This review is based off of playing on a Steam Deck.

Magic Axolotl is an entertaining and engaging game with simple mechanics that are easy to grasp but challenging at a higher difficulty. The visuals are delightfully cute and playful, featuring a crayon-like aesthetic and vibrant colors that transport players to a magical world in a fantasy setting with charming creatures, accompanied by an exquisite soundtrack that perfectly fits the game's atmosphere and ambiance. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2919747513
Despite its minimal narrative, it tells the tale of a magical Axolotl that found a map leading to a treasure chest with a star that fell from the sky many years ago in it, guarded by a dark ghost cat in a bewitched forest. The magical Axolotl then embarks on a journey through various regions filled with fantastical creatures and formidable beasts, using its magical powers to overcome the waves of enemies that stand in its way.

The mechanics are straightforward but engaging, requiring you to draw the indicated spells above the enemies to defeat them. On easy difficulty, the gameplay is simple and easy to grasp, providing a laid-back experience for players who prefer a more relaxed approach to the game without the stress of struggling to progress. But on very hard difficulty, the gameplay requires careful timing of spell choice to succeed, which ultimately leads to a more challenging and satisfying adventure.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2919743772
While the game could benefit from more varied difficulties and spell variations, it is a fair trade-off for the game's price point.

The art of Magic Axolotl is a joy to behold, with its whimsical crayon-like visuals adding a playful and lighthearted atmosphere to the game. The bright and vibrant colors used throughout the environments further enhance the sense of awe and magic, making it feel like a true escape into an enchanted world. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2919728179 Despite being incredibly adorable, I wish there were more variety, such as different colors or subtle variations, as seeing the same creature repeatedly can become a bit repetitive.

However, the creature animations are charming, adding to the game's playful atmosphere, with smooth and fluid animations that perfectly capture the cute and whimsical tone of the game. The charm of these motions lies in their simplicity, which perfectly complements the art style and setting.

I admittedly did not expect much from the sound department of Magic Axolotl but was pleasantly surprised by the sound effects and the enchanting soundtrack by Vindsvept, which is a standout element that perfectly complements the game's fantasy setting and adds to the overall journey.

Performance is flawless on the Deck. At default settings, it maintains a consistent 60 FPS. ~6 hours of continuous playing and drawing ~5W while sitting at ~50C degrees. Although, keep in mind that the game can be completed in less than an hour, so the concern of running out of battery while playing should not be an issue. The touchscreen is the optimal way to play, as it enhances the spell-casting experience and makes it more enjoyable. However, the touchpad is also an excellent alternative and overall found both methods to be more engaging than using a mouse.

Magic Axolotl is a short but entertaining and charming game that is unique while satisfying. The simple mechanics are easy to grasp but challenging at a higher difficulty meaning there is something for everyone. The delightful visuals, featuring a crayon-like aesthetic, and a beautiful score, create an enchanted fantasy world with charming creatures that are a joy to encounter. Although the game may not offer a lot of content or variation, it still provides an enjoyable experience for its price point.

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Super cute swiping game! While I imagine it would be easier on the steam deck, I had no problem beating it on hard with my mouse!

The difficulty curves well and while the game is pretty basic, it's still fun to beat. Definitely worth checking out, and not just because of the incredible art (though the incredible art is a nice bonus)

Pretty cool game for $3!

A short but sweet call back to a Halloween google doodle game series. Motion detection is solid, proper difficulty gradient, teaches entirely through gameplay, offers easy & hard modes, and as a bonus the graphics are adorable. Only real draw back is the length but at only $3 I think it's more then worthwhile to support an indie dev who obviously poured so much love into into their work. I will probably be playing this again at some point.

cute little dexterity game with adorable art! i've always loved Magic Cat Academy and this game scratches that specific itch in my brain quite well. playing with mouse is serviceable, but can make things slighty awkward. If you happen to have a drawing tablet, it makes the experience much smoother.

A very nice and small passion project by a dev. Will take about 20 - 30 min to clear on easy. Very hard mode is definitely a bit of a challenge. Great art style, cute visuals, and nice music. Recommend if you want to play something that will cheer you up.

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Short, simple, cute game with some interesting gameplay. Honestly surprising how good the drawing detection is for the symbols/speed required. Definitely worth the $3 price tag.

A very adorable game.
Short but enjoyable. And when I say short, I can only finish Easy, because Very Hard is something else. Definitely a challenge. I have only played this on PC, but I can imagine it would work great on a tablet as well, and play it while travelling.

I adore the artwork. It's like a children's book.
Also the music is so happy!

OMG!! Adorable lil squishy wizard lotl!! Yippieeeee :D <3