- Publisher: Stuck In Attic
- Release Date: May 27, 2025
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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Aug 22, 2025A frustrating case of style over substance, Near-Mage dazzles with its art direction and whimsical Eastern European charm but fails to back it up with compelling storytelling. What begins as something that looks it will turn into a heartfelt journey into a world of wonder, fizzles into a predictable plotline with shallow characters and gameplay that rarely requires more than clicking and walking from A to B. This is undoubtedly a passion project, but passion alone can’t save what can be described as an impressive spell full of sparkle and colour that’s barely potent.
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Jun 2, 2025Near-Mage is a missed opportunity. By no means is it a bad game: it has enough content, good ideas and a nice story. However, the low difficulty level of the puzzles and the minimal need to use the (even predefined) spells constitute an average overall experience.
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Jun 19, 2025Near-Mage is an intriguing story in a stunning Transylvanian setting that doesn’t quite live up to its potential due to its underutilised magick mechanics and lack of difficulty. Some adventure fans may appreciate Near-Mage’s simplicity, while others will wish it had more of a challenge.