Welcome to the world of magic and fantasy where you run your own store in Magic Shop, a color matching / match three game. You attempt to run a magic store that designs and sells artifacts. Its previous owner, Loriel the elf, abandoned the story and no one has been able to successfully recapture its charm.

Run the store for 25 days where one level equals one day. Fulfill orders by making matches of three or more of the same elements until you create the artifact your visitor wants to buy. The amount of the needed elements appear like thermometers so you can see how close you are to creating the artifact. As soon as you complete enough matches for a single element, it will clear the board.

Not only do you need to work on “making enough elements,” but also ensure the customer stays happy while you make the ordered artifact. You can buy potions to give to the customer to keep the happiness meter from dropping. But any money (rubies) you use to purchase potions will make it harder to purchase the more expensive artifacts. So choose wisely.

Of course, all the shopping occurs at the Hall of Artifacts where you can buy the Ring of Truth, Wand of Wits, Goblet of Fame, and Wizard Bracelet to name a few of the 15 artifacts. The hall also sells small, middle and big potions for keeping waiting customers happy.

Every few levels, you play a Memory game where you find matching pairs of cards. Unlike most Memory games, the empty space left by the previous pair will receive a new pair. While you earn money from matching anything, you earn more with green crystals. The earned money will go toward sending an invitation to a Grand Wizard to visit your store.

Grand Wizards posses special talents that can help you in your store, so you want to invite them when you can. The game contains seven Grand Wizards. In the first play, I had enough to invite four.

The grid where you match the elements also comes with power ups and rubies. These rubies don’t stick around until you pick them up, so match them quickly so you have them for the next shopping trip after completing the day. Elements will flash, flicker or animate to indicate they have a power up. When you match an element with a power up, it immediately takes effect to help you create more matches.

Spells offer another way to gain power ups. They start small and the longer you go without using them, the larger they get (small, medium and max). These power ups can break stones that prevent more elements from appearing and sort elements for instantly collecting a bunch.

Magic Shop also awards trophies based on certain accomplishments such as playing so many levels without using potions or spells, creating artifacts, and keeping customers happy. You also receive title promotions as you gain enough points.

The game slowly progresses in difficulty — just the right amount. In fact, you may not collect all artifacts, meet all of the Grand Wizards, or collect half the trophies by the time 25 days ends. This increases interest in playing the game again, but will players continue playing after earning everything? The game gripped me as I wanted to meet more Grand Wizards, buy all the artifacts, and earn all trophies. While Magic Shop offers few new tricks in the match three genre, its magic will captivate matching game fans.

Download and try Magic Shop

Filed Under: Casual Games Reviews, News & Talk, Game Reviews, Match 3 Game, PC Games