- Love of Magic new game plus adds a replay path for players who have already completed relevant story content.
- Carry-over progress includes previously collected gems, stronger starting stats, and additional cash.
- New content can include extra events, quests, enemies, and story differences.
- Best preparation is finishing the intended book or trilogy progression before starting an NG+ run.
- Replay priority should balance new story scenes with combat testing and missed relationship content.
What Love of Magic New Game Plus Changes
Love of Magic new game plus is built around replaying the trilogy with meaningful progression already in hand. It is not simply a reset to the opening calendar. Returning players can bring important combat resources into the new run, begin with improved character resources, and discover additional material that is not part of a standard first playthrough.
The mode is especially valuable after completing a book or the full trilogy. Love of Magic follows a continuing story across Book 1: The Crown, Book 2: The War, and Book 3: The Return, so the ideal NG+ starting point depends on which part of the story you have finished.
| NG+ Element | What It Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Previous gems | Collected gems can carry into the new run | Earlier combat investment remains useful |
| Starting stats | Returning characters begin with improved stats | The opening section becomes less restrictive |
| Starting cash | Additional money is available at the beginning | Early upgrades and activities become easier to fund |
| Extra events | New or additional scenes may appear | Replay value extends beyond the original route |
| Additional quests | NG+ can add quest content | Returning players have more objectives to pursue |
| New enemies | Some encounters are added or changed | Familiar combat sections may require fresh preparation |
| Story changes | Replay-specific differences can appear | Previous completion unlocks new narrative context |
Treat NG+ as a second route through the story, not only as an easier version of the opening. Reserve time for optional scenes and experiment with combat setups you could not support during your first run.
For a reliable overview of the trilogy structure, use the official Love of Magic itch.io page. It is the best starting point for checking the current book order, available builds, and developer updates.
Requirements and Preparation Before NG+
Before starting New Game Plus, finish the relevant story progression and organize the save files you want to preserve. The exact threshold can depend on whether you are beginning a book-specific NG+ route or replaying after completing the broader trilogy, so keep completed saves from each major stage.
A careful preparation phase also helps you decide what kind of replay you want. Players focused on story changes may prioritize optional events and relationships, while combat-focused players may use the carried-over gems to test specialized poker strategies.
| Preparation Task | Recommended Action | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Finish story progress | Complete the relevant book or intended trilogy progression | High |
| Preserve saves | Keep manual saves before major endings and choices | High |
| Review gems | Note which offensive, defensive, recovery, and utility effects you own | High |
| Record relationships | Track routes or scenes you want to revisit | Medium |
| Check combat habits | Identify weaknesses in your normal poker strategy | Medium |
| Plan replay goals | Choose story, romance, exploration, or combat objectives | Medium |
Story Replay
Revisit major scenes with additional context and watch for NG+ differences in the continuing Camelot storyline.
Combat Testing
Use carried-over gems to try aggressive, defensive, or specialized poker combat setups.
Relationship Routes
Recheck important character interactions and pursue scenes missed during the first calendar progression.
Exploration
Revisit locations as the calendar advances because optional events and available encounters can change.
Before Starting New Game Plus:
- Complete the relevant Love of Magic story progression
- Create and preserve manual saves from major story points
- Review carried-over gems and identify a preferred opening setup
- Choose whether the replay focuses on story, romance, exploration, or combat
- Note missed events and relationship scenes for the new calendar run
Do not treat a new NG+ run as a replacement for every earlier save. Separate files make it easier to compare story choices, revisit relationship scenes, and continue the trilogy without losing useful progress.
Love of Magic NG+ Step-by-Step Start
Use the following sequence when moving from a completed story into New Game Plus. The goal is to confirm your finished progression, select the correct replay option, and then use the early calendar efficiently instead of rushing through familiar scenes.
Complete the Intended Story Segment
Finish the relevant book or completed trilogy progression before beginning its New Game Plus content. Keep the final save available so you can confirm that the required story state has been recorded.
Start the Dedicated NG+ Route
Choose the New Game Plus option rather than creating an ordinary fresh playthrough. This ensures the replay uses the carry-over and additional-content systems associated with the mode.
Confirm Your Starting Resources
Review the opening character stats, available cash, and imported gems. Compare the starting setup with your preferred combat plan before spending resources on early activities or upgrades.
Rebuild Your Calendar Priorities
Complete mandatory story events first, then use free time for exploration, training, character interactions, and combat preparation. The calendar still advances, so familiar content should not encourage careless time management.
Search for Replay-Specific Content
Revisit locations, optional scenes, quests, and combat encounters as they become available. Keep separate notes or saves when testing different relationship choices or story directions.
The early NG+ routine remains grounded in Love of Magic's calendar system. Story appointments should receive priority, but every open period is an opportunity to strengthen the protagonist, develop relationships, explore locations, or prepare a more effective gem configuration.
| Stage | Main Objective | Efficient Use of Time |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Confirm NG+ resources and route | Review gems, cash, stats, and available events |
| Early calendar | Reestablish progression | Complete required scenes, then explore open locations |
| First difficult fights | Test the imported build | Combine reliable poker hands with useful gem effects |
| Mid-run | Search for additional content | Revisit areas and pursue optional quests or events |
| Late progression | Preserve route continuity | Save before major choices and story sequences |
The strongest NG+ opening is not necessarily the fastest one. Use your improved resources to cover missed content while keeping enough time for mandatory scenes and combat preparation.
The developer’s New Game Complete update is a useful reference for the mode’s carry-over systems and replay additions. Check the current official page if later updates adjust how the route is presented.
Carry-Over Progress and Combat Strategy
Imported gems are one of the most useful advantages in New Game Plus because they let experienced players shape combat earlier than during a first playthrough. Rather than equipping every strong effect at once, build around a clear role and adjust the setup when enemy difficulty or encounter length changes.
Love of Magic combines poker hands with magical effects. A reliable hand supported by useful gems is often more practical than repeatedly chasing a rare, high-ranking combination. NG+ gives you more room to test that principle because your collection is already developed.
| Build Direction | Core Focus | Best Use | Main Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggressive | Direct damage and offensive effects | Short encounters and enemies vulnerable to pressure | Weakness during extended fights |
| Defensive | Protection and damage reduction | Battles where survival is the main challenge | Slower progress |
| Recovery | Healing and sustain effects | Multi-round encounters | Insufficient finishing power |
| Utility | Situational magical effects | Encounters with specific tactical demands | Less consistent in general fights |
| Balanced | Damage plus defense or recovery | Exploration and unknown encounters | Lower specialization |
Use Reliable Hands
Build around repeatable pairs, two pairs, three-of-a-kind, straights, or other realistic combinations instead of forcing premium hands every turn.
Match the Enemy
Favor damage when an encounter can end quickly, but retain defense or recovery when the opponent can survive several rounds.
Review Allies
Coordinate companion abilities with your gems and preferred hand-building approach for stronger and more stable turns.
A useful troubleshooting method is to separate poker decisions from build problems. If you regularly form reasonable hands but still lose, inspect the gem effects, ally selection, and balance between offense and survival. If the setup looks strong but turns produce weak results, focus on recognizing realistic hands and avoiding high-risk draws.
| Combat Problem | Likely Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Battles end too slowly | Add complementary offensive effects or a more aggressive ally |
| You lose during long encounters | Include defensive or recovery tools |
| Good hands produce weak results | Review gem synergy and effect activation |
| Rare hands are inconsistent | Build around dependable combinations |
| The opening feels too easy | Use NG+ advantages to test specialized setups |
| Optional fights remain difficult | Rebalance the setup instead of relying only on higher hand values |
NG+ rewards experimentation. Keep one balanced setup for general progression, then maintain a second specialized option for difficult encounters that punish your normal strategy.
For broader combat fundamentals, the official Love of Magic strategy guide provides useful direction on poker combat, gems, allies, and magical effects.
Calendar, Story, and Replay Priorities
New Game Plus does not remove the importance of the advancing calendar. Familiarity with the first run can make it tempting to skip exploration or delay character interactions, but replay-specific events may depend on returning to areas at the right stage.
Use a priority order that protects the main story while still reserving time for optional content:
- Complete scheduled or mandatory story events.
- Check newly available locations after major progression.
- Spend free time on missed character interactions and relationship scenes.
- Use training or combat preparation when the next encounters are demanding.
- Preserve a save before major choices or route-defining sequences.
| Priority | Activity | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mandatory story event | Prevents the calendar from moving past important progression |
| 2 | Newly opened location | May reveal optional encounters, quests, or activities |
| 3 | Character interaction | Supports relationship progress and missed scenes |
| 4 | Training or preparation | Improves readiness for upcoming battles |
| 5 | Repeatable activity | Uses quiet calendar periods productively |
| 6 | Free advancement | Lowest priority when useful activities remain available |
A second playthrough is also a good opportunity to compare the trilogy’s three-book structure. The Crown establishes the cast and supernatural setting, The War develops the larger conflict, and The Return concludes the continuing storyline. Save continuity is important when moving between books, particularly if you want earlier choices and character developments to remain relevant.
Keep one save for your primary choices and another before major optional decisions. This makes NG+ a practical way to compare story branches without replaying the entire calendar.
NG+ Goals, FAQ, and Official References
A strong New Game Plus run should have a defined purpose. You may want to discover extra quests, revisit romance content, improve a combat build, or see how earlier decisions affect the continuing trilogy. Setting that goal before beginning prevents the replay from becoming a routine repeat of the first route.
| Replay Goal | Recommended Approach |
|---|---|
| Find extra story content | Revisit locations and optional scenes throughout the calendar |
| Improve combat | Test imported gems with balanced and specialized builds |
| Explore relationships | Preserve saves before important interactions and pursue missed routes |
| Complete quests | Check available activities after every major story progression |
| Compare choices | Use separate saves for alternate decisions |
| Prepare for later books | Maintain save continuity between completed installments |
Q: What carries over in Love of Magic New Game Plus?
The NG+ information provided for Love of Magic includes previously collected gems, improved starting stats, and additional starting cash. The mode also adds replay-specific events, quests, enemies, and story changes.
Q: Do I need to complete the entire trilogy before starting NG+?
The available guidance describes NG+ as dependent on completing the relevant book or intended story progression. Keep completed saves from each book so you can use the route appropriate to your progress.
Q: Is NG+ only useful for stronger combat builds?
No. Carry-over combat resources are important, but NG+ is also intended for discovering additional events, quests, enemies, scenes, and story differences.
Q: Should I use the same gems as my first playthrough?
Not necessarily. Start with a balanced setup for general progression, then experiment with aggressive, defensive, recovery, or utility-focused combinations as new encounters appear.
Love of Magic is an adult-oriented urban fantasy visual novel RPG. Review the platform’s content information before playing and use spoiler-aware saves when exploring relationship or story routes.
The official Love of Magic itch.io community is useful for current bug reports, version information, and developer-supported gameplay questions. For platform-specific installation or update details, consult the official Steam store page.