There's something special about those old adventures that had us clicking on anything that moved—and even things that ne move, just to hear some sarcastic remark from the main character. Simon the Sorcerer was just such a game — the British answer to LucasArts' adventure dominance in the '90s. And now, three decades later, Simon is back. And with serious charm.
A brief history of a wizard
It all started in 1993, when the Adventure Soft studio launched the first Simon the Sorcerer for Amiga and MS-DOS. It was a time when games were more brain teasers than action, and humor and dialogue were the main tools for winning over the audience. Simon was a teenager with an oversized ego, a sarcastic tongue and a wizard's hat that always looked a bit funny. The game parodied Narnia, Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, and half the fantasy literature the authors could get their hands on. It was this British humor, supported by the voice of Chris Barrie (known from Red Dwarf and Tomb Raider), that turned Simon into a mini-icon of the adventure genre. Despite several sequels throughout the 90s and 2000s, the series slowly got lost in time — until Smallthing Studios and ININ Games decided to revive it with a new chapter: Simon the Sorcerer Origins.
Return under a new spell
The Italian studio Smallthing Studios does not hide its intentions: they want to give back that feeling — click by click, dialogue by dialogue — but without the outdated frustrations that adventures once had.
Instead of pixelated graphics, Origins features hand-drawn locations (not A.I. graphics!), fluid animation, and a visual style that looks like Disney and Monty Python drew a fantasy fairy tale together.
ININ Games, a publisher known for restoring retro classics, gives the game a platform for all systems: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and even Mac and Linux. So, no excuses — you can play it on a toaster too (probably).
Story: ago nego what je became "onaj Simon"
Simon the Sorcerer Origins is a prequel — so Simon is not yet "that" famous wizard.
He's an ordinary kid from our world, a bit lost, who accidentally opens a portal to a parallel universe full of magic, beings and people who think he knows what he's doing (and he doesn't).
The game explores his first steps in the world of magic, with a typical dose of cynicism and absurdity.
If you're a fan of the original, you'll recognize the references, and if you're not — you'll still get a good dose of humor, characters and dialogue that sound like they were written by someone who laughs at everything, including himself.
Art style and tone
Rarely does an adventure look this warm today. The hand-drawn backgrounds are full of detail, the colors are rich, and the animations are soft — it's like you're looking at a living illustration from a grown-up geek picture book.
The characters have expressive gestures, and every location breathes — from magical towers to pubs, where dwarves drink beer and discuss liquor taxes.
The soundscape is equally enchanting: the original soundtrack balances between fantasy and satire, and the return of Chris Barrie as the voice of Simon adds an authenticity that cannot be faked. If you've ever appreciated British humor, you'll enjoy every conversation. Simon doesn't know how to stop - sarcasm is his weapon, irony is his shield, and patience is... it doesn't exist. The characters you meet sound like they've jumped out of Terry Pratchett's Discworld: caricatured yet strangely real. Especially fun: the game occasionally pokes fun at modern trends — like open world mania, microtransactions and "cinematic" games, and calls secondary characters "NPCs". Simon comments on this as a player who happens to be in the game — and that is perhaps the biggest charm of the whole experience.
Gameplay: classic, but not outdated
This is point-and-click adventure in its purest form. You click on an object, use it, combine it, conduct dialogues — all with an intuitive, modern interface. Nema više “pixel huntinga” kao u 90-ima: igra jasno pokazuje što možeš kliknuti, ali te i dalje tjera na razmišljanje. By clicking on one button, you get a display of all items that can be interacted with.
There are also modern accessories:
- A diary that automatically tracks progress
- Quick transition between locations in the form of "pins on the map"
- A smart interface that does not complicate interactions
Fortunately, the puzzles are still "the right ones" — illogical enough to make you laugh, but logical enough to solve them without looking for help on the net, if you have enough time for gaming (unless you really get stuck... and you will).
Conclusion – the magic of nostalgia, but with soul
Simon the Sorcerer Origins is not just another "retro throwback". This is a love letter to old adventures, but written with a modern pen. It retains the soul of the original, refreshes the presentation, and proves once again that you don't need a million dollar budget to have a game with personality. For people who grew up on Monkey Island and Beneath a Steel Sky, this is like a homecoming.
And for new players? Perhaps the first step into the world of games that do not require reflexes — but patience, humor and a little good will to click on everything until you find the magic.
Release date and platform
- Release: October 28, 2025.
- Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
- Edition: Standard and Deluxe (artbook + soundtrack)
- Bonus DLC: “PONY” pack with additional music themes
The requirements are minimal — it will practically work on a laptop that has survived its student days.
This only adds to the charm: the game is not trying to be a blockbuster, but an adventure that takes you back to the era when humor was more important than ray tracing.
A copy of the PC version of the game was provided by the publisher ININ Games.
