More than 30 years after the release of the original game, Simon the Sorcerer: Origins tells the story of what happened before the events of the first game. Essentially acting as a reintroduction to the series, it’s accessible to both long-time fans and those like myself who are new to the franchise.
There are people and places you’ll recognise if you’ve played the previous games, but since Simon is seeing and meeting them for the first time, you’re not going to be at a disadvantage if you haven’t. In some ways, it might even be better. I went into the game with very little knowledge of the franchise, so I had no preconceived opinions of characters or any idea how it was going to end.
I’m not going to spoil the plot, but Origins ends shortly before the first game begins.
Graphics and Sound
Simon the Sorcerer: Origins was never going to look the same as its predecessors. We’ve come a long way since the days of pixel games, and if I’m being honest…I’m glad. Pixel games have their charm, but I find that there are too many people throwing out low-effort, low-quality ones these days.
I really liked the hand-drawn art style the developers went for. It’s bright, cartoony, and full of charm. I particularly liked Simon’s character design – they really captured the essence of a cheeky British schoolboy through his many different expressions. I especially liked that when Simon said something particularly funny, he’d often turn to face the screen.
The game is fully voice-acted, which is something I always appreciate as it adds that extra level of polish. The soundtrack was great too – thoughtful but energetic. Perfect for a magical adventure.
Story
Simon the Sorcerer: Origins begins as many magical adventures do: with a move to a new house. Simon isn’t thrilled with the move, but it was necessary after he got kicked out of his old school. He doesn’t like the new house – he makes that clear through his extensive use of sarcasm and dry humour as you explore it before he’s suddenly transported into a strange, magical world.
It’s here that Simon meets Calypso, an old wizard who believes him to be the prophesied ‘impudent child from another world’. Simon doesn’t particularly care about the prophecy, but he wants to go home, so he embarks on a quest to find the Tomes of the First Wizard. To learn more about the First Wizard, as well as where he might find the tomes, he goes undercover at the Magic Academy.
He can’t just walk into the academy though. There’s a rather grumpy troll guarding the entrance, and despite Simon looking the part in the hat and robes Calypso gives him, the troll doesn’t quite believe he’s a student. To prove him wrong, Simon will have to find a wand, a student ID, and show him some magic. Once inside, Simon’s quest to find the tomes begins.
Gameplay
Much like its predecessors, Simon the Sorcerer: Origins is a point-and-click adventure, so the controls are pretty simple. I played the PS5 version of the game, and I think the developers did a pretty good job making sure the controls were smooth. It was a bit clunky when there were a number of interactable objects in a cluster, but you can cycle through them. It’s never going to be quite as precise as using a mouse, but that’s the trade-off when, like me, you prefer using a controller.
None of the puzzles were overly challenging, but the game certainly doesn’t hold your hand. There were times I had no idea what I was supposed to do next, only for the solution to be right in front of me – especially near the beginning. It’s a case of making sure you talk to everyone and explore everywhere you can, because one missing object can really impede your progress. There are quite a few walkthroughs available if you are struggling, though.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but some of the solutions seemed so random to me, and I think that added to the game’s charm and humour. They really felt like something a mischievous schoolboy would come up with.
Magic
In a game called Simon the Sorcerer, it’d be a total let-down if we didn’t get to play around with magic in some way. When we first meet Simon, he’s just your average kid, but after reaching the Magic Academy, he learns a few elemental spells that help him solve puzzles. He also gets to brew a couple of potions.
Furthermore, there are two additional wizard hats you’ll unlock, in addition to the one you start with. These hats allow you to alter some of the objects in your inventory, for one reason or another.
Final Thoughts
Simon the Sorcerer: Origins is a charming point-and-click adventure with a lot of heart and humour, and I think it’s something that will appeal to old and new fans alike.
The story spans twelve chapters, some of which are longer and more involved than others. In terms of length, I’d say it’s on par with other point-and-click games I’ve played – not too long, not too short – but it honestly depends on how easy or challenging you find the puzzles.
Despite being created by a different studio, it’s clear that a lot of effort was put into making Origins an authentic prequel. As I’ve already said, I haven’t played the original games, but I did read through the digital art book for some context, and it was really interesting to see how it all came together. From recreating Simon’s house from the original to bringing back Chris Barrie as his voice actor, it’s a real tribute to the original game.
Developer: Smallthing Studios
Publisher: ININ
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: 27th October 2025
Gaming Respawn’s copy of Simon the Sorcerer: Origins was provided by the publisher.
