Physical copies now available for this roguelike game in the long running series.
Go beyond death and save the kingdom.
The Rogue Prince of Persia, developed by Evil Empire, is a roguelike entry in the Price of Persia (PoP) series that has been around since 1989.
While the digital version of the game has been out on consoles since 2025, the physical versions of the game released April. 10.
You are the prince. Felled in battle by the Huns, your magical bola (pendant) brings you back to an oasis filled with companions and opportunities for improvement before you head out again.
Armed with a consistent main weapon and secondary which is limited in use, you’ll traverse numerous settings and take on bosses as you fight towards saving your kingdom.
Of course, you’re not just limited to the weapons you have on hand. As the prince your parkour skills are unmatched. Wall run, dodge, and vault over obstacles in your path, as you continue to push forward.
In addition to your weapons, you’re also given the option to choose from multiple medallions, these give you certain benefits throughout each run and can help make or break your ability to make it to the end.
Like weapons, you can change these out as you progress, as there are numerous places where the option to swap these out is presented. You can only hold a limited number of medallions, so being prepared as you progress is key to survival.
This is actually where the game differs from others in the genre.
PoP is unlike the majority of roguelike games in the sense that the story unfolds properly, and each run feels more like you’re continuing what you started, rather than starting over.
You’ll encounter numerous companions along the way; each of whom can help benefit you back at your oasis basecamp. Sometimes “unlocking” these friends need an extra nudge in order to join your team. This might require you to find an item of theirs or attain something which can only be gotten in a later level.
It’s a smart way to keep players engaged while ensuring they don’t feel overcome by monotony.
The prince can also improve his abilities and armaments at the oasis before each run, by cashing in skill points and soul cinders. The former is accrued by collecting experience as you fight your way through each run, and can be cashed in for things like more health, experience gaining, etc. You’ll keep the experience you gain once your run ends.
Cinders on the other hand, are improvement points which you can lose if you don’t cash them in at points along the way. You’ll be able to use these to unlock new weapons and medallions at “shops” along the way.
Mechanically the game is simplistic in nature, yet getting a handle on the controls might take a minute before you’re fully accustomed to the fluidity that the game requires. You’ll wall run and dodge with the left and right triggers respectively. Face buttons for things like jumping ‘cross,’ main weapon ‘square’ and secondary weapon ‘circle,’ – yes this was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
Once you master movement the game really opens itself up, yearning for you to go for one more run before you call it a day.
Graphically the game is reminiscent of comic-styled art. There seems to be a rise in games with this overall style of late – both in flat and virtual reality spaces – and while it might not always work, here it certainly does.
The 2D style, coupled with fast paced movement and combat, doesn’t really require the wildest of graphics. Yet, there’s something oddly satisfying about the gameplay with the current graphics.
Overall, The Rogue Prince of Persia is a welcome entry to both the rogue genre and PoP series. There’s enough challenge without being overbearing, and you’ll realize your limitations without being annoyed that you’re not able to make it past a certain point.
The physical versions include the regular game and “immortal” edition which includes artwork and a steelbook case. The standard edition comes in at $49.99, while immortal’s additions will net you about $15 more, for a cost of $64.99.
Collectors will appreciate all the physical additions to for their collections, as this recent addition to the series takes the prince in an exciting new direction.
