Simon the Sorcerer was a classic series of point-and-click adventure games from the 90s that followed in the model of the classic Lucasarts adventure games. The series was always one of the better Lucasarts inspired adventure series and now it has returned with a new prequel entitled Simon the Sorcerer Origins. The game was announced back in 2022 but is finally on its way, and we got the chance to play some of the game early.
Simon the Sorcerer Origins starts out as Simon and his parents are moving into a new house and we are given a tutorial of Simon’s mother shouting instructions at him, which will give the basic instructions of how to play and what to expect. Simon eventually is spirited away to a new land, where he gains his wizard outfit and must head off to an academy. It is a good setup and really helps get you into the experience.
It needs to be said that while the classic mouse point-and-click controls are here, you can also use a controller to play the game. The controller option works well, but there is just something about classic mouse controls that just feels right in an adventure game. Still, it is good that both options are here.
Simon the Sorcerer Origins is a gorgeous game, with hand drawn art that really lets the characters be more expressive. It is not as zany as the style of Return to Monkey Island, but a good halfway between that and the original pixel art style of Simon the Sorcerer. It does have a drawback in that the camera zooms in a bit too much, and this means that while you can see Simon’s expressions and actions well, you do not get to see the environments as much as you might want to.
Of course, what is a good visual style without great audio, and Simon the Sorcerer Origins is no slouch in that regard. Right from the start, the game gets going with a song from Rick Astley, and we are treated to the return of Chris Barrie as Simon and his performance will take you back to the original games, complete with Simon putting emphasis on the wrong words when talking. The voice acting in general is great, and the script for Simon the Sorcerer Origins is overall excellent, with plenty of witty jokes throughout for you to find, and plenty of musical treats.
I was hesitant about Simon the Sorcerer Origins, not just due to the long hiatus in the series, but also because of the many delays that had me worried this game would be a disaster. Fortunately, this is not the case and Simon the Sorcerer Origins is a worthy entry in the beloved series. Simon the Sorcerer Origins will be released on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series., Xbox Series One, Nintendo Switch and PC on October 28th 2025 and is very much worth giving a playthrough.
Disclaimer: A preview key was provided
