The Magical Silence

About

"The Magical Silence" is a surreal, imaginative quest game that allows players to explore a dreamlike world and uncover its secrets. With a focus on creativity and discovery, players will encounter strange and whimsical characters, and solve puzzles to unravel the mysteries of this magical realm. Through its unique narrative and atmosphere, the game encourages players to embrace their imagination and explore the power of silence.

Genres & Tags

Indie

Play Modes

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

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 97 reviews

music7 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features charming and surreal artwork that captivates players.
It's a short and unique experience that can be completed quickly, making it accessible for casual gamers.
The minimalistic soundtrack and imaginative visuals create a dream-like atmosphere that some players find enjoyable.

The gameplay is overly simplistic, often requiring mindless clicking rather than logical problem-solving.
The game is extremely short, with many players finishing it in under 20 minutes, leading to a lack of replayability.
The ending is dark and unsatisfying for many, which detracts from the overall experience.

music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
The music in the game is generally praised for its calming and pleasant qualities, complementing the retro aesthetic and beautiful art style. While some players found it enjoyable and fitting for the game's atmosphere, others felt it became repetitive or annoying over time, suggesting a need for an option to turn it off. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the experience, enhancing the game's surreal and imaginative qualities.
- “The retro aesthetic fits the surreal and imaginative tableau well; the game's frame is unexpectedly sad and serious, and I liked the cute style, idyllic lower part of the scenario, and minimalistic soundtrack.”
- “Overall, the game was quite pretty, the music calming, and the atmosphere intriguing; and it's really cheap.”
- “The sound and music are also very nice!”
- “The music was also pretty bad; it was ok for a few minutes, but then it just became really annoying.”
- “There should be an option to be able to turn it off (which would be much better than just turning your sound off, as that way you can play your own music instead whilst playing the game).”
- “Had the game been maybe 4-5 levels of the main bulk of the game, I might be giving it a different score... but for now it almost seems like a buggy musical screensaver.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
27%
27%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and charming retro-aesthetic, which complements the surreal and imaginative elements of the gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the artwork as the standout feature, describing it as more akin to interactive art or an animated postcard than a traditional game. Overall, the visuals are considered excellent, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite its brevity and simplicity.
- “The retro aesthetic fits the surreal and imaginative tableau well; the game's frame is unexpectedly sad and serious, and I liked the cute style, idyllic lower part of the scenario, and minimalistic soundtrack put into this.”
- “Big thumbs up on the visuals for this game.”
- “Great game, the best part was the artwork in this game.”
- “Aside from the art style and the surrealism, this title doesn't have much going for it.”
- “It is more like an interactive artwork or picture book than a game.”
- “Well, it is more of an animated postcard than it is a game, but the creator managed to squeeze the plot, some music, and quite decent graphics into 5 MB.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
The game's story has received mixed reviews; some players found it memorable and beautiful despite its brevity, while others criticized it as shallow and lacking depth. The emotional impact of the narrative resonated with some, leading to a strong connection, while others felt disappointed by the execution and resolution of the plot. Overall, the story's effectiveness seems to vary significantly among players.
- “The game is short, the soundtrack is impressive, the art is very fitting, and the story is beautiful. I think this game is very much worth the money; it has trading cards, a good achievement system, and an interesting story. Highly recommended.”
- “I would play a game with a deep story about the bear, though.”
- “I had no fun and the story was lame and was not deep at all.”
- “Also now I'm sad about how the story ended, if you can call it that.”
- “It's funny, I remember more of this game than of any 50+ hour long story-driven games.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The gameplay is primarily a point-and-click experience that involves repetitive actions and illogical tasks, often lacking in skill-based challenges. With around 30-60 minutes of content, players may find themselves frustrated by poorly designed puzzles that can lead to extended periods of confusion. While the gameplay may not be the main focus, it gradually becomes more engaging as players acclimate to its quirks.
- “Lol, I like crazy weird stuff like this. It's only 30-60 minutes of gameplay and it's point-and-click. I wouldn't say it's puzzles because it doesn't make much logical sense.”
- “The gameplay itself here is not the most important, but the echoes of it are present. Though the first time it is not clear what exactly you want, gradually you get drawn in and quickly understand.”
- “The gameplay is just mashing the mouse button to do illogical tasks that take no skill.”
- “There is under 10 minutes of gameplay here, but if you are stubborn and refuse to use any cheats, you could, if you are unlucky, stay stuck for hours because of faulty puzzle design.”
- “It's only 30-60 minutes of gameplay and it's point-and-click; I wouldn't say it's puzzles because it doesn't make much logical sense.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game is criticized for its short length and lack of replayability, leading many players to feel that it does not offer enough challenge or enjoyment to warrant multiple playthroughs. As a result, several reviewers do not recommend it based on this aspect.
- “I have gotten more enjoyment, challenge, and replay value from free games.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh, thanks to the dynamic gameplay and branching storylines.”
- “I don't need to play this again... obvious lack of replayability.”
- “But because of how short it is and the obvious lack of replayability, I can't recommend it.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted to be memorable and engaging, often leaving a stronger impression than longer, story-driven titles. However, some players found the humor inconsistent or nonsensical, leading to mixed feelings about its overall effectiveness.
- “It's funny; I remember more of this game than of any 50+ hour long story-driven games.”
- “Funny little game - don't expect too much.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The game's atmosphere is highlighted as a key feature, characterized by its intriguing and bizarre qualities, complemented by calming music and appealing visuals. Players appreciate the immersive experience it offers, especially given its affordability.
- “Overall, the game is quite pretty, the music is calming, and the atmosphere is intriguing. Plus, it's really affordable.”
- “It has a bizarre and strange atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is the whole point, as you can see in the little trailer.”
- “It has a bizarre, strange atmosphere.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for being buggy, with players experiencing delays in triggering actions they have previously attempted. This instability, combined with the game's short length, has led to a perception of it feeling more like a flawed experience than a fully realized game.
- “Some of them seem a little buggy, and it can take a while to trigger something that you know you have already tried so many times before. On top of this, this game was incredibly short (and sad!).”
- “Had the game been maybe 4-5 levels of the main bulk of the game, I might be giving it a different score. But for now, it almost seems like a buggy musical screensaver.”
- “- buggy”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Indie games are often praised for their ability to create memorable and emotional moments without relying on high production values, allowing for a more genuine connection with players.
- “Indie games often prioritize creating memorable and emotional moments over flashy graphics and sound, which can lead to a deeper connection with players.”
- “The emotional depth of the story left a lasting impact on me, making me reflect on my own experiences long after the game ended.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the characters' journeys; their struggles and triumphs resonated with me on a personal level.”