If you grew up in the ’90s playing point-and-click adventure games, then you likely remember the Simon the Sorcerer series. These games took traditional fantasy elements and gave them a humorous, parodic touch. They starred a teenage boy who inadvertently stumbles into a magical realm where he assumes the role of a hero. The series received five main installments, as well as a few spinoffs, but it has not seen a new entry since 2009. Thankfully, that will no longer remain the case. A new installment in the form of Simon the Sorcerer Origins, which serves as a prequel to the original game, will make its way to PC on March 28, 2023.
According to the Steam page, Simon the Sorcerer Origins takes place only a few weeks prior to the first game, and it attempts to explain how Simon arrived in the magical realm in the first place. The story sees Simon accidentally triggering “an absurd and ancient prophecy that will trigger a lot of trouble.” This leads to him embarking on an adventure, in which he redeems himself and proves his worth to his parents.
Retaining the comedic edge
For those worried that this new entry will lose the comedic and sarcastic soul of the original series, the developers ensured that this will not be the case. Additionally, the story and in-game paths can branch out in a variety of ways, so players have plenty of incentive to replay the game multiple times. Weirdly, the developers specifically advertise that the game will break the fourth wall, which seems like something that should ideally remain a surprise.
An attempt to develop a sixth installment already took place in 2016, but it looks like this latest attempt will actually pan out. Hopefully, Simon the Sorcerer Origins will function as a worthy prequel that diehard fans of the series can appreciate.
