Mind Over Magic

by Sparkypants, Klei Publishing

The Developer Says...

Design, build and manage your magic school to explore what lies below. Study lost arcana, grow exotic plants, brew potions, and raise undead servants -- only you can prepare your fragile students to harness their Mind Over Magic.

Players Like...

❤ Designing a Unique Magic School

Players praise the depth of the building mechanics, as they can construct their dream magic academy block by block. Carefully placing rooms, furniture, and decorations allows them to create an efficient and visually appealing school. However, the game presents spatial constraints and specialized room requirements that force players to plan meticulously. Balancing functionality, aesthetics, and room-specific needs, such as isolated and elevated rooms, is a central challenge that players find rewarding to tackle.

❤ Dangerous Underschool Expeditions

Beyond managing the school above ground, players can send their students and teachers to explore the procedurally generated Underschool - a labyrinth filled with deadly magical creatures. These turn-based combat encounters enable players to utilize the unique abilities of their staff, providing an additional layer of strategy and progression. Overcoming the Underschool's challenges and securing valuable resources and research scrolls is an engaging gameplay loop that players appreciate.

❤ Shaping the School's Workforce

Recruiting, training, and managing the students and staff is a core part of the gameplay. Players must carefully consider the strengths, weaknesses, and specializations of each individual to create an effective team. Graduating students, assigning teachers, and optimizing work priorities are all systems that players find satisfying to navigate. The ability to shape the school's "workforce" to their specific needs is a key draw for many.

❤ Progressing Through Research

As players advance, they unlock new rooms, abilities, and research options that allow them to expand and improve their school. The research tree provides a sense of progression and gives players multiple avenues to customize their approach, whether focusing on combat-oriented or utility-focused upgrades. The gradual enhancement of the school and its inhabitants is cited as a compelling part of the gameplay loop.

❤ Adapting to Emergent Challenges

Many players highlight the dynamic nature of the gameplay, where unexpected events and spatial constraints force them to adapt their strategies. The procedurally generated room requirements and the encroaching "fog" mechanic create a sense of urgency and the need for flexible problem-solving. Additionally, the randomized student and teacher attributes contribute to the replayability, as each new game presents unique challenges and opportunities for the player to navigate.

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