Simon the Sorcerer Origins – Review

What is Simon the Sorcerer Origins? Magical nostalgia!

On 27 October 2025, one of the most delicious characters in the world of point-and-click adventures returned to the forefront. We're talking about Simon, the sarcastic but fan-favourite wizard, who tells his origin story in Simon the Sorcerer Origins. The game is a prequel to the classic series, released by independent studio Smallthing Studios and published by ININ Games, after a rather long wait for nostalgic fans of the first titles from the 90s.

The idea is simple, but effective: to discover how Simon came to be, well… himself, the most ironic wizard possible. In this new adventure, we find out what happened a few weeks before the legendary first game in 1993.

The Universe and Story: Prophecies, Magic and Dubious Stews

Simon is pulled into a strange world, dominated by wizards more powerful than talented (or useful) and bizarre creatures at every turn. There's an ancient prophecy that seems to target him, yes, Simon, and along the way he'll have to solve puzzles, activate alchemical devices, and learn powerful spells.

One of the memorable details (for the stomach!) is that Simon has to taste some “disgusting” stews to advance further in this narrative, so it's not just magic, but also strange, pardon, abracadabrant gastronomy.

On a personal level, the story also involves an emotional side: Simon has a loving mother, goes through adolescent transformations (with all the attitude that entails) and faces unexpected relocations and responsibilities, all under the umbrella of a mysterious prophecy.

Visual and Sound Style: Hand-Drawn Nostalgia

One of the most beautiful things about Origins is the graphics. Everything is hand-drawn, in a style that evokes the 90s, but with a modern freshness. This choice not only brings a nostalgic smile to those who played the first Simon games, but also offers a distinct, pleasant and coherent visual identity.

On the audio side, a very pleasant surprise is Simon's voice, performed by Chris Barrie, the original actor, which adds authenticity and a large dose of sarcastic humour well known to fans. Moreover, the soundtrack is composed by Mason Fischer, and the maxi-nostalgic surprise comes in the form of Rick Astley's appearance – yes, the synesthetic “Never Gonna Give You Up” of the 80s has a special role. I won't reveal which part of the story the singer's voice will be heard in, to encourage you, in fact, to play the title.

Gameplay: Classic Puzzles, Alchemy and Sarcasm

If you loved point-and-click adventures as a child, Simon the Sorcerer Origins won't disappoint. The game offers tricky puzzles, classic mechanics, but also some modern ones. You have to combine objects, talk to bizarre characters, activate alchemical devices and use spells to do things that seem impossible (like figuring out which stew is edible or not).

The dialogues are, obviously, full of absurd humour and sarcasm. Simon doesn't shy away from biting remarks and self-irony, which gives the game a special charm and links it to its classic roots.

Relationship with Old Games: Prequel with Respect for Tradition

For those who didn't play “Simon the Sorcerer” as a child (or teenager), Origins works very well as an entry point: you don't necessarily have to have finished the old games to understand the story.

However, for old fans, the prequel is a golden opportunity: you can see what happened “before”, where certain details come from, and how the character of Simon evolved up to the moment of the first game in the series.

In addition, the collaboration with original actors (Chris Barrie) and the adoption of a hand-drawn aesthetic shows that Smallthing Studios didn't make a “cheap copy”, but a sincere reverence for the series' legacy.

Possible Limitations

Of course, not everything that glitters is flawless magic. If you're not a fan of traditional adventure games, you might get stuck often or not find satisfaction in the more obscure puzzles. Also, some players might consider the graphics simplistic or too “sketchy” for their tastes, although others will appreciate them precisely for their freshness.

The game's length isn't necessarily enormous. Some players mention it takes about 4 – 5 hours, but that depends a lot on how much time you spend wandering and combining objects.

A Charming Return

“Simon the Sorcerer Origins” is not just a re-release, but a sincere and energetic tribute to a character who made history in point-and-click adventures. Smallthing Studios manages to balance nostalgia with innovation: we have a young, sarcastic, but vulnerable Simon, in a hand-drawn magical world, with intelligent dialogues and authentic puzzles.

For fans, it's an opportunity to see how it all began. For new players, it's a gateway to the classic-adventure genre, but with a modern twist. If you want a magical escape, laughs, mystery and maybe a spoonful of dubious stew, this game deserves a place in your Steam library.

One more thing to say

This year, so far, seems to have been largely about a return to origins, pun intended, with games in the point-and-click typology reinvented in the form of titles such as Amerzone, Syberia and even Simon the Sorcerer. As they say, oldies are always goldies. All that remains to be seen is which renowned title will be brought back into the spotlight in the immediate future.

I, for one, am extremely curious to find out what surprises await us in the remasters category. I encourage you to leave titles in the comments that you hope to see brought up to current gaming technical standards. Until next time, GAME ON!

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Available on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Steam, Epic Games), Mac, Linux
Played on: PC (Steam)
Release date: 28 October 2025
Developer: Smallthing Studios
Publisher: ININ