Magic: The Gathering

Game images by RAWG

Magic: The Gathering

MicroProse Software

PCPremium

Health Score

DECENT

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About This Game

Super Review

Magic: The Gathering (Shandalar) offers a unique blend of card strategy and fantasy RPG for older children. Players explore a world, building a powerful card deck through duels and quests to defeat powerful wizards. While it demands strategic thinking, its dated presentation and combat-focused gameplay with randomized elements might not appeal to all, best suited for those who appreciate classic PC gaming challenges.

Super Review

Parent verdict

This classic PC game is a decent fit for older children (ages 9-15) who enjoy strategic card battles and fantasy exploration. Its premium business model means no hidden purchases, focusing instead on in-game card collection. The experience requires patience for its older design and often challenging, combat-centric gameplay. Parents should be aware of the fantasy combat and the strategic depth required to progress, making it a qualified fit for families seeking a cerebral challenge.

What players actually do

Players traverse a fantasy map, making decisions about where to travel and what encounters to pursue to progress a quest to defeat powerful wizards.
Players engage in card duels, utilizing a custom-built deck of creature, spell, and land cards against computer-controlled opponents, requiring tactical decision-making.
Players collect new cards by winning duels, completing quests, or buying them from in-game shops, then refine their deck for improved combat effectiveness.

Where it shines

The game excels in fostering strategic thinking and resource management, as players must carefully build and adapt their card decks to overcome diverse opponents.
Its unique blend of adventure RPG elements with deep card game mechanics offers a rich, long-form single-player experience with significant replay value due to randomized elements.

Parent watch-outs

The core gameplay revolves around fantasy combat, where players use magic and creatures to reduce opponents' 'life points' to zero, which some parents may find intense for younger children.
The game's difficulty can be steep, especially with randomized starting decks and complex card interactions, potentially leading to frustration without guidance or patience.
Some players may find the random battles and world exploration repetitive over extended play sessions.

Family rules worth setting

Limit session lengths: Decide on specific playtimes, as the adventure mode can be engrossing and challenge sessions can extend.
Discuss frustration: Encourage players to take breaks or ask for help when facing particularly difficult duels or progression roadblocks.

Talk about this

Strategy and adaptation: Discuss how changing your card deck or approach can lead to different outcomes in a duel, relating it to problem-solving in real life.
Persistence: Talk about how the game often requires multiple attempts and learning from mistakes to succeed, highlighting the value of perseverance.

Play style

Magic: The Gathering (Shandalar) is a challenging single-player experience with a turn-based rhythm during card duels. Sessions can range from quick duels to longer exploration and questing. Players manage inventory and a customizable deck, requiring strategic planning before and during combat. The difficulty can be high due to complex mechanics and randomized elements, and younger or less patient players may need parental assistance in deck-building and understanding complex card interactions.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

2/5

Creativity

2/5

Pro-Social

0/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

0/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

0/5

Social Risk

0/5

Content Intensity

2/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

2/5

The game scores a 2 for Educational Value due to its strong emphasis on strategic thinking, resource management, and problem-solving through deck construction and tactical card play. Players must plan several moves ahead and adapt their strategy based on the cards they draw and their opponent's actions.

Addictive Monetization

0/5

Addictive Monetization receives a score of 0 because Magic: The Gathering (Shandalar) is a premium, one-time purchase game with no in-app purchases, loot boxes, or other monetization mechanics designed to encourage repetitive spending. Players collect virtual cards solely through in-game progression and trading with NPCs.

Content Intensity

2/5

Content Intensity is rated 2 due to the consistent theme of fantasy combat, where players use spells and creatures to battle enemies and 'defeat powerful wizards.' While not graphically explicit, the core loop involves strategic duels to reduce opponents' life points to zero. The ESRB rating of 'T' (Teen) also indicates content that may be unsuitable for younger children.