Game intel
Simon the Sorcerer Origins
Simon The Sorcerer Origins is the official prequel of the legendary Simon's adventure saga. Simon will return for the first time to the absurd world of the Sor…
As someone who grew up swapping floppies for the talkie CD to hear Chris Barrie roast wizards and werewolves, a new Simon the Sorcerer isn’t just nostalgia-it’s a stress test. Can a prequel mesh 90s point-and-click charm with modern expectations without sanding off the weird edges that made Simon, well, Simon? With Smallthing Studios and ININ Games dropping a Chapter 3 slice for Steam Next Fest today (7 p.m. UTC), we’re finally getting hands-on proof instead of promises.
During Steam Next Fest, you can try a curated mid-game chunk of Simon the Sorcerer Origins-specifically part of Chapter 3. That choice is telling. Mid-game demos tend to show how the puzzle cadence settles in after the tutorial sheen wears off. If the interface is clunky, if hotspots are finicky, or if the humor whiffs, it’ll show up here fast.
The full game is pitched as a prequel that bridges a few weeks before the 1993 original. It’s fully voiced, 2D, and hand-painted—exactly the kind of presentation that works brilliantly on both a 4K monitor and a Switch handheld if the scaling is clean. The publisher, ININ, has a legit track record with retro-minded releases (think Wonder Boy and Turrican collections), and they usually treat this kind of material with respect rather than turning it into a museum piece.
The press notes promise “an adventure between modern and point-and-click puzzles.” That phrase raises eyebrows. The genre has moved on since the 90s moon-logic days. Return to Monkey Island proved you can deliver classic puzzle flow with smart usability: readable hotspots, layered hint systems, and puzzles that make players feel clever without punishing them for not thinking like the designer. Thimbleweed Park showed the other approach: deliberately old-school friction that some of us loved and some bounced off hard.
For Origins to land, it needs to hit a sweet spot: clear verbs, intuitive inventory combinations, generous contextual feedback, and—if they’re smart—a scalable hint nudge that doesn’t spoil punchlines. If the demo hides useful objects against busy backdrops or demands obtuse combine-everything-with-everything solutions, that’s a red flag. Likewise, controller navigation has to be slick on consoles; radial menus and snap-to-hotspot can make or break living-room play.
Getting Chris Barrie back is more than a cameo stunt. His sarcastic rhythm defined Simon’s personality in the talkie versions of I and II. If the writing gives him room to breathe—pauses, retorts, escalating bits—then this might actually feel like Simon instead of a soundalike. The German track bringing back Erik Borner should reassure fans there, too.
The plot pitch—teen Simon, a forced move, a prophecy—edges close to “origin story over-explains the joke.” Simon worked because he was a fish-out-of-water kid who punched up at pompous fantasy tropes. If the prequel spends too long mythologizing him, that undercuts the comedy. I’ll be listening for how often the game lets Simon be petty, wrong, and funny versus reverent and important. Comedy first, canon second.
We’re in a healthier spot for adventures than a decade ago. From indie darlings like Unavowed and The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow to prestige returns like Monkey Island, players expect strong writing, accessible UX, and thoughtful pacing. Nostalgia opens the door; execution keeps us in the room. Smallthing Studios has history with graphic adventures (Martin Mystere, Diabolik). Those were rough around the edges but proved they can ship narrative puzzlers. With ININ’s curation muscle and a clear visual identity, the ingredients are here—now it’s about taste and timing.
Hand-drawn 2D should scale well across platforms if assets are high-res and the UI isn’t locked to tiny fonts. I’m hopeful for a smooth Switch experience—short loads and crisp text are the baseline in 2025. On console, expect direct control rather than a mouse cursor; if they support both, the demo should make that clear. The press info doesn’t list price or physical editions yet, and there’s no mention of accessibility features—voice volume mixing, subtitle sizing, color contrast, and hotspot highlighting are musts for modern adventures. I’ll be checking the demo for those toggles.
Because it’s a Chapter 3 slice, focus on rhythm and clarity:
If those boxes check out and Barrie’s delivery feels natural, Origins might actually thread the needle: old-school spirit without old-school frustration.
Simon the Sorcerer Origins launches October 28 on basically everything: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. That wide net is great—adventures thrive when they’re easy to pick up anywhere. The demo timing is smart, too; a strong showing during Steam Next Fest can build real word of mouth beyond nostalgic diehards. I’m cautiously optimistic. The art direction pops, the VO talent is right, and ININ tends to ship what they promise. Now it’s on the writing, pacing, and puzzle philosophy to prove Simon’s still got bite.
Simon the Sorcerer Origins hits Steam Next Fest with a mid-game demo and launches October 28 across PC and consoles. If the puzzles are readable, the jokes sharp, and the UX modern, this could be the rare prequel that earns its place next to the 90s classics. The demo will tell us fast which way the wand is pointing.
Get access to exclusive strategies, hidden tips, and pro-level insights that we don't share publicly.
Ultimate Gaming Strategy Guide + Weekly Pro Tips