Highlights

  • The Prince of Persia franchise has stood the test of time, influencing other games like Assassin's Creed.
  • The series had a shaky track record in the 2000s but has bounced back with new games in 2024.
  • The Rogue Prince of Persia offers a fresh take on the franchise with 2D gameplay and roguelike elements, and with The Last Crown being a hit and a remake of Sands of Time on the way, the series may finally be here to stay.

Debuting all the way back in 1989, the Prince of Persia franchise may not be nearly as iconic as other early gaming franchises Super Mario, but it's managed to stand the test of time a lot better than some other gaming properties that were released in the same year. There have been a total of 10 mainline Prince of Persia games released over the last three decades, along with a handful of spin-offs, and one ill-fated live-action movie. But the Prince of Persia series has also influenced more than its fair share of other video game franchises.

Perhaps the most well-known example of Prince of Persia's influence is the entirety of the Assassin's Creed franchise, which originally began life as an open-world PoP game titled Prince of Persia: Assassins. When it comes to its own franchise, however, Prince of Persia has had a bit of a shaky track record, with the series going dormant in the 2010s. But with two great games now having broken the silence, it finally feels like the Prince of Persia franchise is back, and on the right track.

The Rogue Prince of Persia Face
Related
A Clear Set of Early Access Priorities Would Be a Game-Changer For Rogue Prince of Persia

The Rogue Prince of Persia has a bold early access plan, but developer Evil Empire might be better off prioritizing certain features over others.

The Prince of Persia Franchise Is Back On The Right Track

The 2000s Were a Rollercoaster For The Prince of Persia Franchise

The original Prince of Persia trilogy ran from 1989 all the way up to 1999, and the reception to the series got steadily worse with each entry, with Prince of Persia 3D sitting at a 58 on Metacritic based on reviews of the time. It was clear the Prince of Persia franchise needed a bit of a refresh, and that's exactly what Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time delivered in 2003. One of the most beloved games of the sixth generation, Sands of Time marked a new golden era for the franchise, an era that unfortunately wouldn't last too long.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time's sequels, Warrior Within and The Two Thrones, received pretty great reviews, but the series would be rebooted in 2008 regardless. And again, though the 2008 Prince of Persia earned quite a bit of critical praise, the series was rebooted just two years later with Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. The reception to The Forgotten Sands wasn't nearly as positive as its predecessors, and Ubisoft decided to pull the plug on the entire series, ushering in a 13-year-long dormancy.

2024 Marks a New Beginning for Prince of Persia

But now, the Prince of Persia franchise is back, and this time it could be here to stay. 2024 has brought with it not one, but two great Prince of Persia games, both of which take the franchise in bold new directions. While Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a 2D Metroidvania with strategic combat and tight platforming, The Rogue Prince of Persia is a 2D roguelike that puts a heavy emphasis on parkour and fast-paced action. Both of these new entries prove that the Prince of Persia series doesn't need to rely solely on third-person, big-budget, action-adventures, and that paves the way for a much brighter future for the series.

The Prince of Persia Franchise Has No Shortage of Opportunities Now

It's already been confirmed that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is receiving a paid story DLC expansion later this year, and as an early access game, The Rogue Prince of Persia is sure to receive plenty of updates over the next year or so that could make it one of the most exciting entries in franchise history. The long-awaited Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake is also meant to still be in the works, which could be huge if Ubisoft has managed to right the ship. But this should only be the beginning of this new era of Prince of Persia, as there are plenty of other genres the series could try out next.