I got through to Level 12, but can't assemble the mural in the time allotted. There are no hints for this, and no skip, so I won't be able to finish the game.

Has anyone had any success with this mini-game?

Started the game at the first level, and was disappointed to fine that it was a time management game, with out a un-timed casual mode, so I uninstalled it.

No option for "relaxed mode". No thanks. I have enough stress in my life.

I found this review from 2007 (3.5/5 stars):
https://www.gamezebo.com/2007/04/02/magic-academy-review/

I was able to install and run the game with no issues on Win10 64. I always install games to a custom folder not part of the Windows folders to avoid the protected folders issues that some older games have.

So far, I've only played the first stage (story and 2 HOG scenes). It is an older game so the full screen mode is a bit low res and the windowed mode is a bit small. In spite of this the graphics are not too bad and the objects are not too hard to find. So far there have been a couple of different types of hidden object modes; find all of a type of object and outline. I expect that there will be others as I continue. This is a timed game with your score being the time you take to finish. You get a generous 5 min (so far), so there isn't any real pressure to not run out of time. The review I linked to above says there are also mini-games, but I haven't had one yet.

Hi hi, Stephen. Really sorry to hear you're not well - wish you better soon and a nice cup of hot chocolate if you like / can have that.

Today's game I mistook for Magic Encyclopedia - me and names >.<. I'm doing some big downloads today, will try this one if I can later. The scene with the stairs does look familiar - played so many HOGs, maybe this is one I forgot.

From the screenshots, it does look intense for searching - very cluttered. That may not be a bad thing: it seems to have 4/5 stars in reviews across the web.

Thanks for the day's giveaway and please do rest, Mr. Whiterabbit. Cheers.

We've had this game before on July 27,2014.

For those that value such information.

(I honestly can't say is it was offered at other times as well but I do know it was on here on that date)

Just thought I'd pitch in while Whiterabbit-uk rests up. Feel better soon! I'm not reviewing myself as I have not played, but sharing what I found that I thought might be helpful. Stay safe everyone.

From BigFish
21 stages.
Use magic artifacts and spells.
A magic detective story.

From softonic, rated 4 stars out of 5 in 51 votes.
User rating 8/10
https://magic-academy.en.softonic.com
Their review:
Learn magic spells to save your sister

Second to being a reviewer for the World’s best software site, wizardry is represents perhaps the ultimate job for kids growing up today. Following the success of Harry Potter and Lord of The Rings, it seems everyone is fascinated by the idea of learning magic spells and performing mysterious tricks, and.

Magic Academy aims to provide you with the chance to act out your these fantasies by sending you to wizard school where you’ll have to learn the ropes in order to find your missing sister.

Magic Academy is essentially just a hidden-object game, but it’s been dressed up with an elaborate plot, slick graphics and moody sounds.

Moving through the game is a matter of meeting various characters and solving the puzzles they set you in order to garner information before moving onto the next character.

While most of these puzzles involve simply finding items on a screen or solving spot-the-difference games, the developer has been careful to make these as lively as possible.

We liked the way that you’re not just given a list of things to find, and instead must work out what to find based on silhouettes of the objects, find items before the next ones are revealed, or find several of a particular item, such as mice, keys or documents.

The complexity of the game is just about right. At first we thought the time limits for each level were a little generous, but it only takes one particularly well-hidden mouse to get your pulse racing as the clock ticks down to zero.

There’s no doubt that the game requires a very sharp eye, so it may not be suitable for younger children or people whose eyesight is slightly poor .

However, there were only a couple of occasions where we needed to restart a level.

Unlike many games in the hidden-object genre, Magic Academy holds your attention well and there is a genuine incentive to solve each puzzle in order to meet new characters and piece the overall mystery together.

The characters are graphically impressive (including one of your character's sister’s friends who bares an uncanny resemblance to a certain bespectacled teenage wizard), although the interaction with them is limited.

There are no voices and conversations are limited to clicking through preset statements. We didn’t like the way they kept referring to us as ‘Annie, ’ and given that you have to enter your name before you play, it would have nice if it was your name that was used in the conversations.

The game adopts a very linear approach, and if you’re looking for a strategy game where you get to explore different places and piece together cryptic clues yourself, you’ll be disappointed.

However, Magic Academy is by far one of the best hidden-object style games we’ve played, providing challenging gameplay within a well-crafted environment.

PROS
Genuine variety of object-finding puzzles
Excellent graphics and sounds
Challenging enough to keep you coming back for more

CONS
Storylines aren’t very interactive

I hope that helps some.

This game isn't for me. I usually like hidden adventures with storylines (a magical theme is a plus, IMO), but so far my biggest objection is the hidden objects are often woefully tiny (making them hard to see) and there is no casual, untimed mode. When everything is so hard to see, I'd like to play the game without the pressure of trying to find tiny hidden pieces.

another stupid TIMED game do not bother uninstalled

Started the game at the first level, and was disappointed to fine that it was a time management game, with out a un-timed casual mode, so I uninstalled it.

To be honest, it is not my favorite kind of game. It installed without any problems though. A big advantage is that you can skip the dialogues, because they do talk a LOT! ;-P Enjoy your sunday! :-))

To sum up what I've read in comments or other sites about today's GGOTD:

Magic Academy is a TIMED HOG/puzzles/spot-the-difference game first published in 2006; with 20 levels, and — I think a bonus level if you do all 20.

There is no storyline or plot beyond you being 'tutored' in various 'magical skills,' which translates in reality to 20 separate levels to play, each level being a HOG scene, a mini-game-type puzzle, a spot the difference, whatever. The only way to progress to the next level is to complete the one you're on within the time allowed. There is no Skip if you get stuck!

I've seen the graphics described variously as 'not aged well;' looking 'odd' (presumably distorted?) on a 16:9 screen (widescreen) monitor, and 'grainy,' making the objects harder to see and find. The screenshots I've seen are all 640×480 pixels, which very much dates the game.

I hope that helps you when deciding whether or not today's GGOTD is worth a download or not. ;)

[Get well soon, whiterabbit!]

Unzipped using TheExtractor (like every other time) and proceeded to try to install with and without admin rights and it states every time that the files are corrupt and to obtain a new copy. I redownloaded and tried with and without admin rights and the same thing. "corrupt files obtain a new copy. This is NOT the first time I've gotten this from a give away here. It sucks and I really wanted this game.... oh well, I guess