Common Sense Media Review
By Mark Raby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Run-of-the-mill fantasy game has blood and gore.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Magicka
What's It About?
The story in MAGICKA is loosely based on Norse mythology. Players are put in the shoes of a young wizard who embarks on a larger-than-life quest to eradicate the world of an evil sorcerer and a barrage of creatures bent on destroying the world. As a story unfolds about the gods, players team up with a band of characters and learn new magic abilities as their skills improve. There are 12 different, expansive levels that require players to both attack with cunning and strategy, as well as use their minds to solve puzzles and navigate the various terrain.
Is It Any Good?
There is nothing particularly new or noteworthy in Magicka. Rather, it feels like a generic fantasy role-playing game. The nods to Norse mythology are a bit overused in this genre, so there is nothing special about that either. The storyline is well written and captivating enough to hold players' attention, but it is not worthy of excessive acclamation. Likewise, the combat system is derivative of other games. The entire experience feels like the game was simply meeting a checklist of requirements for a solid RPG, and while it definitely meets everything that would be on that checklist, it does not go above and beyond to deliver anything new and exciting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the level of violence in this game. Is the blood and gore excessive, and how much is the impact lessened by the fact that all creatures are non-human? Or that the view is from top-down?
Does this game accurately capture the mythos and lore of mythology?
What is the over-arching message of the game's story?
Game Details
- Platforms : Mac , Windows
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Paradox Interactive
- Release date : January 25, 2011
- Genre : Role-Playing
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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