Screenshots
Magic Sticks
Magic Sticks is a 1995 arcade action game developed by Playmark. Players control a character wielding magic sticks as weapons, battling through waves of enemies across multiple stages. The game follows a side-scrolling format where players move through each level defeating enemies and bosses using stick-based attacks and special moves. Controls typically involve directional inputs combined with attack buttons to perform various strikes and techniques. The action is fast-paced, requiring players to manage enemy crowds while avoiding incoming attacks. Each stage presents different enemy types and environmental settings, culminating in boss encounters. Playmark designed the game for arcade cabinet play, with the challenge level structured to encourage continued coin insertion as players progress through increasingly difficult stages.
- Developer
- Playmark
- Released
- 1995
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Action
- Rating
- 4.5 / 5 (3K)
- Last updated
Magic Sticks Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Magic Sticks on our in-browser Arcade emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | Joystick Up | Move up |
| ↓ | Joystick Down | Move down |
| ← | Joystick Left | Move left |
| → | Joystick Right | Move right |
| X | Button 1 | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | Button 2 | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| S | Button 3 | Tertiary action |
| A | Button 4 | Quaternary action |
| Q | Button 5 | Fifth button |
| W | Button 6 | Sixth button |
| 5 | Insert Coin | Insert coin |
| 1 | 1P Start | Start / Pause |
Coin and Start are convention "Insert Coin: 5" and "1P Start: 1". Some arcade boards expect specific button mappings — check the in-game prompts on coin-up.
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Magic Sticks Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Magic Sticks on Arcade before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Magic Sticks" Arcade longplay 1995
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Magic Sticks released?
Magic Sticks was released in 1995 for the Arcade.
Who developed Magic Sticks?
Magic Sticks was developed by Playmark, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
What type of game is Magic Sticks?
Magic Sticks is a Action game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Magic Sticks for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Magic Sticks runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Magic Sticks in the browser?
No. Magic Sticks streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Magic Sticks?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original Arcade cartridge supported.
Does Magic Sticks work on mobile devices?
Yes — the Arcade emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Magic Sticks this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Magic Sticks. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
