Summary
Released for the Apple II on June 29, 2025, the firstPrince of Persiawas an immediate critical hit, garnering acclaim for its groundbreaking rotoscoping animation techniques that gave the game’s platforming a sense of realism that hadn’t been achieved before.Prince of Persiawas quickly ported to just about every console and PC iteration at the time, making it one of the most prolific games of its era. 35 years later, thePrince of Persiafranchise has come a long way.
In the decade following the original’s release,Prince of Persiawould receive two sequels, both of which receivedmiddling reviews.The franchise was rebooted with2003’sPrince of Persia: The Sands of Time, still widely considered to be one of the best entries in series history. But then along came some disappointing sequels and even more reboots, andPrince of Persiafound itself on ice. But this year,Prince of Persiamade its triumphant return, and arguably, the series is bigger and better than it’s ever been before.
35 Years On, Prince of Persia Is Back, and Bigger Than Ever
After a 14-year-long hiatus,thePrince of Persiafranchisereturned earlier this year withPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown. A 2.5D Metroidvania with some incredible platforming mechanics, smooth animations, engaging combat, and a distinct art style,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownwas the return to form that fans had been waiting over a decade for.
Then, seemingly out of the blue, just a few months afterPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown’s release in January,The Rogue Prince of Persiawas announced. A 2D roguelike action-platformer,The Rogue Prince of Persiahit Steam early access in May, and it’s continued to receive a consistent stream of updates since launch, bringing new enemies, weapons, biomes, and story content to the game at a steady pace.
A key similarity between thesetwo 2024Prince of Persiaprojects– and a core strength of both – is that they hearken back to the original 1989 game while still pushing the franchise forward in significant ways. For instance,The Rogue Prince of PersiaandThe Lost Crownfeature a 2D perspective and emphasize smooth platforming mechanics and animations, just as the original 1989 game did 35 years ago. But these games also feature plenty of modern bells and whistles that were needed to make the franchise stand out in the modern market.
Prince of Persia Might Be Here to Stay
During the Ubisoft Forward showcase back in June,Prince of Persiahad a dedicated section all to itself. Along with a DLC announcement forThe Lost Crown, Ubisoft also confirmed that the long-awaitedPrince of Persia: The Sands of Timeremakeis still in development. While Ubisoft is in some troubled waters at the minute, it seems likely thatThe Sands of Timeremake will eventually release, and that means that thePrince of Persiafranchise is here to stay for at least a little while longer.
Though it took over a decade to return,Prince of Persiahas enjoyed a triumphant return in 2024, and its 35th birthday is now one to remember.
Prince of Persia (1989)
WHERE TO PLAY
In ancient Persia, the sultan’s vizier, Jaffar, seizes power. With his only obstacle to the throne being the sultan’s daughter, he locks her up. to free her, you must escape dungeons, get to the palace tower and defeat Jaffar.
