Magnet Jack Review - Blake Fix's Indie Synthwave Platformer

Magnet Jack Review: First Impressions From a Kickstarter Backer

I initially found Magnet Jack completely by accident while selling my neurons to reddit. The algorithm threw it at me and I'm happy it did. The artwork at the time featured what I could only describe as a giant baby trying to swallow a magnet. Being quite easily distracted, I clicked the link and joined the Kickstarter.

That Kickstarter was run by developer Blake Fix, a solo dev who pitched Magnet Jack as an action-oriented puzzle-platformer with a fast-changing variety of wacky mechanics and a top-down overworld. The game has since launched on Steam as Magnet Jack & Roxanne. I backed it. Here's what I found.

Within 20 minutes of gameplay I'd already reached the first boss, which turned out to be that very same giant baby trying to swallow Magnet Jack himself. Unfortunately there was no swallowing (not into vore, moving on) but there was a whole lot of platforming and puzzling. The title absolutely lives up to the action-oriented puzzle-platformer pitch.

How the Controls and Mechanics Hold Up

The gameplay felt unnatural at first on keyboard. I kept wanting to hold down then press jump to perform a down jump but that's not how it works. Holding down for a fixed period achieves the same thing. Once I stopped dying from that particular oversight on my part, everything clicked into place pretty quickly.

The puzzles have a nice progression to them. Different mechanics get introduced at just the right time, at least in the first world, including the hidden rooms that I stumbled into more by accident than design. It's possible some of this gets explained through NPC dialogue but let's be real, ain't nobody reading all that.

This kind of gradual mechanical onboarding reminds me of what made Loop Hero work so well. You're not handed a tutorial wall. You're nudged into understanding by doing.

World Design and the Synthwave Aesthetic

After clearing the second world, Blake Fix gives you the option of picking which world type you want to tackle next, which was a neat touch. Gave me something to think about instead of just following a linear path. I made it a little ways through the next area before deciding to call it for the session.

The synthwave aesthetic carries through consistently. The visuals have that neon-lit glow-in-the-dark palette and the music matches it. It's soothing in a strange way, like lo-fi beats but with more electricity. My one gripe: there's no background music on the main menu. You're just sitting there listening to button click sound effects while you decide whether to press Start, and it feels weirdly empty compared to how the in-game soundtrack lands.

If you've played something like Solitairica or any other indie game that leans hard into a specific aesthetic, you know how much the audio layer either makes or breaks the vibe. Here it mostly makes it, menu aside.

Is Magnet Jack Worth Backing or Buying?

I'm about 40 minutes into the early access build at time of writing, and I haven't hit anything that's made me regret the pledge. The game does what it says on the tin. Puzzle-platformer, off-the-wall themes, unlockable paths, boss fights, secrets. Blake Fix clearly has a vision and the early access content reflects that vision being executed with care.

The game sits in a lane somewhere between classic 16-bit platformers and something more mechanically inventive. It's not Hollow Knight. It's not trying to be. Magnet Jack is its own weird thing, and that's where it wins.

You can find the creator and community over on the Magnet Jack Discord for the most up to date info on the full release.

I didn't record my playthrough but you can watch one by FullThroughYT on YouTube if you want a look before you commit.

For reference, that's my actual pledge screen above. Put my money where my mouth is.

Conclusion

This Magnet Jack review is based on early access from a Kickstarter backer, so take it for what it is: a first look from someone who bought in on the strength of a thumbnail that looked like a giant baby eating a magnet. No regrets.

If you're into indie puzzle-platformers, check out our Loop Hero review or browse the rest of our indie game reviews while you wait for Magnet Jack's full release.

Innovation doesn't come from the reigning bodies. It comes from some guy in a hut somewhere slamming his head against a single idea long enough to turn it into something. Blake Fix is doing exactly that. I wish the best for Magnet Jack on his journey.