There’s magic and then there’s magick. The former is what they get up to in The Prestige – illusion, magic as a performance. The latter is the really spooky stuff. The incantations, the ceremonial magic, the supernatural. While both are super cool, you mostly see spell magic in videogames, so that’s where we’re focusing.
And thanks to the huge range of titles out there – from sprawling RPGs that offer multiple ways to play, to smaller indie titles with curious fantasy settings – there are loads that can be called magic games. Dark Souls? That’s a magic game. Skyrim? That too. NBA 2K22? That has Magic Johnson in it. It’s everywhere.
So, don your wizard hat and get spellcasting, with a whole heap of magic games to choose from below. But we’ve got even more after that, with guides to the best cute games, gardening games, art games, history games, and monster games that you can pick up and take on the go.
Anyway, abracadabra, or whatever…
Magic games on Switch and mobile
Dark Souls – Switch
I assume most people’s first Dark Souls run is pretty standard fare, running around with a sword and shield, getting lost a lot, and not really experimenting too much. That’s how it was for me. Finding out about how to get the Drake Sword meant there was no way I wasn’t going to use it.
But you can do the whole game without melee weapons, just utilising magic to inflict damage, and with such an excellently interesting array of spells, it’s definitely worth a try. For more check out our Dark Souls Solaire or Dark Souls Gwyn guides to get a deep dive into some of the lore.
Zio and the Magic Scrolls – mobile
Zio and the Magic Scrolls is an addictive auto-battler that puts you in a pair of wizard shoes, sending you on the hunt for twelve magic scrolls, all containing various powers. But you can only choose three at a time, which makes decision making a key part of the game. As you get deeper in, you uncover the mystery of who Zio actually is. If you’re ready to delve into this magical world, check out our Zio and the Magic Scrolls codes list and Zio and the Magic Scrolls tier list to get off to the best start.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy – Switch
The Atelier series is a wonderful blend of RPG, alchemical crafting, and fantasy storytelling. The pinnacle of the series is Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy. With a new realm to explore, familiar faces and new ones, and an unbelievable endearing vibe, the game is “an adorable JRPG with fun characters and an in-depth alchemy system that will keep you entertained for 50+ hours”, as we said in our Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy review.
Magic: The Gathering Arena – mobile
Magic: The Gathering Arena is a free-to-play card game akin to Hearthstone. But, as this is MTG, it’s set in the mystical and familiar world players love. You can build out decks, defeat opponents from all over the world, and build out your own virtual MTG legend. To be sure you’re on top of your game, check out our Magic: The Gathering Arena codes guide to get some in-game freebies.
Rune Factory 5 – Switch
Rune Factory is a spin-off from the Harvest Moon series, taking the farming and life simulation aspects from that series and adding new elements like crafting, action combat, and a big, world-ending fantasy storyline. Rune Factory 5 is the latest in the series, and it adds so much to the series, being the first one properly done in 3D. While there are a handful of performance issues, it’s still got the same familiar comfort of previous games, as we note in our Rune Factory 5 review.
League of Legends: Wild Rift – mobile
A distillation of the full-fat PC MOBA, League of Legends: Wild Rift is the closest you can get to the real thing while on the go. In spite of it having to fit onto a smaller screen with less horsepower, the game is incredibly similar to the PC version, and is a good enough solution when you’re away from your desk. If you’re thinking of giving it a try, check out our League of Legends: Wild Rift guide, League of Legends: Wild Rift champions, and League of Legends: Wild Rift tier list to get up to speed with everything.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Switch
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is probably the longest living single-player game out there. Sure GTA V still sells gangbusters, but that’s mostly due to the online aspect. But with Skyrim, a game that is over a decade old, we still get new versions every few years, and ports to so many different consoles. Just like Dark Souls, you can choose how you play, meaning it’s ripe for playability, and if you haven’t done the Mages College quest, it’s definitely worth a look.
Spelldust – mobile
Spelldust is all about wizards duking it out. You combine different spell cards to cast magic against your opponent in a sort of real-time strategy style. You can fight against people from all over the world, and work out the best decks to grab victory. There’s a large overworld map for you to explore, and lots of daily challenges to keep you coming back day after day.
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen – Switch
Dragon’s Dogma came out around the same time as Dark Souls and Skyrim. Three great games, set in medieval fantasy worlds, that offer up a huge open world, and countless different playstyles for you to employ. It’s fair to say that Dragon’s Dogma lost out a bit, not becoming the icon it deserves to be. Not only is the story absolutely wild, but the game has influenced so much that’s come after it. Just look at Elden Ring, which feels just as much like Dark Souls 2 as it does Dragon’s Dogma 2, or at least what that game could’ve been.
That’s all the magic games we’ve got for now. For more fantastical fun, check out our Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak release date, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak monsters, and Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak armour guides to get ready for the next big hunt.