The “Prince of Persia” franchise has been enthralling gamers ever since the first installment dropped back in 1989. Created by Jordan Mechner, the series revolves primarily around precise platforming gameplay as players navigate labyrinthine levels to progress. After the series made the leap to 3D, the platforming mechanics were expanded in scope, with a greater emphasis on combat. The “Prince of Persia” timeline spans multiple continuities, each retaining the core platforming appeal while taking distinct approaches to the mythos.
Following the release of “The Rogue Prince of Persia” in 2024, the future of the franchise is relatively uncertain. The highly anticipated “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” remake was cancelled in 2026 after being plagued by development issues, much to the disappointment of fans. “While the project had real potential, we weren’t able to reach the level of quality you deserve, and continuing would have required more time and investment than we could responsibly commit,” Ubisoft said in a statement.
No new titles appear to be in the works at the time of this writing. Fortunately, there are lots of games that are similar to the beloved Ubisoft franchise to help fill the void left by its absence. From must-play retro favorites to underrated modern releases, here are the five best video games to pick up if you love “Prince of Persia,” with each offering their own platforming and puzzle-solving thrills.
After releasing the “Prince of Persia” adjacent game “Another World” in 1991, Delphine Software International went into a harder sci-fi direction for its next title, “Flashback.” The 1992 game is set in the 22nd century and has amnesiac protagonist Conrad Hart awaken on the distant planet of Titan. As Conrad regains his memories, he discovers humanity has been infiltrated by an alien race known as Morphs. Conrad traverses the cosmos to root out the Morph infiltrators and save humanity from being conquered.
“Flashback” hews closer to “Prince of Persia” and its side-scrolling gameplay than “Another World” while doubling down on the sci-fi trappings. It has a similar display to Jordan Mechner’s original game, but with an imaginative story and environments to explore. “Flashback” went on to receive a sequel with “Fade to Black” and a remake in 2013, but the original 1992 game remains the best one to revisit. This cult classic has plenty of familiar gameplay elements for “Prince of Persia” fans to enjoy.
One of the clearest “Prince of Persia” imitators on the Super Nintendo was the 1994 horror platformer “Nosferatu.” The game’s protagonist, Kyle, ventures into the domain of Dracula (as the vampire is referred to in-game) after his girlfriend, Erin, is kidnapped by the undead count. Kyle explores Dracula’s sprawling castle, unlocking passages to progress deeper towards Dracula’s inner sanctum and confront the vampire before he claims a new victim. Between each level, Kyle faces a myriad of classic monsters using only his bare fists to defeat them.
“Nosferatu” feels like a horror-themed “Prince of Persia” pastiche complete with challenging difficulty (the happy ending can only be seen if players die less than eight times, and there’s no password or save system) and precise platforming. The side-scrolling gameplay and level design directly evokes the Super Nintendo ports of the first two “Prince of Persia” games, but with an appropriately haunting atmosphere. A relatively obscure puzzle platformer in the SNES library, “Nosferatu” is a treat for old school “Prince of Persia” fans.
Indie games have breathed new life into the world of pixel-based side-scrollers, led by successful titles like “Super Meat Boy” and “Shovel Knight.” The titles among this wave that feel most like classic “Prince of Persia” are the “Blasphemous” games, developed by The Game Kitchen and published by Team 17.
