The Magister is a murder-mystery card-battler RPG. Build and customise your deck to fight in battles, or use ‘Tactical Diplomacy’ to pacify those who stand in your way. Gather clues and discover motives as you investigate the death of your predecessor and unmask the guilty culprit.
At its core, this game combines the thrill of a murder-mystery investigation with the tactical depth of a card-based combat system and a deckbuilding minigame for diplomacy. This unique fusion of genres has captivated reviewers, who praise the game's innovative approach.
In each playthrough, players must gather clues, interrogate suspects, and uncover motives to determine the identity of a randomly generated killer. Reviewers highlight this procedural system as a standout feature, as it ensures that the details of the crime change with each session, fostering a high degree of replayability.
When engaged in battle, players leverage a customizable deck of cards, with each card carrying a specific time cost that affects their place in the initiative order. This mechanic encourages thoughtful decision-making, as players must weigh the benefits of playing high-impact cards against the efficiency of lower-cost options. Reviewers praise the combat system's accessibility and depth, noting the opportunities to synergize different card abilities.
Alongside the combat system, the game features a separate deckbuilding mechanic for social encounters and negotiations. This "Tactical Diplomacy" minigame challenges players to build a deck optimized for reducing an opponent's "Rage" level within a limited number of turns. Reviewers have highlighted this as a refreshing alternative to violent conflict resolution.
As players progress, they can invest skill points into three distinct skill trees, allowing for a degree of character customization. The different Magister characters also come with their own unique starting decks and special abilities, further diversifying the gameplay experience. Reviewers have enjoyed experimenting with different character builds and observing their impact on the overall investigation.
Many reviewers have praised the game's accessibility, noting that the core mechanics are easy to pick up but still offer meaningful depth. The relatively short playthroughs (around 4-8 hours) and the ability to save and resume games have also been highlighted as positive factors, making the experience well-suited for both short and longer gaming sessions.