Comparison

Magic Research 2 vs Santa's Workshop

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

Head to head
About

Magic Research 2

Embark on a magical quest as a rookie wizard to find or create the Philosopher's Stone. Utilize over 120 spells, transmute hundreds of items, and lead a team of wizards in a semi-automated combat system. Explore dozens of areas, uncover secrets, and experience over 60 hours of gameplay.

Highlights
  • Over 120 distinct spells
  • Transmute over 250 items
  • Control a team of wizards
  • Semi-automated combat system
  • Explore dozens of areas
  • Discover secrets and storylines
  • Retirement bonuses for faster progress
Features
Read full description

Experience the long-awaited sequel to Magic Research! In Magic Research 2, you are a rookie wizard with a single ambition: to find or create the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary magical item that is said to be able to cure any illness. As you do so, you will learn more than you ever imagined about Magic and about the world around you. What kinds of adventures await you? * Use your arsenal of more than 120 distinct spells to make progress * Study the Elements! Learn new ways to use Magic in your path to mastery * Transmute (magically craft) over 250 different items to help you on your journey * Control a team of Wizards that will cast Spells for you * Enjoy a deep, semi-automated combat system as you make your way through dozens of areas to explore * Discover tons of secrets - many of which will change the way you play the game! * Encounter over a hundred distinct Storylines with powerful bonuses along your journey * Restart the game and make progress faster each time with retirement bonuses * Over 60 hours of addictive gameplay - with a clear ending! (Or perhaps more than one...?) * Optimized both for phones and tablet devices You do not need to have played Magic Research in order to enjoy Magic Research 2!

About

Santa's Workshop

Help the elves craft toys and find Santa before it's too late in this holiday-themed idle game. Manage your workshop, care for reindeer, and complete missions to spread joy.

Highlights
  • Tap to build 25 unique toys
  • Offline toy crafting
  • Complete missions
  • Care for reindeer
  • Search for Santa
  • Collect achievements
  • Accessibility mode
Features
Read full description

The elves need your help! Santa is missing and they need your help to craft toys and find him before it's too late. This game features no ads, and no data mining! - Tap to build 25 unique toys. - Open factories to craft toys offline. - Chat with the head elf and complete missions. - Wrap presents and collect holiday spirit. - Feed and care for your Reindeer. - Use the locator to search for Santa! - Collect achievements along the way. Offers guides on each screen to help you navigate the game, and notifications so you know when it's time to return and collect your coins! Santa's Workshop was designed with accessibility in mind, and features an accessibility mode that provides greater support for Voice Over. Santa's Workshop takes inspiration from classic idle games and offers a unique holiday themed adventure. Fun for all ages, talk to the holiday elves and manage the workshop to build enough toys. Feed and take care of your reindeer and even decorate the stables. Use the locator to help search for Santa, and fly on your reindeer to search for him. Santa's Workshop was designed to help you get in the holiday spirit and spread a little joy!

Screenshots

Magic Research 24 screens
Santa's Workshop4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Santa's Workshop at Free against Magic Research 2's $4.69. Magic Research 2's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks) and review sentiment (82% vs 60%). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

Santa's Workshop is free to download; Magic Research 2 costs $4.69 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Magic Research 2 against 4.7 for Santa's Workshop. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 118 and 42 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of Magic Research 2's written reviews are positive against 60% of Santa's Workshop's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Magic Research 2 ships an update every 3 days, Santa's Workshop every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Magic Research 2 versus Santa's Workshop: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMagic Research 2Santa's Workshop
Price$4.69Free — better
Rating4.8 (118 ratings) — better4.7 (42 ratings)
Positive reviews82.1% of reviews — better60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings118 — better42
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#14 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB147 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperMatias Ezequiel Colottoaleros.io LLC

Customer experience

Magic Research 2

All ratings115 ratings
Positive92.2%
Neutral4.3%
Negative3.5%
Written reviews56 reviews
Positive82.1%
Neutral8.9%
Negative8.9%

Santa's Workshop

All ratings42 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral2.4%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%

Bugs and requests

Magic Research 2

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App instantly crashes on open
  • Game crashes on startup
  • App started rapidly pushing buttons on its own
  • Overheating phone
  • Lags and gets choppy in the late game
Show 1 more
  • Compendium doesn't unlock for bosses unless already beat

Requested features

9 requests
  • DLC or sequel news
  • macOS version
  • Better automation and convenience features
  • Tweak familiar search time down
  • Release the next one
Show 4 more
  • More Please
  • Auto fight boss button
  • Compendium unlocks bosses before beating them
  • Less dialogue and descriptions, more functional text

Santa's Workshop

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Magic Research 2

No in-app purchases

None

Santa's Workshop

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Magic Research 2 free?
Magic Research 2 costs $4.69, with no in-app purchases.
Is Santa's Workshop free?
Santa's Workshop is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Magic Research 2 or Santa's Workshop?
Magic Research 2 is rated higher. Magic Research 2 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 118 ratings, while Santa's Workshop averages 4.7 from 42 ratings.
Do Magic Research 2 or Santa's Workshop have ads?
Neither Magic Research 2 nor Santa's Workshop shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Magic Research 2 or Santa's Workshop?
Magic Research 2 ships an update every 3 days, and Santa's Workshop every 3 weeks. Most recently, Magic Research 2 was updated on October 27, 2026 and Santa's Workshop on October 24, 2026.

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