14 DAY TRIAL // 
Ariel has summoned Torin the Chosen, a powerful hero to help the cause of life and beauty. Now I only need to recruit a solid army, worthy of his abilities, and maybe get him a few solid artifacts, before he launches a campaign to take out my enemies. Capable elf halberd-armed troops will form my center, I want some cavalry for the flanks, and I am debating whether the rest of the force should be longbowmen or swordsmen.
But I also need to develop my capital to boost my magical research. So I shift Torin to Brightwood, the second town I founded, and accept that he might have to go to battle with swordsmen and no cavalry. I boost some of his troops with magical weapons and protections.
This capable force performs well, taking two towns from Freya and taking out three of her field armies. But the rival wizard throws an army filled with dragon turtles at me and, after a hard field battle in which I pour my magic reserves, destroys my troops and slays Torin. Much rebuilding lies ahead if I want to regain strength and win in Master of Magic.
The game is developed by MuHa Games, with publishing in the hands of Slitherine Ltd. I played it on the PC using Steam. The title has classic turn and hex-driven strategy game mechanics, with a focus on the power of magic to shape a world and deliver victory.
Gamers get to first pick a powerful wizard, with an initial set of spells, and then a faction to control. They will then use these to chart a universe split into two worlds and do their best to dominate it while competing with other powerful magic-wielders. Each of the wizards has a unique backstory and set of powers, and the other initial choices add plenty of variety.
As the name states, Master of Magic features a high-fantasy universe where arcane ability rules. Arcanus and Myrror are the two worlds, with the player able to move between them via spells or special portals. Settlements belonging to 14 races will be found, offering unique units and different development opportunities. Gamers will settle their own cities and also have the option to keep or raze (for a fame loss) those belonging to neutral forces or enemies.
Players start off with one city and a small force, surrounded by neutral locations, guarded by decent forces. Summon a spirit or two for scouting, build up forces, and then start clearing out the neighborhood. Then found cities, expand more, develop, research more magic, summon champions, encounter rival wizards, and find a way to defeat them or research the Spell of Mastery to win.
Success in Master of Magic requires a solid industrial base, with cities that generate the food and gold to power a war machine, and sustain a wizard’s ability to use their spells as often as possible. Try to focus them on one resource, if possible, and make growth the priority until they reach at least 3 in population. Of equal importance are the sorcery nodes spread across the map.
Players also need to become solid tacticians, able to win turn and hex-based battles against a range of opposing forces. Each unit has the chance to move and attack during its turn and casters can also deploy their arsenal of spells. Battles move pretty fast and tend to be decided in the first 5 or so turns.
Magic is better than might most of the time, so make sure to have a reserve of mana to inflict damage on enemy forces or boost your own units. It’s also a good idea to prepare an army before combat, if possible, with good spell work. Keep in mind that units that survive for longer periods become more efficient, which makes force preservation important.
The auto-resolve option seems well-balanced, allowing players to quickly deal with engagements where the outcome is clear. The same wizard’s familiar can also be set to manage cities, for players who want to focus on army movement and spell casting.
Master of Magic’s early game is pretty slow, mainly because neutrals are pretty strong for a starting army. As players clear them out, possibilities open up, especially when it comes to spell research and deployment. The bigger battles, which involve the elite armies of two well-developed wizards, offer cool tactical situations and plenty of spell choice.
The high number of wizards and factions also means there’s plenty of variety, a big asset for a strategy title. I wished the game did even weirder stuff with its magic and that there were more events to spice up the turns. The entire experience is certainly calibrated for gamers who are at least a little familiar with the classic game.
Master of Magic has a decent strategy game presentation, trying to evoke the classic on which it is based while also offering some modern twists. The wizards and heroes all have distinct looks and it is easy to evaluate their capabilities and personality at a glance. The campaign map and user interface are clear, although a little more personality for the locations and some extra splashes of color would have been welcomed. The game’s sound design is too classic fantasy to be interesting, with a pretty but repetitive soundtrack and combat sounds that lack heft.
The Good
- Classic turn-based strategy
- Magic over might
- Variety of wizards and races
The Bad
- Limited innovation
- Diplomacy matters little
- City development needs extra depth
Conclusion
I grew up playing a ton of Heroes of Might & Magic, so I had a clear reference point for the mechanics and pace. For newcomers, the entire experience can be a little slow and somewhat bewildering. But for those who have a history with strategy and RPG mixes, Master of Magic will deliver well-executed classic ideas and tens of hours of spell-enhanced fun.
A review code was provided by the publisher.
