Academy of Magic: Lair of the Beast

About

Academy of Magic: Lair of the Beast is a puzzle game built around matching spells to clear grids and progress through a story about rescuing a captured student. Each level tasks you with arranging magical symbols to form sets of three or more, triggering effects like elemental blasts or area clears. The gameplay leans on timed challenges and power-ups, with a focus on strategy over reflexes. Progress unlocks new abilities and tools to tackle increasingly complex layouts. The game’s hand-drawn art style and whimsical soundtrack stand out, giving it a distinct charm compared to other puzzle titles. While the single-player campaign is straightforward, later levels introduce obstacles like moving barriers and limited moves, ramping up the difficulty. Released in 2021, it’s a polished but unspectacular entry in the genre, with a runtime of around 10-15 hours depending on puzzle-solving speed.