Comparison

Bridge Constructor Portal vs Magic Research

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Bridge Constructor Portal

Construct bridges, ramps, and slides in a science lab environment. Utilize iconic gadgets like portals and gels to guide vehicles through challenging test chambers while avoiding hazards. Solve physics puzzles with guidance from a familiar AI.

Highlights
  • Bridge and ramp construction
  • Portal gadget integration
  • Physics-based puzzles
  • Hazard evasion
  • GLaDOS voice guidance
  • Test chamber challenges
Features
Read full description

Enter the Aperture Science Enrichment Center and experience Bridge Constructor Portal – the unique merging of the classic Portal™ and Bridge Constructor™ games. As a new employee in the Aperture Science test lab, it's your job to build bridges, ramps, slides, and other constructions in 60 test chambers and get the Bendies safely across the finish line in their vehicles. Make use of the many Portal gadgets, like portals, propulsion gel, repulsion gel, aerial faith plates, cubes, and more to bypass the sentry turrets, acid pools and laser barriers, solve switch puzzles, and make it through the test chambers unscathed. Let Ellen McLain, the original voice of GLaDOS, guide you through the tutorial, and learn all the tips and tricks that make a true Aperture Science employee. The bridge is a lie! Features: - The merging of two worlds: the first Bridge Constructor™ with an official Portal™ license - Create complex constructions in the Aperture Science labs - Let GLaDOS accompany you through tricky physics adventures - Use portals, aerial faith plates, propulsion gel, repulsion gel, and much more to master the complicated tasks - Evade dangers such as sentry turrets, emancipation grills, laser fields, and acid - Help your Bendies cross the finish line – on their own or in a convoy PORTAL PROFICIENCY DLC Bridge Constructor Portal receives a fresh DLC as hot as a potato: Portal Proficiency Return to the Aperture Science Enrichment Center and experience a brand-new challenge. Finally, you are now able to not only construct bridges, but you can even place portals yourself! It’s just like the real thing! Face up to 30 brain-teasing, remarkably unsafe test chambers in three chapters. Create insane constructions and decide where to place portals to show if you really are proficient in working with Portals. Only the bravest and smartest participants will succeed and receive the Golden Condolence Letter. Features • New Aperture Science test series with 30 brand new, brain-teasing levels • New feature: place the portals in the new test chambers yourself!

About

Magic Research

Lead a new magic institution to discover the secrets of magic and achieve fame. Research spells, build your campus, manage staff, and uncover hidden storylines to win the Tournament of Magic. Enjoy a complete game experience with no ads.

Highlights
  • Cast over 100 spells
  • Research magic in various schools
  • Build and manage campus
  • Manage researchers and apprentices
  • Discover hidden features and storylines
  • Retirement bonuses for faster progress
Features
Read full description

In Magic Research, you are the headmaster of a newly-created institution of Magic with one goal: to learn as much as possible about this power and get enough fame to be able to compete, and win, the prestigious competition of schools: the Tournament of Magic. But what will you discover along the way? * Cast over a hundred different spells with various effects * Research magic in various magical schools to discover new, surprising ways to use this power * Accumulate resources and build the school campus * Manage a team of researchers and apprentices to lead your school to fame * Discover tons of hidden new features - when will you unlock the next one? * Find over eight dozen secret storylines with permanent, game-altering effects * Restart the game and make faster progress each time with retirement bonuses * Optimized both for iPhone and iPad * No ads! This is the full, complete game. You can transfer save data from the demo by using the Export / Import Save feature available in both the demo and in the full game.

Screenshots

Bridge Constructor Portal4 screens
Magic Research4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Magic Research at none against Bridge Constructor Portal's 1. Magic Research also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (95% vs 84%). Bridge Constructor Portal's advantage is ratings volume (4.1K vs 186) and price ($1.99 vs $3.99). On rating, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Bridge Constructor Portal costs $1.99 and Magic Research $3.99 up front. Bridge Constructor Portal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Magic Research asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Bridge Constructor Portal against 4.7 for Magic Research. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bridge Constructor Portal has 4.1K ratings behind it against 186, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of Bridge Constructor Portal's written reviews are positive against 95% of Magic Research's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Bridge Constructor Portal ships an update every 2 months, Magic Research every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Bridge Constructor Portal versus Magic Research: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBridge Constructor PortalMagic Research
Price$1.99 — better$3.99
Rating4.8 (4.1K ratings) — better4.7 (186 ratings)
Positive reviews84.5% of reviews95.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4.1K — better186
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size196 MB25 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperHeadup GmbHMatias Ezequiel Colotto

Customer experience

Bridge Constructor Portal

All ratings4,075 ratings
Positive95.3%
Neutral1.7%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews670 reviews
Positive84.5%
Neutral6.1%
Negative9.4%

Magic Research

All ratings188 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral1.6%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews61 reviews
Positive95.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.9%

User reviews

Bridge Constructor Portal

From 4.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent physics engine
  • 👍 Engaging Portal-themed puzzles
  • 😄 Hilarious GlaDOS commentary
  • 🤖 Seamless integration of Portal elements
  • 💰 Good value for money

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional save data loss issues
  • 🤔 Difficulty ramps up too quickly
  • 🕹️ Controls can be finicky on smaller screens
  • 🎨 Lack of customization options

Magic Research

From 186 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great idle/incremental game
  • 💡 Deep and complex systems
  • 🚀 Well-paced progression
  • 💰 Worth the price
  • ✨ No ads or microtransactions

Room to improve

  • 🐛 UI layout issues
  • 🐌 Can be grindy
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 🐛 Text running off page/scrolling issues
  • 🐛 Wood resource bug

Bugs and requests

Bridge Constructor Portal

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Ads appearing in paid version
  • Inconsistent performance on older devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Level editor and custom level sharing
  • Leaderboards and challenge modes
  • Ability to skip tutorial levels
  • Cloud sync support for cross-device progress

Magic Research

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • On new iPhones, switching away and back causes UI unresponsiveness
  • Text running off the page, preventing interaction with buttons
  • Wood resource counting backwards
  • Becoming stunned for a full minute, unable to act
  • Bosses running away from fights
Show 3 more
  • Exploration difficulty jump
  • UI layout issues on iPad Pro (long scrolling panels, cut-off inventory views, difficult spell favorite scrolling, useless event panel)
  • Text pages not scrolling, making discoveries unreadable

Requested features

12 requests
  • Add background music
  • Add Chinese language support
  • Make monsters pixelated
  • Adjustable times for apprentice auto-casting
  • Display monstium collection counter during exploration
Show 7 more
  • Allow apprentices to auto-craft potions
  • Make the game accessible to the blind
  • Add a way to start further into dungeons
  • Automate crafting
  • Improve quality of crafted items (armor, weapons)
  • Add a 'Magic Smithing' school
  • Allow players to avoid or cure silence effects

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Bridge Constructor Portal

One-time1
  • Portal Proficiency$1.99
None

Magic Research

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Bridge Constructor Portal free?
Bridge Constructor Portal costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Magic Research free?
Magic Research costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Bridge Constructor Portal or Magic Research?
Bridge Constructor Portal is rated higher. Bridge Constructor Portal averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4.1K ratings, while Magic Research averages 4.7 from 186 ratings.
Do Bridge Constructor Portal or Magic Research have ads?
Neither Bridge Constructor Portal nor Magic Research shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Bridge Constructor Portal or Magic Research?
Bridge Constructor Portal ships an update every 2 months, and Magic Research every 4 days. Most recently, Bridge Constructor Portal was updated on November 6, 2026 and Magic Research on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons