Ova Magica Review (Early Access) | Pokémon Meets Harvest Moon

80
Story
8
Gameplay
9
Visuals
8
Audio
7
Value For Money
8
Price:
$ 22
Reviewed on:
PC
Ova Magica is a delightful blend of farming simulation and monster-raising mechanics, offering a charming and engaging experience. The game successfully combines the beloved elements of Pokémon and Harvest Moon, creating a unique and enjoyable gameplay experience. The vibrant and appealing visuals, coupled with the well-executed gameplay mechanics, provide a solid foundation that keeps players engaged. The game delivers a delightful and immersive experience, making it a great choice for players looking for a unique and enjoyable adventure.

Ova Magica is a farming simulation RPG where players balance farm life with raising and training blob creatures. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.

Ova Magica Review Overview

What is Ova Magica?

Ova Magica is where players get to experience a blend of farming simulation and monster battling. Enjoy a variety of activities, seasonal events, and customization options that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. Get ready for a delightful adventure filled with charm and creativity!

Ova Magica features:
 ⚫︎ Farming Simulator
 ⚫︎ Monster Raising and Battling
 ⚫︎ Relationship Building
 ⚫︎ Exploration
 ⚫︎ Crafting and Building
 ⚫︎ Seasonal Events
 ⚫︎ Character and Home Customization


Digital Storefronts
Steam IconSteam $22.49
Epic IconEpic GoG IconGoG Playstation IconPlayStation Xbox IconXbox Switch IconSwitch
Coming Soon


Ova Magica Pros & Cons

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Pros Cons
Checkmark Engaging Monster Mechanics
Checkmark Varied Activities
Checkmark Lovely Seasonal Events
Checkmark Charming Customization Options
Checkmark Lacks in Story Depth
Checkmark Limited Exploration
Checkmark More Monsters in Fishing than Fish

Ova Magica Overall Score - 80/100

Ova Magica is a delightful blend of farming simulation and monster-raising mechanics, offering a charming and engaging experience. The game successfully combines the beloved elements of Pokémon and Harvest Moon, creating a unique and enjoyable gameplay experience. The vibrant and appealing visuals, coupled with the well-executed gameplay mechanics, provide a solid foundation that keeps players engaged. The game delivers a delightful and immersive experience, making it a great choice for players looking for a unique and enjoyable adventure.

Ova Magica Story - 8/10

The story in Ova Magica is charming and engaging, providing a delightful backdrop to the gameplay. The narrative is well-crafted, with a blend of humor and heartwarming moments that keep players invested. While it does not follow a set in stone narrative, the flow of the plot through task and relationship progression is a real treat. The potential for character development and interactions are particularly noteworthy, adding depth and personality to the game world.

Ova Magica Gameplay - 9/10

Ova Magica excels in gameplay, offering a balanced mix of farming, monster raising, and relationship building. The mechanics are well-executed, providing a satisfying and addictive experience. The variety of activities ensures players remain engaged, and the depth of the monster-raising system adds a strategic layer that keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting. While the repetitive nature of some tasks and limited exploration options slightly detract from the overall experience, the engaging gameplay mechanics more than make up for these minor shortcomings. The seamless integration of various gameplay elements results in a highly enjoyable and immersive experience.

Ova Magica Visuals - 8/10

The visuals in Ova Magica is a vibrant and charming chibi art style that brings the game world to life. The attention to detail in character and environment design is commendable, and the animations are smooth and appealing. A bit more visual variety would enhance the overall appeal, but the current presentation is delightful.

Ova Magica Audio - 7/10

The audio design is solid, featuring a pleasant soundtrack and fitting sound effects that complement the gameplay. Despite this, the lack of variety in the music can lead to it becoming repetitive over extended play sessions. More diverse audio tracks would elevate the auditory experience, but the current soundscape is enjoyable.

Ova Magica Value for Money - 8/10

Ova Magica offers a lot of content for its price of $22.49, with numerous activities and features to keep players engaged. The blend of farming, monster raising, and relationship building provides a rich and varied experience. While the repetitive tasks might not appeal to everyone, fans of the genre will find great value in the game's depth and charm.

Ova Magica Review: Pokémon Meets Harvest Moon

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Ova Magica is an RPG simulation game that masterfully blends the beloved elements of Pokémon and Harvest Moon into a single, cohesive experience. At its core, the game revolves around managing a farm while raising and battling a variety of cute, blob-like creatures. This combination of farming and monster mechanics is where Ova Magica truly shines, offering a fresh take on both genres.

The game starts with players inheriting a rundown farm, which they must restore to its former glory. This premise is familiar to fans of farming simulations, but Ova Magica adds its unique twist with the inclusion of blob creatures that can be raised, trained, and used in battles. The process of raising these blobs is engaging and adds a layer of depth to the farming mechanics, as players must balance their time between tending to crops and nurturing their blobs.

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Relationship building is another key aspect of Ova Magica, allowing players to interact with various NPCs in the game world. Forming bonds with these characters can lead to special events and rewards, adding an extra dimension to the gameplay. The character interactions are well-written and endearing, making the player feel more connected to the game world.

Exploration in Ova Magica is both a strength and a weakness. The game world is beautifully designed, with vibrant and detailed environments that encourage players to explore. However, the exploration aspect feels somewhat constrained, with limited areas to discover and a lack of significant rewards for venturing off the beaten path. Expanding this element of the game would greatly enhance the overall experience.

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The crafting system in Ova Magica is robust, allowing players to create a variety of items to aid in their farming and blob-raising endeavors. This adds another layer of strategy to the game, as players must gather resources and plan their crafting activities. Despite this, the repetitive nature of resource gathering can become tedious over time, detracting from the overall enjoyment.

Seasonal events are a highlight of Ova Magica, bringing new activities and challenges for players to enjoy. These events help to break up the routine of daily tasks and add a sense of progression to the game. However, the frequency and variety of these events could be improved to keep players consistently engaged.

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Customization is another area where Ova Magica excels. Players can personalize their farm and character, creating a unique and individualized experience. This level of customization is a welcome feature, allowing players to express their creativity and make the game world feel truly their own.

In conclusion, Ova Magica is a charming and enjoyable RPG simulation game that offers a unique blend of farming and monster-raising mechanics. While it has its shortcomings, particularly in terms of exploration, it remains a solid title that will appeal to fans of both genres. With its engaging gameplay, appealing visuals, and varied activities, Ova Magica is a worthwhile addition to any gaming library.

Pros of Ova Magica

Things Ova Magica Got Right
Checkmark Engaging Monster Mechanics
Checkmark Varied Activities
Checkmark Lovely Seasonal Events
Checkmark Charming Customization Options

Engaging Monster Mechanics

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The monster mechanics in Ova Magica are a standout feature, adding a significant layer of depth to the gameplay. Players can raise a variety of cute, blob-like creatures, each with unique abilities and characteristics. Special blobs will even help you in your farm. The battle system itself is well-designed (turn-based active time), requiring players to develop strategies and make tactical decisions, which adds to the overall challenge and excitement. This blend of raising and battling monsters keeps players invested, as there is always a new blob to discover.

Varied Activities

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One of Ova Magica's strongest points is its wide range of activities. Beyond farming and raising monsters, players can engage in relationship building with NPCs, participate in seasonal events, explore different areas, and craft various items. This variety ensures that players always have something to do, preventing the game from becoming monotonous. Each activity is well-integrated into the game world, making the experience feel cohesive and immersive. The diversity of tasks keeps the gameplay fresh and appealing, as players can switch between activities based on their interests and priorities.

Lovely Seasonal Events

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The inclusion of regular in-game seasonal events adds a dynamic element to Ova Magica. These events provide new challenges, rewards, and activities, keeping the gameplay exciting and preventing it from becoming stale. Seasonal events often introduce limited-time content, encouraging players to participate and make the most of these opportunities. This feature not only adds variety but also creates a sense of anticipation and progression throughout the game. Players look forward to these events as they break up the routine and offer new ways to interact with the game world.

Charming Customization Options

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Customization is another area where Ova Magica shines. Players have the ability to personalize their farm and character, allowing them to create a unique and individualized experience. Farm customization includes arranging crops, decorations, and structures to fit the player's aesthetic preferences. Character customization allows players to choose from various outfits, accessories, and hairstyles, further enhancing the personal connection to the game. This level of customization encourages creativity and makes the game world feel more personal and engaging. It adds an extra layer of enjoyment as players see their vision come to life.

Cons of Ova Magica

Things That Ova Magica Can Improve
Checkmark Lacks in Story Depth
Checkmark Limited Exploration
Checkmark More Monsters in Fishing than Fish

Lacks in Story Depth

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While Ova Magica features a charming and engaging storyline, it lacks the depth seen in more narrative-driven games. The plot is enjoyable but relatively straightforward, with few intricate twists or deeply emotional moments. This lack of depth can make the story feel predictable and less immersive. The game would benefit from more complex character arcs and plot developments that provide a richer narrative experience. Enhancing the story depth would significantly elevate the game's overall appeal, making it more captivating and memorable for players.

Limited Exploration

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The exploration aspect of Ova Magica feels somewhat constrained, with limited areas to discover and a lack of significant rewards for venturing off the beaten path. This limitation made the game world feel smaller and less immersive. As someone who enjoys exploring vast, open worlds, I found this aspect of the game lacking. Expanding the exploration elements, introducing hidden secrets, and offering more diverse environments would greatly enhance the sense of adventure and discovery. Greater freedom in exploration would also encourage us to spend more time in the game world.

More Monsters in Fishing than Fish

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One of the more peculiar aspects of Ova Magica is its fishing mechanic, which seems to trigger monster battles more often than actual fishing. I counted that 6 out of 10 times, attempting to fish resulted in a blob battle instead. This was frustrating for me, as I enjoy the fishing mini-game and were looking to catch fish rather than engage in combat. Balancing this mechanic to ensure a more consistent fishing experience would improve this aspect of the game. Providing clearer distinctions between fishing spots and monster encounter areas could help alleviate this issue, enhancing the overall gameplay balance.

Is Ova Magica Worth It?

It’s The Cream of The Crop

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Ova Magica is a delightful and engaging RPG simulation game that skillfully combines the best elements of farming simulations and monster-raising mechanics. Priced at $22.49, it offers tremendous value with its charming art style, robust gameplay mechanics, and a wide variety of activities to keep you entertained for hours on end. The game's vibrant visuals and endearing characters create an immersive and heartwarming experience that is hard to resist.

Ova Magica delivers a wholesome and enchanting adventure that is sure to bring a smile to your face. Whether you're tending to your crops, battling with blobs, or simply enjoying the peaceful rhythm of farm life, this game offers a delightful escape into a world filled with charm and creativity. So, dig in and get ready for a farming adventure that's truly magical!


Digital Storefronts
Steam IconSteam $22.49
Epic IconEpic GoG IconGoG Playstation IconPlayStation Xbox IconXbox Switch IconSwitch
Coming Soon


Ova Magica FAQ

Does the Ova Magica offer multiplayer or online features?

As of now, Ova Magica does not include multiplayer or online features. The game is focused on a single-player experience, allowing players to immerse themselves in their farm and blob-raising activities without the need for online interaction.

How does Ova Magica compare to other farming simulation games?

Ova Magica stands out by incorporating monster-raising mechanics into the traditional farming simulation formula. This adds a unique twist to the gameplay, setting it apart from other titles in the genre. However, it might not offer the same depth of farming mechanics as more specialized farming sims.

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Ova Magica Product Information

Ova Magica Cover
Title OVA MAGICA
Release Date July 23, 2024
Developer Skinny Frog, ClaudiaTheDev
Publisher Top Hat Studios, Inc.
Supported Platforms PC (Steam), Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Genre Simulation RPG
Number of Players 1
ESRB Rating RP
Official Website Ova Magica Website

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