The path of a powerful wizard is an integral part of almost every RPG game. While fighting with cold steel, bows or crossbows is usually fun, magic is always a step above them all. And I don’t mean the raw power of the magic system, but the ability to cast spells out of thin air and make the elements around you obey your orders. 

That’s just badass, so no wonder there are so many games with cool magic systems. However, playing as a mage has its drawbacks. Usually, magic spells drain mana and require you to plan your attack before you engage. The mage's path requires patience and is rather difficult but extremely rewarding, especially in the later stages of the game. 

It’s not hard to find a title with a complex magic system, but which is the best magic game? There isn’t one, but we’ve picked the best magic games with unique spell combinations and different playstyles. Moreover, they’re all available on RoyalCDKeys for competitive prices!

• Release Date: September 14, 2017
• Developer: Larian Studios Games
• Platforms: PC
• Metascore: 93

The first Divinity was a revelation to the classic RPG genre, and many thought it couldn’t get better than that. Luckily for us, developers from Larian Studios Games are real-life wizards and did the impossible. They improved character progression substantially, making a mage’s playthrough a sight to behold. 

The game’s magic system is very advanced, especially with the ability to combine spells into a devastating chain reaction. For example, you can create a poison cloud and cast a fiery bolt for a devastating explosion. Using your spells with surfaces is the biggest innovation; with enough creativity, even an infinite loop of damage is possible. 

It sounds pretty broken, but coming up with your own spells isn’t easy, and the damage output depends on your surroundings. Combining fire with oil or water with electricity is a piece of cake, but more advanced spell effects require more knowledge or help from the community. If you’re looking for a game with advanced spell casting and unique custom spells, Divinity: Original Sin 2 won’t disappoint you.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition GOG Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• Unique spellcasting where you can create your own spells by combining different elements and surfaces.
• Endless spell combinations.
• Co-op multiplayer.
• You can use magic to solve puzzles.

• Release Date: November 11, 2002
• Developer: JoWooD Entertainment AG
• Platforms: PC
• Metascore: 77

Before Prey and Dishonored, the same developers worked on Arx Fatalis, a critically acclaimed first-person RPG. We could write much about its gameplay, character progression, and stuff, but we’re here for magic. The magic itself isn’t revolutionary by any means, but it has a unique casting system. Every time you want to cast a spell, you have to draw individual sigils tied to it. While it may sound redundant and annoying on paper, it’s actually really immersive. 

Here, wizards need time to cast a certain spell instead of throwing fireballs like a machine gun. Of course, with practice, you’ll learn to write those sigils faster, and naturally, you’ll become more powerful. While you can’t create spells like in Morrowind, you can combine magic with sword fighting and create yourself a battle mage. Few games have done such an original spellcasting system, so we strongly recommend Arx Fatalis.

Arx Fatalis GOG Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• Unique spellcasting where you have to draw a certain rune symbol in real time.
• Made by the future creators of Dishonored and Prey.
• First-person RPG.
• Different ways to build your character.

• Release Date: May 8, 2018
• Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
• Platforms: PC
• Metascore: 88

Any Dungeons & Dragons fans here? If so, Pillars of Eternity II is a must-play. For those unfamiliar with D&D, here’s a brief explanation. First, you have to pick a class. You can play as a Barbarian, Ranger, Rogue, Chanter, Priest, Paladin, Cipher, etc. We’ll take a peek into the last four classes. As a bard, you will learn several chants during your playthrough, which can be combined to create unique spells. Priests can be extremely powerful if their actions favor a chosen deity. 

Taking missteps from a chosen path will have consequences, and your spells won't be as powerful. The same goes for Paladins. Other classes, like Cipher and Wizard, also have their own spells, advantages, and drawbacks. If you want to test and discover every spell the game has to offer, you’re up for several playthroughs.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• Many spellcasting classes with different spells and mechanics to discover.
• Huge replayability potential.
• Heavily inspired by Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur’s Gate.
• A world rich in lore.

• Release Date: November 10, 2016
• Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
• Platforms: PC
• Metascore: 80

Obsidian Entertainment is currently one of the best studios among RPG fans, with titles like Pillars of Eternity or The Outer Worlds. However, Tyranny didn’t get the recognition it deserved. Its magic system and incredible writing are something else, and it’s a shame that it ended up as a low-key production.

The game's action is set in bleak fantasy land, long after a dark being known as Kyros has crushed the forces of mortals, exterminated the heroes, and taken control of the entire world, introducing the titular tyranny everywhere. The main character is the one who benefited from such a turn of events. You play as an officer in the army of Kyros, who is the judge and executioner for ordinary people, ensuring the will of the despot is carried out.

The presented story is non-linear, full of plot twists, and a sole reason to give it a chance. So you’re getting a full package: a captivating storyline and unique spell crafting. In Tyranny, you will create new spells by defining its magic school, manifestation, individual parameters, and enhancements. 

The strength of each spell is determined by Lore skill, so high lore equals high damage. You can choose from self-effect spells, AoE strikes, debuffs, long-range projectiles, etc. There are many possible combinations, and a non-linear story is perfect for multiple playthroughs.

Tyranny Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.    

Key Features

• Compose your own spells from three types of symbols.
• Original and non-linear storyline.
• Replayability potential.
• No classes; you can use all available spells in one playthrough.

• Release Date: May 26, 2015
• Developer: Pieces Interactive
• Platforms: PC
• Metascore: 69

Usually, RPGs are your best bet for great games with magic, but why limit ourselves to only one genre? Magicka 1 & 2 is a nordic hack n’ slash that focuses solely on magic. It’s a direct continuation of Magicka released in 2011.

The action takes place in the world of Midgard, where almost all the mages died during the Great War, while those who survived went completely mad or became extremely hostile to everyone and everything. Now you get in the shoes of the mad wizard and once again fight an epic battle against evil, which, just like the first part, will be full of humor and funny gags.

As one of the four mages, you have access to eight elements, which allows you to create unique spells. Combine them however you want for your own new combinations. Of course, each spell works on enemies differently, so the game encourages experimentation. 

In addition, Magicka 2 also promotes the repetition of already completed stages, which is made possible by artifacts introduced in this part, acting as a kind of switch and modifier of gameplay, which can make it more difficult, easier, or fun. Thanks to their power, going through the campaign and individual levels again does not bore and differs from previous games.

Magicka 2 Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• Unique spellcasting system which is both advanced and easy to learn.
• Eight elements of magic that you can freely combine.
• Lots of absurd humor.
• Replayability potential.

• Release Date: May 1, 2002 
• Developer: Bethesda Softworks
• Platforms: PC, Xbox 360
• Metascore: 89

While Skyrim is the unquestionable king of fantasy RPGs up to this day, its magic system leaves a lot to be desired. Most spells are straightforward, and without mods, playing as a mage is nothing but mediocre. I think Bethesda wanted to make it more accessible for new players, but they went overboard with simplifying things. Luckily, older installments of The Elder Scrolls franchise are brilliant for a mage playthrough, especially Morrowind. 

You can still specialize in the well-known schools of magic like Destruction, Illusion, or Restoration, but with much more diversity. Here, you can create your own spell from scratch, which determines its strength by your proficiency in a certain magic school. And there’s nothing quite like blasting your enemies with a storm of fireballs you created on your own. Not only that, but even your birth sign and the race you choose significantly impact the efficiency of your spells which was absent in Skyrim.

Remember, though, that Morrowind is an old game, so graphics and animations didn’t withstand the test of time. However, there’s nothing you can’t fix with mods, and there are thousands of them to choose from on Morrowind Nexus.

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind GOTY Steam Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.  

Key Features

• Create unique spells using the formulas you’ve discovered.
• Several magic schools.
• Vast modding community to enhance your experience even more.
• Meticulously crafted open world that didn’t age at all.

• Release Date: November 3, 2009 
• Developer: LucasArts
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch
• Metascore: 65

Star Wars and magic? If a mighty Force that lets you push objects around or affect people’s minds around you isn’t magic, then prove me wrong. Star Wars was never a space opera but a space fantasy, so giving the mysterious Force powers a magical origin is completely justified. While you won’t meet any long-bearded wizards here, playing as a young Sith throwing lightning from fingertips is fun as hell. 

Darth Vader’s secret apprentice is a cunning warrior who won’t back down from anything to fulfill his master’s bidding. Of course, you won’t be all-powerful from the start. Character progression is divided into three categories, so it’s up to you which tree you will develop first. Lightsaber fighting, force or lightning – each school offers a different approach to fighting enemies but if you want to feel extremely powerful, choose one of the last two. 

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Ultimate Sith Edition Steam Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features    

• You’ll play as Starkiller, Darth Vader’s secret apprentice.
• Utilize lightsaber fighting and force powers for devastating combos.
• Must-play for all Star Wars fans.
• Impressive physics engine that looks great even to this day.

• Release Date: November 18, 2014
• Developer: BioWare
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3/4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
• Metascore: 85

Dragon Age appeared several times on our lists already, as the series excels in many aspects regarding gameplay. It offers a quite decent story, a memorable cast of characters, and a non-linear story progression. We’re talking about BioWare, one of the most renowned studios in gaming history, so no wonder their games occupy many “best games” lists. And guess what? It’s also great for a spellcaster playthrough.

The game has a lot of stats to develop, but as a mage, your primary focus is Magic and Willpower. Every mage starts with two offensive spells – Lightning and Flashfire. These two will help you understand how inflicting statuses on your enemy works. After inflicting a certain status on your enemy, you can “detonate” the spell for extra damage or apply other effects like fear or extra elemental effects. It may sound confusing on paper, but once you start using spells, the magic system with its status effects turns out to be very intuitive and extremely fun to utilize. 

Dragon Age: Inquisition Origin Key is available on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• Mage class is extremely fun to play and a joy to watch.
• Combine different spells, inflict statuses and “detonate” them to maximize your damage.
• Detailed open world with a non-linear storyline and memorable characters.
• Great RPG series as a whole.

• Release Date: November 8, 2007
• Developer: Lighthouse Interactive
• Platforms: PC
• Metascore: 68

Avencast is a forgotten action RPG. Just another example of an underrated game that didn’t get the recognition it deserved. Don't be surprised if you've never heard of it; Lighthouse Interactive was a small studio that didn't survive the credit crisis in 2008 and was eventually forced into bankruptcy.

The game is quite original in its approach to magic and introduces a system I haven’t seen anywhere else. Instead of a hotkey bar with available spells, you have a special combo system like in a fighting game. To cast a certain spell, you must put a specific combination. You have three schools of magic to choose from: soul magic, blood magic, and summoning. The first is for traditional spells, while the other is for melee powers.

It’s always fun when developers put some effort and originality into cliche magic systems instead of simply pressing a hotkey and casting a spell. There is an option for that if you want, but then you’re taking away the game's most original mechanic. Playing as a battle mage and casting spells using button combinations fits here perfectly and is quite enjoyable. I wish more games could use that system.

Key Features

• Three schools of magic to choose from.
• Unique spellcasting system based on button combinations.
• Decent storyline about forgotten legacies and unfulfilled prophecies.

• Release Date: January 25, 2013
• Developer: Grinding Gear Games
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Metascore: 86

PoE is your best bet if you’ve spent countless hours slaying demons in Diablo and want to recall that feeling. Path of Exile is a free-to-play, hack n’ slash RPG with a rather dark and gloomy atmosphere. Even the game’s interface is very similar to Diablo, so no wonder those old-school players moved to PoE. Like in Diablo, there are several classes to choose from, including magic classes. However, the progression system separates PoE from other games of the same genre. 

It’s divided into two categories. First is traditional, where you spend acquitted skill points to learn new abilities. The second one is the slot system, where you can put various magical gems in your equipment. Those gems are good for just stats and buffs but can also dramatically change your gameplay. You can gain new Area of Effect or Projectile type damage spells, etc. Some combos are more devastating than others, so it's best to check the best build for your chosen class. 

Since PoE is F2P, you can register and download the client on Path of Exile’s official website.

Key Features

• Best free alternative for Diablo players.
• Probably the best progression system in the genre.
• Endless combinations of active and support skill gems.
• Outstanding support from developers.

Here are some other games that are also great for a mage’s playthrough but didn’t quite make it to our list:

• Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
• Two Worlds
• Mages of Mystralia