History Main / MagicSquarePuzzle

* ''Series/StargateAtlantis'': [[Recap/StargateAtlantisS01E16TheBrotherhood "The Brotherhood"]] is all about this puzzle. First version, the eight pieces of movable numbers are arranged in a grid square over a wide area of land. In the final puzzle, nine pieces with the numbers 1-9 were placed. One piece fits into a certain slot in the middle of the grid, and the eight others were placed around it. After witnessing one Mook get killed by an incorrect arrangement, Sheppard solves the puzzle by realizing that the numbers 1-9 can be placed in a grid to add up to 15 in all directions. Of course, there's a certain element of FridgeLogic to the fact that quite a few different such arrangements are possible, but one can HandWave this by claiming that any of them would have worked.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometric_magic_square Geometric magic squares]] are geometric representations of magic squares. Instead of numbers, you need to craft nine pieces made of grids that, when grouped by rows or columns, produce a square.

* ''Theatre/FaustFirstPartOfTheTragedy'': Mephistopheles brings Faust to a witch's kitchen to brew a rejuvenation potion. The incantation (called the Hexen-Einmal-Eins and recited from a grimoire by an old witch) has been interpreted as the verbal equivalent of a magic square. The reason is that the play uses the number nine as a {{Numerological Motif|s}}.

* ''Theatre/FaustFirstPartOfTheTragedy'': Mephistopheles brings Faust to a witch's kitchen to brew a rejuvenation potion. The incantation, read from a grimoire by an old witch, has been interpreted as the verbal equivalent of a magic square. The reason is that the play uses the number nine as a {{Numerological Motif|s}}.

* ''Literature/TheWorldAlmanacForKids'': Most issues present a handful of magic squares with the rules explained for kids to solve.

SubTrope of GridPuzzle, the general trope for puzzles solved by arranging the elements of a grid.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonReborn'': In fake Devon Corp, there's a 6x3 magic square that has Thunderbolt, Gardevoirite, and Darkinium-Z as rewards. It also provides a password you can tell Agathe City woman in exchange for a Manectrite and a Department Store Sticket.

* ''VisualNovel/NineHoursNinePersonsNineDoors'': There's a 3x3 square that must be filled with the numbered pins you find in the Cargo room. If it wasn't difficult enough per se, part of its nastiness comes from figuring out what the rows, columns, and diagonals must equal. It gives you a hint in hexadecimal, though, which is a numerical base you've been using in previous puzzles; but you might as well have forgotten about it by the time you encounter this square, especially due to NewGamePlus reruns.

* ''Manga/{{Spiral}}'': Ayumu has to solve a magic square puzzle by tapping each square in order to stop a bomb from exploding in a crowded concert hall while Hiyono holds onto a rod to give him time to solve it, preventing her from escaping to safety. Trick is--he had to notice it was a magic square all on his own.

* ''VideoGame/DrBrain'': ''Castle of Dr. Brain'' and ''Island of Dr. Brain'' have this as one of the puzzles in each game. In the first game, the puzzle is the same every time you play (with a blank board), but the size will differ based on the difficulty. In the second game, you can replay the puzzle as many times as you like, and have it randomised each time.

* ''Series/StargateAtlantis'': "The Brotherhood" is all about this puzzle. First version, the eight pieces of movable numbers are arranged in a grid square over a wide area of land. In the final puzzle, nine pieces with the numbers 1-9 were placed. One piece fits into a certain slot in the middle of the grid, and the eight others were placed around it. After witnessing one Mook get killed by an incorrect arrangement, Sheppard solves the puzzle by realizing that the numbers 1-9 can be placed in a grid to add up to 15 in all directions. Of course, there's a certain element of FridgeLogic to the fact that quite a few different such arrangements are possible, but one can HandWave this by claiming that any of them would have worked.