A delightful, simple, adventure for younger players
By Paul Hunter
Care Bears: Unlock the Magic brings the colourful, heartwarming world of the animated series to PS5 (version reviewed), PS4 and Nintendo Switch. Developed by Xaloc Studios and published by Maximum Entertainment, it’s a family-friendly game designed with younger gamers in mind. Whether you’re helping Cheer Bear clear storm clouds or guiding Grumpy Bear through arcade-style challenges, there’s a strong emphasis on kindness, teamwork, and cheerful fun.
The game focuses on eight different fast-paced mini-games across 200 levels, wrapping everything in a cheerful art style that mirrors the show’s upbeat tone. Its controls are easy to grasp, and the objectives are simple enough for kids who might be new to gaming. Familiar faces from the franchise are everywhere, making this feel like a natural extension of the TV series. There’s even a sticker book to fill out by completing levels, which gives you a small bonus objective along the way.
Unlock the Magic is a wholesome mini-game fest for kids aged six to ten and a nice option for short play sessions. You won’t find complex mechanics or intense action here, but that’s kind of the point. Let's dive in to see what all this game delivers!
Care Bears: Unlock the Magic keeps things simple with two main modes: Adventure and Free Mode. Adventure Mode sends you down a boardgame-style map filled with bite-sized arcade games. You’ll complete challenges to gather stars, remove storm clouds, and eventually restore the Power of the Stars.
The mini-games draw from familiar arcade inspirations, with variations on Frogger, Puzzle Bobble, Snake, and Flappy Bird. Each activity has its own Care Bears flair, whether it’s bouncing through fluffy obstacles or creating a Care Bear congo line across candy-like paths. Eight core mini-games make up the campaign, but they return with around 25 levels each, increasing the difficulty with each round. The repetition might go unnoticed by younger kids, but older ones may find it wears a bit thin over time.
Free Mode lets you revisit completed games or try bonus Master Challenge levels unlocked after finishing the story. It’s perfect for practising your timing or chasing higher scores. If there’s a mini-game your kid loved—mine couldn’t stop replaying the racecar heart collecting one—this mode gives them the freedom to go back without any pressure.
The controls are mostly responsive, though a few games that require fast reflexes feel a little off. Timing jumps in the “Bouncy Heart” game, for instance, felt inconsistent, leading to more retries than expected.
There are no difficulty settings, but the gradual climb in challenge is generally manageable. That said, some later stages take a sudden jump in complexity, particularly the congo mini-game that goes from easy-breezy to maddenly hard faster than expected.
Even with its bumps, Care Bears: Unlock the Magic keeps its focus on fun. The gameplay may not evolve much, but the quick matches and familiar characters create a laid-back rhythm that suits its audience well. If you’re looking for a game that entertains without overwhelming, this one fits the bill.
Care Bears: Unlock the Magic looks exactly how you'd expect a Care Bears game to look—full of colour, sparkles, and familiar faces. Each level pops with bold backgrounds and cheerful details, and the animations feel smooth and friendly. You’ll spot favourites like Cheer Bear and Grumpy Bear doing little victory dances or reacting with surprise, which adds plenty of personality. That consistency carries into the menu designs, level transitions, and sticker book, which all replicates the show’s rainbow-filled charm.
Sound-wise, the music leans heavily into upbeat, looped tracks. Voiceovers guide you through instructions, which is especially helpful for kids still learning to read.
On a technical level, the game runs well. Load times are short, and during my time with it, I didn’t run into any crashes or frame drops. A couple of mini-games had moments where inputs felt a bit delayed, but nothing game-breaking.
For a budget release aimed at a younger audience, the presentation holds together well. It’s bright, inviting, and easy to pick up and play—exactly what it needs to be.
Final Score: 7/10 - Good
Developer: Xaloc Studios
Publisher: Maximum Entertainment
Genre: Party, Action
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Care Bears: Unlock the Magic brings the colourful, heartwarming world of the animated series to PS5 (version reviewed), PS4 and Nintendo Switch. Developed by Xaloc Studios and published by Maximum Entertainment, it’s a family-friendly game designed with younger gamers in mind. Whether you’re helping Cheer Bear clear storm clouds or guiding Grumpy Bear through arcade-style challenges, there’s a strong emphasis on kindness, teamwork, and cheerful fun.
The game focuses on eight different fast-paced mini-games across 200 levels, wrapping everything in a cheerful art style that mirrors the show’s upbeat tone. Its controls are easy to grasp, and the objectives are simple enough for kids who might be new to gaming. Familiar faces from the franchise are everywhere, making this feel like a natural extension of the TV series. There’s even a sticker book to fill out by completing levels, which gives you a small bonus objective along the way.
Unlock the Magic is a wholesome mini-game fest for kids aged six to ten and a nice option for short play sessions. You won’t find complex mechanics or intense action here, but that’s kind of the point. Let's dive in to see what all this game delivers!
Care Bears: Unlock the Magic keeps things simple with two main modes: Adventure and Free Mode. Adventure Mode sends you down a boardgame-style map filled with bite-sized arcade games. You’ll complete challenges to gather stars, remove storm clouds, and eventually restore the Power of the Stars.
The mini-games draw from familiar arcade inspirations, with variations on Frogger, Puzzle Bobble, Snake, and Flappy Bird. Each activity has its own Care Bears flair, whether it’s bouncing through fluffy obstacles or creating a Care Bear congo line across candy-like paths. Eight core mini-games make up the campaign, but they return with around 25 levels each, increasing the difficulty with each round. The repetition might go unnoticed by younger kids, but older ones may find it wears a bit thin over time.
Free Mode lets you revisit completed games or try bonus Master Challenge levels unlocked after finishing the story. It’s perfect for practising your timing or chasing higher scores. If there’s a mini-game your kid loved—mine couldn’t stop replaying the racecar heart collecting one—this mode gives them the freedom to go back without any pressure.
The controls are mostly responsive, though a few games that require fast reflexes feel a little off. Timing jumps in the “Bouncy Heart” game, for instance, felt inconsistent, leading to more retries than expected.
There are no difficulty settings, but the gradual climb in challenge is generally manageable. That said, some later stages take a sudden jump in complexity, particularly the congo mini-game that goes from easy-breezy to maddenly hard faster than expected.
Even with its bumps, Care Bears: Unlock the Magic keeps its focus on fun. The gameplay may not evolve much, but the quick matches and familiar characters create a laid-back rhythm that suits its audience well. If you’re looking for a game that entertains without overwhelming, this one fits the bill.
Care Bears: Unlock the Magic looks exactly how you'd expect a Care Bears game to look—full of colour, sparkles, and familiar faces. Each level pops with bold backgrounds and cheerful details, and the animations feel smooth and friendly. You’ll spot favourites like Cheer Bear and Grumpy Bear doing little victory dances or reacting with surprise, which adds plenty of personality. That consistency carries into the menu designs, level transitions, and sticker book, which all replicates the show’s rainbow-filled charm.
Sound-wise, the music leans heavily into upbeat, looped tracks. Voiceovers guide you through instructions, which is especially helpful for kids still learning to read.
On a technical level, the game runs well. Load times are short, and during my time with it, I didn’t run into any crashes or frame drops. A couple of mini-games had moments where inputs felt a bit delayed, but nothing game-breaking.
For a budget release aimed at a younger audience, the presentation holds together well. It’s bright, inviting, and easy to pick up and play—exactly what it needs to be.
The Verdict
Care Bears: Unlock the Magic is a charming, kid-friendly game perfect for young fans of the franchise. Its simple mini-games, colourful visuals, and positive messaging make it a great introduction to gaming, though it may feel repetitive for older players. While some control issues and uneven difficulty could frustrate, the game is generally accessible and fun for kids aged six to ten. If you're looking for a stress-free, cheerful game for younger players, this is a great choice.Final Score: 7/10 - Good
Care Bears: Unlock the Magic details
Platform: PS5, PS4, Nintendo SwitchDeveloper: Xaloc Studios
Publisher: Maximum Entertainment
Genre: Party, Action
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.