Magic Research similar games & best alternatives

Magic Research

PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS • 2023

Should you play it?

Magic Research is a text-based incremental game about Magic. You are the headmaster of a newly-created institution of Magic. Will you be able to lead your school to win the prestigious Tournament of Magic?

What works
  • Deep and strategic incremental gameplay
  • Engaging storylines and progression
  • No microtransactions
  • Well-balanced challenge and pacing
  • Responsive and caring developer
Things to keep in mind
  • Ui and quality of life could be improved
  • Early game slow pacing
  • Some grind and micromanagement required
  • Minimal graphics and sound
  • Occasional opaque mechanics and progression gates

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Orebound

  • DAVE THE DIVER

  • Buggos

  • FortressCraft Evolved!

  • Caves of Qud

  • Plebby Quest: The Crusades

  • Autonauts vs Piratebots

  • Yaoling: Mythical Journey

  • Astrometica

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Serin Fate

  • Underspace

  • Planet Alcatraz 2

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Fantasy

    Magical Diary: Horse Hall

  • Growth

    MotoGP™20

  • Progression

    Forager

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Magic Research: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Cooperation, Relaxation, Fellowship.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have significant control over their actions including tower movement, army composition, spell research, and quest choices, allowing personal freedom and strategic decision-making."

    Capsule for SpellForce: Conquest of Eo SpellForce: Conquest of Eo

    "Players have significant control over their actions, including choosing spells, managing apprentices, and deciding when to retire and reset progress."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "The game involves overcoming increasingly difficult enemies, managing resources, and building defenses, providing a satisfying skill challenge."

    Capsule for 10 Miles To Safety 10 Miles To Safety

    "The game involves overcoming challenging bosses, strategic resource management, and skillful combat requiring player input and decision-making."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is primarily on personal progression and self-set goals; multiplayer is cooperative rather than competitive."

    Capsule for Streets of Rogue Streets of Rogue

    "Focus is primarily on personal progression and self-set goals; multiplayer and competitive elements exist but are minor compared to solo play."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Many players report long playtimes, habitual engagement, and repeated prestiges indicating strong desire to continue playing."

    Capsule for Idle Dice 2 Idle Dice 2

    "Players report long playtimes, habitual engagement, and repeated runs with prestige mechanics encouraging continued play."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    1

    "There is mention of multiplayer and co-op support, but the core experience is mostly single-player focused."

    Capsule for Windowkill Windowkill

    "Some multiplayer and cooperative features mentioned, but the core experience is largely single-player focused."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players experiment with spell combinations and upgrades, creating unique builds and strategies, though within predefined spells and relics."

    Capsule for Abandoned Archive Abandoned Archive

    "Players experiment with different spell builds, apprentices, and strategies to optimize progression and combat."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -4

    "Interactions are balanced and respectful; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

    Capsule for L.A. Noire L.A. Noire

    "Interactions are balanced and respectful; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over others."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as a relaxing, engaging distraction with immersive fantasy elements."

    Capsule for 9 Kings 9 Kings

    "Players use the game as a relaxing distraction and immersive fantasy experience."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Engagement is driven by intrinsic interest and personal desire rather than obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Team Fortress 2 Team Fortress 2

    "Engagement is driven by intrinsic interest and personal desire rather than obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "Game encourages trying new strategies, unlocking new mechanics, and experimenting with builds and challenges."

    Capsule for Trimps Trimps

    "The game encourages trying new builds, unlocking new mechanics, and exploring different strategies."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    4

    "Exploration of a large, detailed world with secrets, lore, and new areas is a core gameplay element."

    Capsule for Mudborne: Frog Management Sim Mudborne: Frog Management Sim

    "Exploration of new areas, bosses, and storylines is a core gameplay element."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Some character customization through skills and equipment, but limited cosmetic personalization."

    Capsule for Moonring Moonring

    "Some customization through spell and apprentice management, though limited cosmetic personalization."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Strong fantasy theme with magic school, spells, and supernatural characters."

    Capsule for Magical Diary: Horse Hall Magical Diary: Horse Hall

    "Strong fantasy theme with magic, spellcasting, and a magical academy setting."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -2

    "Mainly a solo experience with limited social interaction."

    Capsule for Commandos 2: Men of Courage Commandos 2: Men of Courage

    "Mostly a solo experience with limited social or community interaction."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on learning, skill acquisition, and personal development through practice and career progression."

    Capsule for MotoGP™20 MotoGP™20

    "Emphasis on learning, skill acquisition, and personal development through progression and strategy."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "No physical activity involved; typical sedentary gameplay."

    Capsule for Legion TD 2 - Multiplayer Tower Defense Legion TD 2 - Multiplayer Tower Defense

    "No physical activity involved; typical sedentary gameplay."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -2

    "Requires player attention and micromanagement; not suited for idle or background play."

    Capsule for Hell Architect: Prologue Hell Architect: Prologue

    "Requires regular player attention and active management; not purely idle."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing."

    Capsule for Dungeon Warfare 2 Dungeon Warfare 2

    "No evidence of close social relationships or emotional sharing."

  • Leadership
    Insufficient data

    No nearest game available

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong focus on accumulating items, upgrades, and unlocking new content."

    Capsule for Forager Forager

    "Strong focus on accumulating upgrades, items, and unlocking new content through repeated runs."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    3

    "Some players find the game relaxing and enjoyable, though challenging boss fights add tension."

    Capsule for Duck Simulator 2 Duck Simulator 2

    "Many players find the game relaxing and enjoyable, though some tension exists in boss fights."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    1

    "Some sensory enjoyment from graphics and sound effects, but overall minimal sensory stimulation."

    Capsule for Burger Burger

    "Minimal sensory stimulation due to simple graphics and sound; some enjoyment from satisfying progression."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -3

    "Achievements and progress are mostly personal and not socially recognized or ranked."

    Capsule for Galimulator Galimulator

    "Progress is mostly personal and not socially evaluated or ranked."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    4

    "Engaging narrative and lore are important motivators for many players."

    Capsule for Wizard101 Wizard101

    "Narrative and storylines are important and motivate player progression."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "High emphasis on strategic planning, resource management, and tactical combat."

    Capsule for Outward Definitive Edition Outward Definitive Edition

    "High emphasis on strategic planning, resource management, and tactical combat."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Some suspense and challenge in boss fights and story moments, but overall controlled experience."

    Capsule for Digimon Story Time Stranger Digimon Story Time Stranger

    "Some suspense and challenge in boss fights, but overall a controlled experience."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    5

    "Players report excellent value for money with many hours of quality content."

    Capsule for Logic Bombs Logic Bombs

    "Players report excellent value for money with many hours of engaging content."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    2

    "Combat and defeating enemies are core, but violence is stylized and part of fantasy setting."

    Capsule for Across the Obelisk Across the Obelisk

    "Combat and defeating monsters are core mechanics, but violence is stylized and fantasy-based."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players must overcome threats and manage resources to progress, especially in boss fights."

    Capsule for Magic Research 2 Magic Research 2

    "Players must overcome threats and manage resources to progress through bosses and challenges."

Last update: 01/06/2026