Secret of the Magic Crystals

About

In "Secret of the Magic Crystals," players explore a mystical world, solving puzzles and battling enemies to uncover the power of magical crystals. As they journey through various landscapes, they'll gather resources, acquire new abilities, and interact with non-playable characters to further the storyline. The game features a blend of adventure, strategy, and role-playing elements, providing hours of engaging gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,445 reviews

story34 positive mentions

grinding37 negative mentions

Charming graphics and engaging gameplay for young children, making it a suitable game for kids who love horses.
Offers a variety of magical horses and customization options, allowing players to breed and train unique steeds.
The game provides a relaxing experience with simple mechanics, making it easy to pick up and play.

Repetitive gameplay with minimal interaction, primarily consisting of waiting for horses to return from quests and races.
Lacks depth and complexity, making it tedious for older players or those seeking a more engaging experience.
The absence of a tutorial and unclear mechanics can lead to confusion, especially for younger players.

story
164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
71%
8%
The game's story is criticized for being poorly developed and nonsensical, with a loose plot involving meteorites and horse breeding that fails to engage players. Many reviews highlight the repetitive gameplay focused on grinding and waiting for horses to return from quests, overshadowing any narrative depth. While some players find humor and charm in the absurdity of the storyline, the overall consensus is that the story lacks substance and coherence, making it feel more like a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a compelling narrative.
- “With amazing story, believable characters, and amazing graphics, this is honestly the single best game I ever played.”
- “The story is also very emotionally compelling with each horse that is born into the world.”
- “The storyline can be described in detail in only a few words but at least it doesn't get in the way.”
- “The plot essentially is about some meteorites that fell through the sky, your grandfather discovered pieces but was not taken seriously and you, as the grandson, must prove to the world that your grandfather was right and use those pieces to breed different horses.”
- “The story is one of the worst I've seen: a magic asteroid hits earth, gets a man fired and forces horses to play DDR. Sounds legit.”
gameplay
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
70%
8%
The gameplay of "Secret of the Magic Crystals" is largely criticized for being repetitive and simplistic, primarily revolving around a rhythm-based mini-game where players press arrow keys at the right time. Many reviewers noted that the game feels more like a mobile title with minimal player interaction, often involving waiting and watching rather than engaging gameplay. While it may appeal to younger audiences and horse enthusiasts, the overall consensus is that the gameplay lacks depth and variety, making it a disappointing experience for most players.
- “The gameplay consists of training your horse until it reaches max stats, doing quests and races to earn money, buying more horses, breeding them for higher level horses, and repeating the process. You can also upgrade the blacksmith and the barn to make better horseshoes or potions for your horse.”
- “The gameplay is particularly gripping and brings you all of the things you loved from Dance Dance Revolution.”
- “With its innovative gameplay, fluffy unicorns, and impressive AI, Secrets of the Magic Crystals is a must for any gamer's collection!”
- “The entire training gameplay consists of watching a side scroller and you have to press the correct arrow at the right time, like a rhythm game.”
- “Overall, I was not really impressed with the gameplay in the Secret of the Magic Crystals and I cannot recommend this game unless it is for a kid, but even then there are a lot better choices out there in terms of games.”
- “The gameplay is particularly gripping, and brings you all of the things you loved from Dance Dance Revolution.”
graphics
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
53%
3%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising their beauty and detail, particularly in the horse designs and environments. However, some users criticize the animations as stiff and the overall graphical quality as inconsistent, with reports of glitches and crashes. While the visuals are often described as stunning or impressive, they are sometimes overshadowed by repetitive gameplay and a lack of content.
- “The graphics are outstanding!”
- “Stunning graphics, beautiful atmosphere, immersive gameplay, just an all around great game, really a ten out of ten.”
- “Top-notch graphics are just breathtaking.”
- “The graphics are just mind-boggling.”
- “I wish I could say that, out of everything, at least the graphics are okay, but even they come off as very cheap - especially since the backgrounds of the obstacle courses obviously just repeat after a few screens.”
- “Overall the graphics aren't great and the game is lacking in many gameplay aspects, so I really can't recommend this game.”
music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
72%
8%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and lack of variety, often featuring only a few tracks that can become tiresome over extended play. However, some users appreciate the relaxing and tranquil atmosphere created by the soundtrack, describing it as pleasant and fitting for the game's aesthetic. Overall, while the music may enhance the ambiance for some, its generic and looping quality detracts from the experience for others.
- “It's quaint, sweet, and the music and sound effects blend well and create a tranquil atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack was and continues to be one of the finest orchestral pieces I have encountered in all of my years of orchestral music listening.”
- “The music is lovely and adds a lot to the ambiance.”
- “The music is extremely generic: there's only one track that continuously plays throughout the entire game, and it's just low-key happy music, nothing memorable.”
- “The music is loopy and repetitive.”
- “I wouldn't recommend the soundtrack / coloring book, as the book only has 10 pages and you'll be tired of the soundtrack after an hour of gameplay.”
grinding
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The reviews overwhelmingly describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious, repetitive, and lacking in enjoyment, with many players feeling that it detracts significantly from the overall experience. Progression requires extensive grinding, often leading to frustration rather than satisfaction, and while some players find it rewarding, the majority view it as a slog that diminishes the fun. Overall, the grinding is seen as a major drawback, making the game less appealing to those who prefer more engaging gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Mythical horse racing feels banal as the very limited actions the player can take result in a slow, tedious slog to make any meaningful progression.”
- “The actual game is tedious, repetitive, and painfully dull.”
- “The end-game also involves useless grinding for (more) boring and longer quests, races, and training courses.”
emotional
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its profound emotional impact, with many players reporting tears of joy and heartbreak throughout their experiences. Reviewers highlight the deep connections formed with characters, particularly horses, and the intricate, heart-wrenching storylines that evoke strong feelings. Overall, it is described as a masterpiece that successfully combines artistic expression with emotional depth, leaving a lasting impression on players.
- “I cried, my dad cried, my dog cried, beautiful game xo”
- “Never have I ever felt such an emotional connection with a video game, let alone any creature I have ever physically come into contact with.”
- “The complexity and intrigue that goes into the heart-wrenching storyline will leave you speechless for days to come.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely seen as a mixed bag; while some players find it amusing, particularly in its absurdities and quirks, others feel that the humor is overshadowed by poor gameplay and repetitive mechanics. Many reviews suggest it serves better as a gag gift rather than a serious gaming experience, with moments of unintentional comedy stemming from the game's flaws. Overall, it can provide a few laughs, but it lacks the depth and enjoyment to be considered a good game.
- “Your horse will drive like a drunk, blind man with a whacked inner ear but it's more hilarious than infuriating.”
- “Pretty funny horse game I think.”
- “The gameplay definitely isn’t that great, it’s super repetitive and pretty silly, but it’s funny to amuse yourself with for a bit if you are utterly bored.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The game boasts significant replayability, driven by its complex systems, diverse achievements, and unique item mechanics, allowing for varied experiences in each playthrough. Players can expect to invest hundreds of hours, with features like new game plus and a language selector enhancing the overall replay value. Despite its initial juvenile appearance, deeper strategic elements reveal a wealth of content that encourages repeated play.
- “It’s over-the-top and at times unnecessarily complex, but serves both current and next-generation consoles with ambitious new ideas and tremendous replay value.”
- “The items system in the game offered a deep level of replayability, as no two magical horseshoes are alike.”
- “A lot of replayability in the language selector.”
- “It's possible that the replay value of this game is about 1200 hours; each new game plus or regular new game will have you sitting on the edge of your seat in awe as you watch your treasured horse grow.”
- “It may seem a little juvenile at first glance, but once you scratch the surface you'll find a wealth of strategy and replayability that you weren't expecting.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a tranquil and immersive experience, enhanced by a relaxing soundtrack and stunning graphics that create a serene environment. While some reviews note a lack of depth in story, the overall ambiance is praised for its beauty and ability to engage players, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “It's quaint, sweet, and the music and sound effects blend well to create a tranquil atmosphere.”
- “The game has a nice atmosphere, a great relaxing soundtrack; it gives you a new way to look at things, which enhances our intelligence by making us more aware of the world and certainly more aware of magical horses.”
- “Stunning graphics, beautiful atmosphere, immersive gameplay; just an all-around great game, really a ten out of ten.”
- “- atmosphere and story are for all real intents and purposes nonexistent.”
- “At the beginning of the game, the player is informed that '[a] special meteor hit the atmosphere of the earth a long time ago.', resulting in the main character's grandfather collecting 'magic crystals' from it.”
- “It takes full use of advanced DX11 shaders to create some of the most realistically serene atmospheres to train your horses in.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent crashes and graphical glitches reported by users. Players experience unresponsive controls, particularly during interactions and sharp turns, leading to frustrating gameplay interruptions.
- “The game crashes easily in several places, and if I don't experience a crash, I encounter graphical glitches.”
- “You start the game and name your horse, but as you go to interact with your horse, the game glitches, and you cannot move your cursor or anything.”
- “Especially during every single sharp turn, you find yourself crashing into walls the moment the game unfreezes.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The optimization of the game is well-received, as it runs smoothly and effectively enhances the performance of bred horses in races, automatically applying improvements for better results.
- “Runs smoothly.”
- “Increases your horse's performance in the next race (used automatically).”
- “The strengths of the horses that you breed become relevant because they affect performance in races.”
- “- Increases your horse's performance in the next race (used automatically)”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game is heavily criticized for its reliance on numerous in-app purchases and intrusive advertisements, including long ads upon quitting the game, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, some players still find enjoyment in the game.
- “You get a lot of in-app purchases, and what sucks is that you get a big, long ad when you quit the game.”
- “I got all my trophies easily, but there are bonus in-game ads in a paid game.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in "SotMC" is highlighted by its strong themes of equality and friendship, effectively conveyed through unique dialogue and character designs. Players appreciate the game's elaborate storyline and engaging plot twists, which contribute to a satisfying character evolution throughout the experience.
- “The very common trend within each level of SotMC is the themes of equality and friendship, which are tremendously achieved through unique dialogue and intriguing character designs and actions.”
- “Before I started this game, I expected an elaborate storyline, with mini plot twists, incredible character development, and this game has delivered just that.”