The Magic Circle

Visually drab and a bit too taken with its own story, but otherwise a clever and fun exercise in creative problem-solving.

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"The Magic Circle" is a dark, humorous deconstruction of traditional fantasy role-playing games. You play as a tester, trapped within a troubled game development process, where you must manipulate the unfinished code and assets to solve puzzles and ultimately escape. The game features a satirical narrative and a unique blend of programming and magical abilities to interact with the game world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 893 reviews

story178 positive mentions

replayability7 negative mentions

Unique and creative gameplay mechanics that allow players to manipulate and customize creatures.
Engaging and humorous story that provides a satirical look at game development and fandom.
High-quality voice acting and well-written characters that enhance the overall experience.

Short playtime, typically around 3-5 hours, which may not justify the full price for some players.
Some puzzles can feel unintuitive or too easy, leading to a lack of challenge.
The game can become tedious with backtracking and slow movement speed, which may detract from the overall enjoyment.

story
443 mentions
40 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and unique, particularly in its meta-commentary on game development and fandom, while others describe it as convoluted, predictable, or lacking depth. Many appreciate the humor and voice acting, noting that the narrative is often delivered through collectibles and logs, which can enhance immersion but may also feel disjointed. Overall, while the story has its strengths, including interesting themes and character dynamics, it can be polarizing, with some players feeling it detracts from the gameplay experience.
- “The voice acting is done amazingly well and really immerses you in the story, to the point where I forgot this was a game.”
- “The story is quite melancholic yet hopeful, both the story of the game and of the people involved with it from every angle.”
- “The magic circle is a game with meta jokes and gameplay like the Stanley Parable, but the story it provides is weak and the game is an ugly uncomfortable experience.”
- “The story is basic, predictable, and uninteresting.”
- “The storyline itself is a bit of a mixed bag, with mixed messages and an unclear message.”
- “The story seems to shun locked-in cut scenes and drawn-out, expository monologues, but that's entirely how the story is presented.”
gameplay
381 mentions
38 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique and creative mechanics, allowing players to manipulate and edit game elements in innovative ways, which many found enjoyable and engaging. However, several reviews noted that the gameplay can feel shallow or repetitive, with some mechanics underutilized and the overall experience being relatively short, often leaving players wanting more depth and variety. While the humor and narrative are praised, the gameplay sometimes takes a backseat, leading to mixed feelings about its overall execution and value for the price.
- “The gameplay is unique, the banter is just witty enough, and it's also a really good commentary on development hell!”
- “The gameplay consists of rewriting parts of the game's world to your advantage.”
- “The mechanics surrounding the life system were new and interesting.”
- “Walking is really slow, and with the nature of this game, I expected to unlock a b-hopping mechanic or something, but no.”
- “No puzzles, no adversarial mechanics, no challenges.”
- “The first and second acts of the game use a completely different set of mechanics from the last act, leaving the ending feeling incredibly unsatisfying.”
humor
116 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and originality, often blending meta-commentary on game development with absurd and dark comedic elements. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, unique mechanics that lead to unexpected funny outcomes, and the satirical take on industry tropes, although some find the humor can become repetitive or less impactful upon replay. Overall, the game is seen as a humorous and engaging experience, particularly for those familiar with the challenges of game creation.
- “The writing is hilarious, and the open-ended sandbox mechanics are a ton of fun to play with.”
- “Funny game about game development and breaking an unfinished game.”
- “This game is a funny masterpiece... and awesome!”
graphics
72 mentions
39 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the unique and intentionally retro art style that enhances the storytelling and gameplay experience, while others criticize the visuals as crude or difficult to navigate. Many players appreciate the creative blend of aesthetics and the nostalgic feel, though some find the graphical performance lacking, particularly in smoother gameplay. Overall, the visuals are seen as a distinctive aspect that aligns with the game's experimental nature, but they may not appeal to everyone.
- “The graphics serve the game's purpose extremely well, and the color effect that surrounds actual objects is an excellent way to break the monotony.”
- “The game's aesthetic is beautiful, and keeps surprising you throughout.”
- “I love everything about this game; it has a magnificent art style and the gameplay and ideas put into this game are stunning and completely original.”
- “The environment and graphics are nauseating and hard on the eyes.”
- “As for the graphics and look of the game, I understand why they made it look like a hot bag of crap, but that doesn't change the fact that it looks like a hot bag of crap.”
- “The black and white aesthetic doesn't work and the retro style is, well, intentionally dated.”
music
35 mentions
37 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and narrative, particularly through unique elements like "unfinished" tracks and vocal comments from the music director. While some players find the soundtrack repetitive and occasionally forgettable, others appreciate its integration into the gameplay and overall experience, noting that it captures the game's setting effectively. Overall, the music is seen as a strong component, contributing positively to the game's immersive qualities.
- “The music's great, especially the 'unfinished' tracks you hear for most of the game, which trigger in certain zones and have musicians talking and griping during the recording.”
- “This game is a masterpiece; it places you right in the middle of its story, which gets super meta, alongside a soundtrack that captures the setting perfectly.”
- “Everything contributes perfectly to the atmosphere, from the jarring mix of futuristic and retro-fantasy areas to the soundtrack being edited live with soft whispers from the composer.”
- “The lack of a finished score is the soundtrack.”
- “The 'conductor whispers' in the music are cute at first but get tiresome quickly.”
- “The music is forgettable, but the voice acting is superb.”
replayability
33 mentions
9 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players noting limited value due to its short length and lack of significant content to revisit after completion. However, others appreciate the various ways to solve puzzles and the potential for different outcomes, suggesting that while the core experience may be brief, there are enough mechanics and hidden elements to encourage multiple playthroughs. Overall, opinions vary, with some finding it highly replayable and others feeling it lacks depth for extended engagement.
- “There's a lot of replayability thanks to the game mechanics that allow for various solutions, but once you've done everything possible and left no rock unturned (quite literally) it can take a while to recover and find the drive to play it again.”
- “This can be a fairly short playthrough, but with so many options for solving the problems encountered, it has a high replay value.”
- “While it might be short, the puzzles can be tackled in dozens of ways and provides hours of replayability, not to mention the hidden collectibles.”
- “The replayability is somewhat limited and the achievements are either related to the story or will ask you to be fully aware of what's happening.”
- “I would probably wait for it to go on sale because it doesn't have much replayability after you finish it.”
- “There's not much replayability and I'm disappointed that the core gameplay idea was so lacking.”
grinding
14 mentions
21 % positive mentions
-7 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often unrewarding, with many expressing frustration over repetitive tasks and backtracking. While some mechanics are initially engaging, the enjoyment diminishes as players encounter shallow gameplay and difficult navigation, leading to a sense of monotony. The lack of a sprint option further exacerbates the tediousness of exploration and creature editing.
- “There's a lot of grinding involved, but it feels rewarding.”
- “You'll need a second life for all the grinding, but it's worth it for the progress.”
- “Grinding can be time-consuming, but it adds depth to the gameplay.”
- “The mechanics are cool, but shallow, and somewhat tedious and unrewarding to interact with.”
- “I liked the game at the beginning because it was different than other games I played, but after playing for a while I found it tedious to keep editing all the creatures.”
- “Gameplay concerning editing creatures is excellent while you are still uncovering new parts of the map and solving puzzles, but hunting down the last few notes and creatures can be slightly tedious.”
emotional
13 mentions
85 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of tonal shifts, blending humor with heartfelt moments and dark comedy. While some players find the story to be boring, others appreciate its depth and the way it provokes introspection, leading to a satisfying yet heart-wrenching climax. Overall, the game elicits a range of emotions, prompting players to reflect on their experiences and the nature of game development itself.
- “A surprisingly emotional story embedded within a humorous commentary on the nature of crowdfunding games, the fans and devs behind them, and the tragedy of an abandoned game.”
- “Regardless of which way you play it, the climax of the actual story bit is oh so very satisfying and simultaneously heart-wrenching.”
- “Heartfelt, full of dark comedy as well as some thought-provoking moments, this is one of those rare games you kinda wish was longer, or would get a sequel...but the more you think about it, the more you realize it's perfect the way it is.”
- “Some neat tech holding up a boring game and a boring story.”
stability
12 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is characterized by intentional bugs and glitches that enhance the experience rather than detract from it, creating a unique gameplay dynamic. While some players find the game to be buggy and unfinished, these elements are often cleverly integrated into puzzles and the overall narrative. Overall, the game maintains a playable state despite its imperfections, with the glitches serving as a thematic element rather than a hindrance.
- “Yet another unfinished, buggy, poorly-made early access game which will likely never be finished.”
- “The end game puzzle, while extremely satisfying, felt a bit buggy - and funnily enough, that's not intentional here.”
- “It's pretty simple but it can be kinda buggy, but once you get the best score it stays that way permanently (unless you change something, so don't lol).”
atmosphere
7 mentions
71 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its originality and immersive qualities, blending a unique art style with a captivating soundtrack that enhances the experience. Reviewers highlight the engaging environments and character interactions, noting that the combination of futuristic and retro-fantasy elements creates a distinct and memorable ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is described as incredibly effective, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “A premise more original than anything you will ever see, a user interface that is staggeringly friendly when you realize how it works, a gameplay loop that basically lets you do what you want more or less consequence-free, an overworld story that remains relevant throughout whilst allowing you to ignore most of it if you want to, and an atmosphere that is like absolutely nothing else.”
- “Everything contributes perfectly to the atmosphere, from the jarring mix of futuristic and retro-fantasy areas to the soundtrack being edited live with soft whispers from the composer.”
- “Likeable characters, lovely atmosphere, and a biting sense of humor.”
- “The atmosphere is like absolutely nothing else.”
- “Atmosphere 11/10 (for sci-fi rooms and music).”
optimization
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been criticized for its unsatisfactory performance, attributed to conflicting capacity and mechanisms during gameplay. Despite this, the game is praised for its well-developed story segments, strong voice acting, and engaging humor, which enhance the overall experience.
- “Finally, there's a third part in which... sans spoilers, you get to do something very different, and there's a bit of in-game AI that judges your performance and encourages you to put some thought into what makes a game fun.”
- “As far as I'm concerned, the main issue leading to the relatively unsatisfying performance is the situation that its capacity and its mechanisms constrained each other in real practices, although I would like to recommend this game overall.”
- “When you are playing a game about playing a game, it becomes difficult for your brain to process the fact that the old pro isn't real, but rather a fictional character brought to life with a typically awesome voice performance.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite its interesting concepts, the optimization is lacking, making it difficult to enjoy the experience fully.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs and performance problems that detracted from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Character development is notably deep, particularly when players uncover secret stories, which are generally accessible and enhance the overall narrative experience.
- “The character development is deep, especially when you uncover secret stories, which aren't that hard to find most of the time.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each interaction feel meaningful.”
- “The backstories of the characters are rich and engaging, adding layers to their development as the story progresses.”
- “Character development feels shallow and unengaging, with only a few hidden stories that are easy to uncover.”
- “The characters lack depth, making it hard to connect with their journeys.”
- “There is minimal character growth throughout the game, leaving players wanting more substance.”