Sorcery!

 iOS
  • Publisher: inkle
  • Release Date: May 2, 2013
  • Also On: PC
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
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  1. Gamezebo
    May 6, 2013
    100
    If you have any kind of interest at all in fantasy fiction or role-playing games, you simply must play Steve Jackson's Sorcery! It really is just that good.
  2. Games Master UK
    Jun 26, 2013
    90
    An utter essential. [Aug 2013, p.79]
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  3. TouchArcade
    May 13, 2013
    90
    When the four-book work is finished, Sorcery! is likely to be one heck of an impressive gamebook experience. Inkle's groundwork is fantastic, making for an unusually vibrant piece of interactive fiction. It's a bit like a prologue at the moment, but every journey has to start somewhere. This one gets off on the right foot.
  5. Pocket Gamer UK
    May 2, 2013
    90
    A thrilling combination of fantasy novel and RPG, Sorcery! offers a wonderfully fresh take on interactive fiction.
  6. IGN
    May 10, 2013
    88
    Sorcery! relies on the often-ignored power of strong writing, and it’s better for doing so. It’s a prime example of what can happen when traditional storytelling gets along with contemporary game design.
  7. games(TM)
    Jul 28, 2013
    80
    Simply said, Sorcery! is a wonderful release that should light a fire in the heart of any fan of an era long-gone; this is a welcome addition to any iOS library. [Issue#137, p.123]
    All this publication's reviews
  8. Hyper Magazine
    Jun 10, 2013
    80
    It's short and perhaps too forgiving for some, but Sorcery is a fun romp that respects your decisions. [July 2013, p.83]
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  9. RPG Fan
    May 15, 2013
    80
    The worst thing you can say about Sorcery! is that this first book feels short. But when you are enjoying a thing, that often tends to be the case. The best thing is that if it stays true to the books, it is only going to get better.
  10. Hardcore Gamer
    May 9, 2013
    80
    Sorcery! is one of the best games that this reviewer has played on the iPhone and iPad, offering a plethora of options and an excellent story.
  11. Modojo
    May 7, 2013
    80
    This really is a lovely game though, even if the journey is all too brief when you consider the $4.99 price-tag. If you're concerned that this modern re-imagining might not do the original experience justice, cast those concerns aside.
  12. AppSpy
    May 2, 2013
    80
    Sorcery is a high water mark for gamebooks, and the tabletop D&D Experience. Its presentation and content should engage you unless you really dislike reading and making choices.
  13. 148Apps
    May 2, 2013
    80
    Capturing the magic of Steve Jackson's Sorcery! novels, the game of the same name is a great addition for adventure game book fans.
  14. DarkStation
    May 21, 2013
    70
    A wonderful novelty, Sorcery! exists to serve a niche group of users and will struggle to find a captivated mainstream audience.

Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Best iOS Game of 2013
47
#47 Most Discussed iOS Game of 2013

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 21
  3. Negative: 5 out of 21
  1. Repelstale
    Sep 13, 2013
    9
    Hah! I just completed the game on my very first go, without dying once! But enough with the self-satisfaction.
    Sorcery is just a great game.    Hah! I just completed the game on my very first go, without dying once! But enough with the self-satisfaction.
    Sorcery is just a great game. If this becomes part of the future of mobile gaming, instead of just the endless horde of match-3-crap, physics puzzlers and enless runners, the future looks very bright indeed, my friends.

    The presentation is absolutely gorgeous, with a simple but beautiful 3D-map taking up most of the screen time, engrossing ambient sounds, wonderful music, and beautiful illustrations. The game is truly about storytelling, which has pros and cons. On the one hand you've got excellent writing, scenes that keep your interest, and a tale that really takes you along for a ride, instead of bothering you with all the statistics "under the hood". On the other hand, the game is still very much a book: if you've made your choices in a certain scene, that scene is over and the story moves on. Don't expect to revisit villages you've been to before, or walk back to a certain weapon's dealer. So while the story itself and the vivid descriptions of what's happening, including your own mental and physical state, truly immerse you in this world, the way the game unfolds still has its boundaries. Still, I was strangely okay with that: being in a gameworld where everything matters brings much more significance to your actions and choices, compared to just roaming some sandbox RPG.

    There were just two gripes I had with this game.

    One, it's too forgiving. I get that some gamers will be pleased to be able to go back to every decision they made in the game, just to see what the unchosen path might have brought. But in my opinion this seriously decreases the aforementioned feeling of significance: nothing really matters, because in one tap you can "re-choose" another way. I seriously advise new players to stick with their decisions. Trust me, it'll make your experience so much better, and your sense of accomplishment so much greater (Did I tell you I finished the game in my very first go without dying once? I did? Sorry...)

    Two, it's really short. Maybe I should have waited for all four books to have been released on iOS, like I did with the Walking Dead game, so I could have had a more continuous experience. Then again, the sense of yearning to find out what happens next is the biggest compliment a storytelling game can get.

    Highly recommended!    … Full Review »
  2. thetruefan9
    Apr 25, 2016
    10
    Simply a must try if you love text based game. This games just keeps on getting better. Buy the whole series as a package price because it isSimply a must try if you love text based game. This games just keeps on getting better. Buy the whole series as a package price because it is really worth it . So hard to put down. At the same time all should try 80 days from the same company… Full Review »
  3. Thilus
    May 3, 2015
    3
    Poor man's Joe Dever's Lone Wolf. That about sums it up. And it actually is. Sorcery! is based on Fighting Fantasy series by Steve Jackson,Poor man's Joe Dever's Lone Wolf. That about sums it up. And it actually is. Sorcery! is based on Fighting Fantasy series by Steve Jackson, and it really doesn't live up to the expectations. The story itself is pretty dull, and there is almost no backstory. The character is a nobody (no name, no story, no nothing). Sometimes he says that he's a great warrior chosen to fulfil an important quest, but throughout the game he/she struggles to beat anyone. Maybe it's because of the awful fighting system. During a fight you have to choose how much stamina you want to put into an attack. And your computer opponent will counter that. Problem is that he always has the upper hand. AI obviously it always knows the value of your attack before he acts. You choose to defend (0 stamina), he also defends or hits you with the lightest of attacks to damage you. You try to analyze, look through the strategy the opponent is using, you restart the fight, and try to attack with light attack. What does the AI do? No, it does not defend. No, it does not attack you with a light attack it did before. Instead it attacks you with a hit that's 0.1 stronger than yours therefore damages your character. Seriously?! It would much rather like to see RNG here, but with the game being so bland I don't really care that much.… Full Review »
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