to be added in a future update.”
- “The developer commentary for beating the game adds some replayability as well as gives good insight into the choices and decisions made for the game.”
- “So in that simplicity, I think it has inherent replay value, sort of like, again, a YouTube video.”
- “I finished it in under two hours, and considering that there's no real replay value aside from a developer commentary... hard to justify the price tag.”
- “In the end, it is a fairly short game, and doesn't have a lot of replay value, so that is something to consider.”
- “Very little replay value for me.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a mix of wholesome visuals and clever puzzle design, which can evoke feelings of accomplishment when solved. However, some players feel that the overall experience lacks depth and passion, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging journey. The final world, in particular, left a disappointing impression, contrasting with the initial sense of achievement.
- “The amount of times that mark whiffs by in a sentence or two that which took hours or even days of work that you and I will never be privy to the emotional minutia of is really striking.”
- “The last world was heartbreakingly disappointing.”
- “Playing the game really made me feel like it was made with the mindset of homework rather than the mindset of passion and fun.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its clever humor and enjoyable mechanics, creating moments of cheeky fun and surprise throughout its short runtime. Players appreciate the humorous character interactions and dialogue, which enhance the light story and keep the experience engaging. Overall, the humor is a standout feature, contributing to the game's charm and making it memorable, as evidenced by players laughing long after their sessions.
- “We were all still laughing at [i]Untitled Goose Game[/i] for days.”
- “It is a funny and enjoyable puzzle game.”
- “The characters have humor and personality, with dialogue that leads you through the story at a good pace.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
11%
11%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming visuals, engaging music, and a sense of calm that enhances the gameplay experience. While many reviewers appreciate the overall aesthetic and the clever puzzle design, some feel that the story could have been more developed to match the strong atmospheric elements. Overall, the atmosphere is described as lovely, playful, and immersive, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Great experience, nice atmosphere, cute visuals, and clever puzzles.”
- “Mark Brown's overall brand aesthetic of incredibly clean vector art visuals and clear and purposeful UI creates an atmosphere of calm, focus, and delightful gameplay.”
- “Lovely and playful atmosphere.”
- “Perhaps what it lacks is more of an atmosphere.”
- “I did have one puzzle where I got confused by the art, but overall it does a good job presenting the puzzles clearly while giving a bit of atmosphere.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Reviews indicate that while some puzzles in the game can feel tedious and timing-based, the overall length is appreciated for being concise and engaging without overstaying its welcome. Players express a desire for more challenging final puzzles, but many prefer the game's brevity over a longer, more repetitive experience. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a mixed bag, with some frustration over certain mechanics but a general appreciation for the game's pacing.
- “Some of the puzzles were more timing-based, others seemed needlessly tedious, and I was just impatiently waiting for the game to focus more on problem solving than understanding new mechanics.”
- “Especially the final puzzle was a little disappointing; I was expecting one final challenge to really get your gears grinding, but only got a pretty 'average' one.”
- “It was quite a bit shorter than I expected or hoped, but I'd rather have a short and sweet game than a long tedious one.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting a bug-free experience and smooth performance, particularly on the Steam Deck. There are no significant issues noted, and the game's design is praised for its cleanliness in both art and sound.
- “A solid bug-free experience with clean art and sound design.”
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “It runs great on Steam Deck too!”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
13%
38%
The character development in the game is highlighted by its charming designs and engaging dialogue, which contribute to a fun and appealing aesthetic. While the story may be simple, it effectively enhances the overall experience, attracting even those who are not typically fans of puzzle games.
- “Once again, I'd just like to call out the really charming character design and dialogue.”
- “The character designs and story, while simple, are fun and very charming.”
- “I'm not a massive puzzle game guy usually, but the devlog and character designs really made me want to try out this one!”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment.”
- “There seems to be little growth or change in the characters throughout the game, leaving them feeling static and uninteresting.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its stellar graphics and performance, contributing to a colorful and enjoyable experience. The art style and soundtrack also received positive feedback, enhancing the overall appeal.
- “The art style is fantastic, the soundtrack is fun, and both the graphics and performance are stellar.”
- “It is a short, enjoyable, colorful game with really nice music and performance.”
- “It is a short, enjoyable, colorful game with really nice music and performance.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The monetization strategy of the game is praised for its balanced approach, gradually increasing difficulty without heavily relying on microtransactions to extract money from players.
- “It gently ramps up in difficulty while also not trying to drain you of money from microtransactions during your time playing.”