Simon The Sorcerer Origins Review – The Ultimate Magical Adventure

There have been many point-and-click adventure games in the past, most notably from the likes of Tim Schafer and Telltale Games. However, none of them have hit that spot for me quite like Simon The Sorcerer Origins.

Serving as a prequel to the games from the 90s, it comes as a nice entry for newcomers like myself. While I haven’t played the previous games and may not know all the characters like Joe Bloggs over here, I still had a great time, as the game is built for everyone.

Starting the Adventure

Your adventure begins with Simon and his family on their way to move into their new house, featuring a cracking track from Rick Astley, which really sets the tone of the story. Once in your new home, you are given control of Simon, who is very aware of your (the player’s) presence.

You’re given free rein to explore the new house and fish out a key for Simon’s new bedroom, which is stuck down the plughole in the kitchen sink (good thing for magnets, eh?). As soon as you open the door to your new bedroom, though, things take a turn, and Simon is transported to a far-off land filled with magic and mythical creatures.

A Magical Journey

In this magical world, you come across a wizard called Calypso. He tells you of the prophecy of the first wizard and the magical tomes you must find in order to return home. He points you in the direction of the magical academy to get information on the first wizard to help you in your quest to find the tomes.

British Humour at Its Best

Now, this game is super “British,” and I need to get this out there straight away. The humour is very sarcastic and hilarious. The references it pulls from pop culture are clear throughout the game — “Harry Potter” being the main one, with a wizard school — but also a few hilarious nods to “Lord of the Rings.”

It’s the humour that really draws you in and keeps you hooked. The fourth-wall breaking adds even more charm. For example, when you get Simon to speak to a portrait of a poet, Simon clearly doesn’t want to listen, but if you persist, he’ll say, “It’s like someone is making me listen to this,” while looking directly at the camera. It’s fresh, it’s humorous, and it’s obvious the game doesn’t take itself too seriously — which makes it even more enjoyable.

Gameplay and Mechanics

The original Simon The Sorcerer was your traditional point-and-click game, clicking on objects to interact or move. This time around, the game plays more like a Telltale title. You use the joysticks to move Simon and interact with objects or characters by walking up to a highlighted circle and clicking on them.

Sometimes, you may struggle to highlight a specific interaction circle, but pressing the right bumper button allows you to cycle through all available points in the area. You can also collect objects throughout your journey, stored in your magical hat. There are three hats to unlock, each adding different multipliers to objects. You can combine objects in your inventory to make new items, and using them is straightforward — click the item, move to the target, and interact.

Puzzles and Problem-Solving

The game features a wide variety of puzzles, ranging from easy to quite challenging. I’ll admit, I got stuck for a while on a puzzle requiring paintings to be placed in the order given by a projection clue. A hint system would have helped here, but I appreciated how the game encourages experimentation. It feels rewarding when you finally figure it out.

Art, Sound, and Performance

The art style in this game is gorgeous — that hand-drawn animation really makes it pop. The soundtrack is equally impressive, with melodies that stick in your head long after the credits roll. Simon’s voice is once again brought to life by the talented Chris Barrie (Red Dwarf), whose comedic timing is perfect for the role.

Final Thoughts

Simon The Sorcerer Origins hit all the right notes for me. It’s engaging and fun to play, it’s hilarious, and it constantly made me come back for more. While I may not have grown up with the original titles, this game still captured that nostalgic charm of classic adventure games.

It’s also a great entry point for newcomers, treating you as if you’ve never played the originals while encouraging you to explore them afterward — which is exactly what I plan to do. If you’re tired of bloated, broken games that feel like cash grabs, this one’s a breath of fresh air. It’s a real video game — fun, creative, and absolutely worth every penny.