A nostalgic return that remembers why these adventures worked in the first place.
Simon the Sorcerer Origins is a long-awaited return to a world many of us never really forgot. As a prequel to the beloved 90s adventure series, it winds the clock back to show not the wizard we remember, but the boy who will one day become him.
It’s a clever entry point for newcomers and a nostalgic reunion for those who grew up solving oddball puzzles and trading quips with creatures that had no business talking in the first place.
Welcome to Into Indie Games’ review of Simon the Sorcerer Origins, where we break down everything we loved about the game and things that could have been better.
For more information about the game, check out its official website here.
A World Drawn by Hand and Built on Personality
The first thing you notice in Simon the Sorcerer Origins is the art direction. Everything is hand-drawn, richly animated, and backed by a color palette that leans into fantasy without losing its sense of atmosphere. Screens are alive with little details that invite you to stop walking and just observe. Even the smallest side objects feel like they have a personality tucked into their edges.
The world has this theatrical quality to it. Characters exaggerate their movements, backgrounds have a storybook charm, and everything seems ready to lean into humor when you least expect it. In a genre where visual design is often static or overly functional, Origins refuses to settle. It wants to be watched as much as it wants to be played.
The animation work also deserves mention. Transitions between scenes feel natural and smooth, the cutscenes look superb, and Simon’s reactions sell the tone of each area better than narration ever could. Even when a puzzle slows your forward movement, the environment keeps you grounded in a sense of place.
Puzzles with Personality
The puzzles are where the game plants its flag. This is still a classic adventure at heart, built on observation, deduction, and the joy of combining two things that probably shouldn’t work together until somehow they do. The developers clearly understand that puzzle satisfaction comes from the moment of clarity, not from brute forcing item combinations.
The variety is also strong. Some puzzles rely on simple environmental logic, while others layer small clues across multiple rooms until everything clicks. A few throw in just enough absurdity to remind you that wizardry is never neat or predictable. The difficulty builds at an easy pace.
But what stands out most is that the solutions feel fair. That’s not to say I was never stuck. In fact, I can name at least three puzzles that left me completely baffled. Yet when I finally pieced them together, that “aha” moment felt well deserved. It’s the hallmark of good puzzle design, even if some solutions don’t make sense right away.
Adventure on Your Terms
Origins balances nostalgia with accessibility. It keeps the familiar charm of classic point-and-click adventures while adding a few thoughtful modern touches to make things feel smoother. You can, for example, highlight hotspots in each area to check if you’ve missed something. This is a small but welcome feature that saves you from tedious pixel-hunting when you’re stuck.
For newcomers to the genre, this is a comfortable entry point. Some puzzles will still make you think, but nothing feels impossible if you slow down and look at things from a fresh angle. Simon even has a Magic Journal to keep tabs on your objectives. For returning fans, the spirit of adventure remains, only without the friction that made some 90s puzzle design feel like a wall instead of a reward.
The game also has a lightness to its pacing. Instead of constantly steering you into confrontation or heavy exposition, it lets you take your time. Not many modern adventure titles feel confident enough to slow down and let players soak in a world. Origins trusts you to look, think, and feel your way through its rhythms.
Where the Magic Really Lands
The magic lives in the writing. Simon is once again sarcastic, impulsive, and never entirely willing to take this new world as seriously as everyone else seems to. His perspective shapes the entire experience. There is charm in how he talks through situations, occasionally stumbling into wisdom but more often tripping through chaos and pretending it was intentional.
The supporting cast helps anchor the tone. NPCs in the game range from earnest to eccentric to downright unhinged. And most of them feel like they walked straight out of a storybook that someone scribbled jokes into after hours.
The environmental storytelling is a highlight as well. You’ll find easter eggs everywhere you look, from posters to props to even small background textures. All these details combine to make the world feel alive, layered, and quietly aware of its own history.
The score and audio design also pull their weight. Music fades between whimsy and mystery gracefully, and voice performances bring flavor without overselling the humor. Everything here works in support of mood first, puzzle second.
A Few Cracks in the Crystal Ball
Not every spell lands perfectly in Simon the Sorcerer Origins. Some puzzles can be genuinely tough, especially if you miss small details or skip past bits of dialogue. Without giving too much away, there’s a section in Chapter 4 where I was completely lost and convinced the game had bugged out. It turned out I had simply ignored an NPC’s early hint; A perfect reminder that the game rewards focus just as much as it tests patience.
Still, I never felt forced to combine random items or rely on trial and error. Every puzzle follows a clear logic; you just have to pay attention. For some players, that challenge will feel satisfying, while others might find a few sections more frustrating than fun.
Humor stays sharp throughout. Simon’s dry wit and the game’s self-aware tone keep things light, even when you are stuck on a stubborn puzzle.
Verdict – A Return to Magic with a Modern Spark
Simon the Sorcerer Origins doesn’t try to reinvent the genre. Instead, it remembers why these adventures worked so well in the first place. It’s a game built around observation, wit, and personality rather than speed or spectacle. It trusts you to take things at your own pace and rewards not just clever thinking, but a good eye for mood and detail.
This return to Simon’s beginnings feels respectful to the originals yet confident enough to stand on its own. There’s a quiet charm in how the game invites you to see its strange logic and enjoy the journey it creates.
Developer: Smallthing Studios
Country of Origin: Italy
Publisher: ININ
Release Date: 28 Oct, 2025 (PC, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck, Xbox X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch)
This review is based on a copy of the game provided by the developer. The PC version of the game was played for this review of Simon the Sorcerer Origins. (Steam)
Thank you for reading our review of Simon the Sorcerer Origins.
Already playing the game? Check out our complete walkthrough for the game here.
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- Into Indie Games Homepage
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- Keeper Complete Walkthrough Hub
- Bye Sweet Carole Walkthrough Hub
- Thief’s Shelter Review
Muhit Rahman lives off two things: gaming marathons and endless cups of tea. He writes guides, reviews, and occasionally forgets that real life doesn’t come with checkpoints. His favorite genres are Soulslike and Metroidvania, with Dark Souls III, Hollow Knight, and Dota 2 forever holding top spots on his all-time list.
