Customer Reviews (100)

wong lee woei • 2025-03-20T16:54:57.614Z

Beat the game, interesting all the way

Josh G • 2025-03-20T16:27:00.188Z

even better than the original.

Glenn j Johansen • 2025-03-20T15:53:14.512Z

The goat among incremental games. Micro management heavy. but i love it.

Summary of Key Insights

Magic Research 2 is overwhelmingly well-received, with users praising its depth, engaging gameplay, and lack of predatory microtransactions. It's considered a strong sequel to the first game, improving upon its formula. Key strengths include its strategic depth, replayability, and the satisfying sense of progression. Weaknesses primarily revolve around UI issues, endgame grind, and occasional bugs. The overall sentiment is highly positive, with a 4.79 average rating based on 100 reviews. The score distribution is heavily skewed towards 5-star ratings (89%), indicating high user satisfaction.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 100 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews appear to be recent, spanning up to July 2024.
  • Analysis Methods: Sentiment analysis (manual assessment based on review text), keyword extraction (identifying frequently used words and phrases), and thematic analysis (grouping similar issues and requests).

Key User Pain Points

  • Endgame Grind: Several users complain about the excessive grind required in the endgame, especially regarding accumulating Time Pieces and transmuting high-level items. This discourages progression for some players.
  • UI Issues: Some users mention a poor or confusing UI, making it difficult to switch builds, retire, or explore synergies. Specific issues include difficulty managing wizards and navigating the interface.
  • Bugs: A few users report specific bugs, such as questlines not completing, spells not working as intended (e.g., "Bend the Odds"), and the app crashing on certain devices.
  • Furniture Annoyance: One user specifically calls out "furniture" as being super annoying. This likely refers to a specific game mechanic.
  • Forced Save Loading: One user reported being forced to load a save every time they open the app.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Magic Research 3: Many users explicitly request a third game in the series.
  • More Content/Longer Game: Some users desire more content, achievements, or a longer overall game experience.
  • Improved UI: Several users implicitly request UI improvements to streamline build switching, resource management, and general navigation.
  • Auto-Combine Items (Transmute Screen): One user specifically requested a toggle to automatically combine items from the transmute screen for QoL.
  • Additive Wizard Strategies: Allow the union of base wizard assignments for disentanglement and reuse.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Depth and Complexity: Users appreciate the game's strategic depth, numerous systems, and the ability to synergize different elements.
  • Addictive Gameplay: Many users describe the game as addictive and a great time-waster.
  • No Microtransactions/Ads: The absence of microtransactions and ads is a major selling point, with users praising the fair pricing model.
  • Satisfying Progression: Users enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and the constant unlocking of new mechanics.
  • Clear Ending: The game has a defined ending, which is appreciated in a genre often characterized by endless grinding.
  • Improvement over Original: Users who played the first Magic Research generally consider the sequel to be a significant improvement.
  • Offline Play: The game is fully offline capable, which is highly valued.
  • Replayability: The game offers multiple playthroughs with different strategies and storylines.
  • Unique and Engaging: The game stands out in the idle/incremental genre by requiring strategic thinking and active management.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

  • High Priority:
    • Bug Fixes: Address the reported bugs immediately, especially the crashing issue on Galaxy S24 Ultra and the questline completion problem.
    • Endgame Balancing: Re-evaluate the endgame grind and consider adjustments to make progression less reliant on offline waiting or excessive resource accumulation.
    • UI/UX Improvements: Focus on streamlining build switching, wizard management, and resource management. Consider usability testing to identify pain points.
  • Medium Priority:
    • Address "Furniture" Annoyance: Investigate the "furniture" mechanic and address the user's concerns.
    • Implement Auto-Combine Items: Add a toggle to automatically combine items in the transmute screen.
    • Explore Additive Wizard Strategies: Consider implementing additive wizard strategies to allow for more flexible and reusable assignments.
  • Low Priority:
    • More Content: While the game is already praised for its content, consider adding optional endgame content or achievements to further extend replayability.
    • Story Writing: While not a major complaint, consider refining the story writing to enhance immersion.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Magic Research Spin-offs: Develop spin-off games focusing on specific aspects of the Magic Research universe, such as a crafting-focused game or a strategy game centered around wizard battles.
  • Incremental Game Framework: Create a framework or engine for developing similar incremental games, incorporating the best features of Magic Research 2, such as the strategic depth and lack of microtransactions.
  • AI-Powered Build Optimizer: Develop an AI-powered tool that helps players optimize their builds in Magic Research 2 (or similar games) based on their playstyle and goals.

Trends and Observations

  • Strong Positive Sentiment: The overwhelming majority of reviews are positive, indicating a highly satisfied player base.
  • Desire for More Content: A recurring theme is the desire for more content, suggesting a strong appetite for further expansion of the Magic Research universe.
  • Emphasis on Strategic Depth: Users consistently highlight the game's strategic depth and the need for active management, differentiating it from more passive idle games.
  • Appreciation for Fair Monetization: The absence of microtransactions and ads is a major factor in the game's positive reception, demonstrating a preference for fair monetization models.

Conclusion

Magic Research 2 is a highly successful incremental game with a dedicated fan base. The key to its success lies in its strategic depth, engaging gameplay, and fair monetization. Addressing the identified pain points, particularly the endgame grind and UI issues, will further enhance the user experience. The strong positive sentiment and desire for more content present significant opportunities for future expansion and development. Overall, the game is highly recommended, and the developer should prioritize addressing the identified issues and exploring opportunities for future growth.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mcolotto.magicresearchtwo