Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an absolute triumph, charting the future for this fallen franchise. Here’s hoping it finds its audience because it would be a tragedy to have something this good lost to time once again.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a superb Metroidvania that reignites the franchise in exciting ways and only gets better the longer you play it. Meticulously crafted platforming mixed with exhilarating combat makes for a game that is nearly impossible to put down.

The Prince of Persia returns after a 14-year hiatus. This is a return in glory and splendor, accompanied by the... crackle of broken gamepads. It's almost hard to believe Ubisoft suddenly pulled off such a good game.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an expertly executed series revival that displays the best of Ubisoft Montpellier’s pedigree while pushing the action-platformer to new highs.

Prince of Persia is a true masterpiece! Brilliant in its puzzles, demanding in its combat with its extremely nervous gameplay, gripping, thanks to a truly neat universe and a well-told story, it offers a strong experience, full of good ideas, in the purest tradition of Prince of Persia. Well done Ubisoft!

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an exceptional entry in the Metroidvania genre. What started out as an inventive spin on the time-bending franchise became a masterclass in 2D combat and traversal. Players wanting a dense, rich map riddled with secrets will find a happy home. Those wishing for surprisingly deep battles and razor-sharp navigation puzzles won’t be let down. With each new moment, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown becomes timeless.

The Lost Crown makes it hard to put the controller down, constantly urging players to follow its paths just a little further. Following its persistent pull to explore more of Mount Qaf is easy, though, thanks to how good it feels to do so. Between its first-rate platforming and engaging combat and progression, The Lost Crown’s various parts coalesce into a sublime loop. Gameplay is king, and this Prince of Persia understands that.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is one of the best metroidvania we have played and a splendid return that we did not imagine even in our wildest dreams.

The combat system, the audiovisual part, the boss fights, the controls, the performance, the enemies.... Everything there is to mention about Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is excellent. This is the best Prince of Persia game to date and a brilliant addition to the genre. Fan of Metroidvanias or the Persian Prince? You must play this game.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an excellent metroidvania and should certainly be remembered among the best of the genre. I was surprised at several moments throughout the adventure, whether by the incredible level design, combat and movement fluidity, interesting powers and much more. This is a title that shows Ubisoft at its best and marks an excellent start to the year for the developer and all the fans.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is not only the first major video game of 2024, but it's also one of the best metroidvania of recent years.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is the long-awaited triumphant return of the franchise. Ubisoft has created one of the best metroidvanias of this century with a fresh and renewed formula.

Prince of Persia returns in style with an exceptional adventure that excels in everything it sets out to do, that does everything so well that it is difficult to find fault with it and that you never want it to end. After many years missing, the Prince has returned, but he has returned as the king of action and platform games.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown makes it difficult to put down the controller. The fluid action, the beautiful animations and designs, the creative levels and ways you can use the map... I could go on and on. Platforming and action are masterfully balanced and braving the game world and its secrets is as challenging as it is rewarding. There are some bugs here and there during boss fights, and the occasional lack of button responsiveness, but that really doesn't make the game any less fun. This is the Prince of Persia game we deserve in 2024.

Not only is it soulful, it’s a living, breathing embodiment of ingenuity done right, transcending all expectations and doubts I had.

A comeback story for the ages. Beautiful, with awesome combat and perfect parkour. Hollow Knight: Silksong may have to cure cancer to top this. [Issue#37, p.82]

With nods to the game’s platforming and combat roots, it offers joyful variations (and, in some cases, improvements) on recent Metroidvanias, all while looking to a healthy, innovative future that recognizes this game’s royal credentials in just about every category.

The new Prince of Persia is a first-class metroidvania that just keeps getting better the longer we play.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a fabulous addition to an over-saturated Metroidvania genre, bringing fresh mechanics, engaging combat, and entertaining characters back to the series. It’s a throwback to the glory days while still ringing in a new era.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown manages to deliver a balanced experience and to always bring something interesting to do, being a metroidvania game full of rhythm, almost flawless. The story is captivating and the flow of the campaign is very organic. The gameplay is perfectly smooth and refined. 2024 begins with a bang.

A fantastic metroidvania that, in terms of gameplay, does almost everything masterfully and marks the triumphant return of one of the most legendary video game sagas. It has exquisite controls, outstanding level design, incredibly rewarding platforming sections, a very fun combat system with a very varied bestiary and memorable bosses, and a generous amount of content. Its story and narrative leave something to be desired, graphically it is not very impressive and it does not escape some programming errors, but if you like the genre and missed this mythical saga, here you have a great game with which to start the year in the best possible way.

This is a gamer’s game, and I mean that in a literal sense. It shines with brilliant game design through and through and doesn’t manipulate the player’s dopamine through gotcha microtransaction mechanics. It’s a pure, raw, game experience that respects the player’s skill and time. I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed a game as much as Prince of Persia The Lost Crown in years. If you’re even remotely interested in platformers or Metroidvanias, you owe it to yourself to play this game.

Fun 2.5D platforming, combo-based combat and clever puzzles wrapped in a highly polished, content-filled package. A must-play adventure.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a sea change for the long-running series, and almost as dramatic a shift as Sands of Time was when it took the classic platformer series into 3D. This new genre debut is so confident and impeccably crafted that this should simply be the identity of Prince of Persia for the foreseeable future. Nearly every part of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown works so well, and the parts connect so seamlessly, that it feels as if the series has found its new genre home.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an excellent Metroidvania. It doesn't completely break the mold of the genre, but it is firing on all cylinders, and it's a delight from start to finish. The excellent gameplay is bolstered by the anime-inspired visuals to create a distinctive style. The somewhat lackluster plot lags behind, but even that is mostly fun, if unexceptional. If you're a fan of Metroidvania-style games, you're certain to have a ton of fun with Sargon's adventure in The Lost Crown.

The Lost Crown is a fantastic game. Not only does it capture the biggest strengths of Prince of Persia's earliest sidescrolling instalments, it also reinvigorates the series in spectacular fashion with its Metroidvania design structure. From level design to combat, from the platforming to its visual style, from the exploration to the soundtrack, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an impressive accomplishment in more ways than one, and one of Ubisoft's best games in years.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a successful reinvention of the dormant franchise that carves out a marvelous new identity, one that clearly has a bright future. While it doesn’t revolutionize the Metroidvania genre, it certainly elevates it to new heights by refining it and blending in the best aspects of previous Prince of Persia entries. Combined with a terrific soundtrack, a stylish aesthetic, and an intriguing narrative that avoids the pitfall of becoming too overbearing, The Lost Crown marks an excellent start to 2024.

The latest Prince of Persia is a well-designed and masterfully executed game with smooth and satisfying gameplay, challenging platforming elements, demanding boss fights, and a combat system that offers a lot of possibilities. It’s only January and I already have a candidate for the list of the best titles of 2024.

Fluid platforming combined with tense combat is a real treat for the fans of old-school games from this legendary series. Ubisoft is definitely on the right track with this one, as it seems they still have the potential to produce these smaller and better-focused titles. Great fun for long winter afternoons.

In a nutshell: deep combat, impressive acrobatics, traps and puzzles, complex bosses, interesting characters, temporal powers and a carefully thought-out presentation.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an unapologetically stylish and sleek Metroidvania action adventure that boasts magnificent movement and brilliant boss design. Aside from setting itself apart from other entries in the Prince of Persia series, it also stands toe-to-toe with some of the genre's giants. While the narrative isn't comparatively engrossing, this one-of-a-kind journey will undeniably satisfy both beginners and veterans of the franchise. The never-mundane gameplay loop full of ceaseless reward and discovery is one that shows clear, meticulous thought poured into it. At its core, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown redefines what Prince of Persia can bring to the table and proves that it can still shine in the modern age if given enough polish and opportunity.

An excellent return to the Prince of Persia franchise. The Lost Crown takes the classic Metroidvania-style and builds on it with excellent puzzles, platforming and combat. The Lost Crown is easily the first must have title of the year and shouldn't be missed.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Lost Crown. It took me a little under 18 hours to finish the game with quite a bit of exploring off the beaten track along the way – and the next day all I wanted to do was pick the game back up to get to more exploring. It’s got compelling exploration, great feeling movement, engaging combat and satisfying puzzles. Genuine innovation in the genre and smartly integrated accessibility features make The Lost Crown a game I heartily recommend.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is one of the finest metroidvanias I’ve ever played and a fantastic way to start 2024. Thrilling and kinetic platforming, thumping combat, and a vast game world that demands exploration, and makes it a joy to do. It’s time to kick nostalgia firmly in the unmentionables; this is the best Prince of Persia ever.

A content-rich experience, offering a captivating mix of gameplay mechanics that make it a unique experience, exceeding expectations with genius level design and a great level of challenge that make it a great start to the year 2024.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is the POP game we didn't know we wanted! It is the best game Ubisoft has released in recent years and I can easily recommend it to fans of the series.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an excellent Metroidvania. Its combat mechanics are very entertaining, and the level design is challenging, so ambitious that you will want to finish it more than once because of how fun it can be. This game deserves a chance and stands out as one of the best in the first half of 2024.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an excellent new entry in this iconic franchise, and a great entry point for new Metroidvania fans (while still offering plenty of challenge for veterans of the genre). The traversal and combat feel incredibly satisfying, and the story offers an exciting adventure you don't want to miss.

Ubisoft Montpellier has successfully combined the expertise developed from the Rayman series with the combat of the Souls series, resulting in a truly enjoyable Metroidvania-style game with various quality-of-life features. Whether you're familiar with this kind of genre or not, it's a perfect game to start the new year with.

Be it the masterful design of the semi-open game world divided into 13 dye biomes, the continuous introduction of new hero abilities, the thrilling duels with a huge range of enemy types, the challenging puzzles and boss fights, the scope, which is more extensive than many others genre representatives or the variety of accessibility functions - Ubisoft Montpellier undoubtedly delivers one of its best games in recent years! There are minor points of criticism, but in our opinion they are primarily limited to difficulty peaks in some boss fights and the fact that the story doesn't quite as emotionally engage us as that of Hollow Knight or Ori and the Blind Forest, for example.

The Lost Crown doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it does an excellent job of implementing the gameplay loop of exploration, character improvement and progression.

A fresh and cool take of the metroidvania genre. It has great exploration mechanics and a fluid and fun combat, with a really nice learning curve. Although it has some technical issues, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown delivers great art, awesome gameplay and plenty to do.

Despite moving away from the formula of The Sands of Time saga, the new Prince of Persia does not make an effort to introduce new ideas to the genre. Instead, the game is satisfied with providing a great experience, packed with the spirit that made the series famous in the past.

Very rarely have I done as complete a turnaround with something the way that I did with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. I went in concerned about playing another metroidvania and the bumpy start had me questioning the wisdom of requesting this assignment. However, I am happy to report that those feelings dissipated quickly — The Lost Crown is a fantastic project that both honors the lineage of the franchise while also taking it in a bold new direction. One could easily make the argument that this is the best game Ubisoft has produced in around a decade, and it’s an easy call to say that this is 2024’s first must-play title. Don’t miss it.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a beacon of hope for a franchise that's been gone for far too long. Fans of the series will be happy with this series' new direction.

The Lost Crown deserves a chance both from new players and old-time fans of the franchise. Yes, you do not play with the prince, but that does not affect the game experience. Ubisoft managed to put together a challenging and very enjoyable experience that mixes elements from different genres into a real good end result. The first big title of 2024 is a pleasant surprise, and while it may not be the sequel many have expected, it is a game that shows the dedication of the team from Montpelier.

While The Last Crown is not without flaws, the final package is entertaining enough to make it worth your time and money. It’s highly inspired by ancient Persia and offers deep and engaging gameplay and beautiful art design, proving that the Prince of Persia universe has massive potential and deserves more attention from Ubisoft.

If you are a fan of Metroidvania-style games or even just a fan of fast-paced combat with a focus on boss fights, you’ll love this iteration.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown strikes a harmonious balance between combat, puzzles, and exploration, providing a satisfying blend for players. The shadow of the deluxe edition looms, introducing cosmetic items and early access at a questionable price point. Despite this, the core game experience remains untarnished, making the deluxe edition an optional, albeit somewhat disappointing, add-on. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a delightful journey, offering a well-paced adventure that managed to keep me engaged from start to finish.

In essence, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown convinced us almost without reservations. The adventure of Sargon and the Immortals in the heart of Mount Qaf is, without mincing words, one of the best metroidvanias around and yet another proof of the talent of Ubisoft Montpellier. It is a rather rich package in terms of content, equipped with a playful structure that works excellently in all its parts and embellished with a combat system that is at times galvanizing. While waiting for the announced remake of the unforgettable first chapter of the trilogy that began in 2003 (also lost in the Sands of Time?), fans of the series can rest easy: The Lost Crown is a delightful new beginning for the saga , a project that exudes all the passion instilled by its developers and a first, hopeful look at the future for one of the most important series of our beloved medium.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an incredibly pleasant surprise. Brilliant gameplay and gorgeous visuals make it utterly addictive to play, and in my time with it, I never wanted to put it down. The only fault the experience really has is the story, and while it is perfectly serviceable, it’s never sufficiently engaging, even if the gameplay itself is enough to keep you going. If you are looking for a new Metroidvania to sink your teeth into, this is one I can highly recommend, and a strong return to form for the previously long-resting franchise.

Setting aside the expectation that The Lost Crown is the next mainline Prince of Persia title will help players appreciate the game for what it is. The Lost Crown is a fun and engaging 2.5D action platformer. It borrows a number of mechanics from several years’ worth of recent Metroidvanias, but adds a few ideas and quality of life features of its own, too. Maybe best of all, it’s a game for both newcomers and Metroidvania veterans. Accept it for what it is and The Lost Crown is a solid and well-made game, with excellent mechanics, plenty of content and challenge.

The movement and combat system fit together like perfect, oiled gears and make Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown an incredibly fun Metroidvania that only falls just short of the best due to a lack of unique selling points.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown managed to swipe away every possible doubt after its first reveal, proving itself to be a metroidvania well developed, fun and with the right ideas.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a good Metroidvania and a welcome return for this long dormant series. We just wish it had dynamic difficulty as some bosses are just that bit too tough. There’s only so many times we can face failure.

The most satisfying effort from Ubisoft Montpellier since Rayman Legends. In a rebirth of this calibre, death is a moot point. [Issue#394, p.98]

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a very big step in the right direction for the franchise that has been around for years. It was a great idea to go back to the roots of the series and make it a 2D platformer in the style of a metroidvania. With this game, the creators managed to strike a perfect balance of impressive boss fights, well thought out puzzles and challenging courses. Thus, the gameplay is never boring or monotonous for a moment. Especially with protagonist Sargon constantly gaining new time powers, there are always new ways to take on bosses or solve puzzles. As a player, I continued to marvel at this. It's just a shame that the story really got going late. There was so much potential in the characters and the story told with them. Also graphically, the game is disappointing compared to other parts in the Prince of Persia series. But nevertheless, The Lost Crown is a great metroidvania. I hope Ubisoft continues the franchise this way and we will see Sargon again.

Prince of Persia makes a triumphal comeback with The Lost Crown, a challenging and rewarding metroidvania with a vibrant personality that leaves a lasting impression by mixing familiarity with innovation.

It bears little resemblance to any of its predecessors, but The Lost Crown is one of the best Metroidvania games of recent years and a highly enjoyable challenge.

But generally Prince of Persia plays simply and well, like an old school arcade button basher.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown demonstrates that the series remains highly relevant. The return to its 2D roots proved to be an excellent choice, showcasing a metroidvania design that stands among the best in the genre.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has some things that overshadow the experience, including the classic Ubisoft bugs and a visual performance that at times is controversial, but there is no doubt that it is a great, enjoyable and complete experience. A step in the right direction. The game is the result of great ideas that worked well in other recent games, and were very well captured in this new installment of Prince of Persia. I hope the numbers go with it, because I would love to see in the future how they can make a sequel with much more confidence than what this game represents.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a good metroidvania that makes its intriguing gameplay its most appreciable aspect, which offers many accessibility-related options that allow the game experience to be fully customized. Although it is not flawless in some aspects, such as an uninspired character design and a difficulty balance that is not properly calibrated, Ubisoft Montpellier's new game is a must play for all fans of the genre and the Prince of Persia franchise.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown might not have the most captivating story and characters, but its platforming and combat are a new peak for the series - an impressive feat considering that’s what put it on the map in the first place. Some fans may have already turned their nose up at The Lost Crown because of everything that it does differently from the Sands trilogy, but this is not only one of its best entries in the series, but one that understands what makes Prince of Persia so great in the first place.

Prince of Persia The Lost Crown ticks all the boxes of the perfect metroidvania. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but appropriates a genre that suits the license perfectly. Artistically very well done, visually appealing, the game is also extremely dynamic and engaging. It's a pleasure to explore this citadel frozen in time, to discover its varied and inspired environments, even if we've seen them a thousand times before. The fact is, the execution is top-notch and the artwork creates the perfect illusion. The icing on the cake is that, in addition to offering a challenge that can be customized from start to finish, this Prince of Persia is extremely generous. The gameplay becomes denser the further you go, and the mechanics merge together to create some memorable platforming and boss battles. There's no need to beat about the bush: Prince of Persia The Lost Crown marks the return of the license with a vengeance, and is not only a great success but also an excellent surprise.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown combines elements of the classic 2D games with the 3D reboots to create a solid metroidvania. In fact Prince of Persia translates to this genre so well it's surprising it took until 2024 to happen. The gameplay is a mix of fighting, platforming and puzzles that are balanced in a way where things never get stale. Many of the obstacles Sargon faces will present a challenge and only the most skilled players will make it through without falling prey to a trap at least once, but none are so challenging that they can't be overcome with a little perseverance. The same can be said for the combat, where learning the intricacies and nuance of the combat system is an important part of winning against the challenging boss fights. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown may not revolutionize the genre, but it's one of the better metroidvanias to come out in recent years.

The big drawback to The Lost Crown is that if you’re not already a fan of Metroidvanias, it’s hard to imagine anything here will suddenly make you a believer in the genre. It’s a well-made Metroidvania, to be sure, but there’s nothing here that breaks new ground. But if you grew up with Prince of Persia, that’s kind of beside the point. The Lost Crown shows that there’s still life in the franchise. Now, hopefully, we don’t have to go another thirteen years until the next entry.

Fluid, well-paced, easy to handle and with multiple settings to adapt to all ways of playing, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown sets the bar high. Relying on the best references of the genre at the risk of not letting its personal touch twirl, the app ticks all the boxes of a very good action adventure platformer. Ubisoft has created a Metroidvania that meets the specifications, clean, without major burrs, but also without a little something that makes it as unique as a legendary gem. If you like the genre, go for it.

Prince of Persia The Lost Crown is a pleasant surprise at the start of the year, with a satisfying gameplay offering everything that's best in the Metroidvania genre, without forgetting to innovate. The cartoonish art direction, clichéd story and extravagant action scenes may be a quality or a flaw depending on your sensibilities, but that shouldn't discourage you from playing it, as it's so much fun to explore, fight and perform incredible acrobatics with disconcerting ease.

Elegance, finesse, style – whatever you want to call it, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has it. It sets the stage with familiar Prince of Persia elements while performing them in new ways. The production comes with a few stumbles, yet The Lost Crown always recovers with style, proving itself as a worthy heir to the elegance that this series represents.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown paints a picture of sustainable development as it infuses all the thrills of a modern AAA release into a smaller package. Heavy on ideas and experiments, this is top-notch.

I'd still recommend Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown to the Metroidvania heads among us, as well as longstanding Prince of Persia fans whose experience with the series stretches back to the late '80s/early '90s. For those wanting more in the same vein as 3D adventures like The Sands of Time, this ain't it. But it is a return to relative form for a series whose last mainline outing landed 14 years ago – it's just disappointing that this very good game was held back from true greatness.

Having been away from our consoles for some 14 years, we’re glad that Prince of Persia has made a return. And while we’d welcome another 3D action adventure entry with open arms, Ubisoft’s choice to adopt a 2.5D Metroidvania format for this foray is a shrewd one. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has everything you’d expect of a Prince of Persia game, from tense, thoughtful combat to challenging platforming. Yet thanks to its youthful flair and genre-shift, it feels fresh and unlike anything else currently in the Ubisoft library. For Prince of Persia fans and those who enjoy Metroidvanias in general, this is very much worthy of a recommendation.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a smart game that makes you feel even smarter. It’s a Metroidvania that’s learned from the best, but without sacrificing any element of its own personality – for better and for worse. Beneath the gaudy graphics and cheeseball story, there’s a hardcore platforming heart bruised by punishing combat. Middling boss design aside, this is a game that you can sink an easy 30 hours into. And you’ll come away feeling clever, powerful, and dexterous.

Through a blend of a Metroidvania structure and a dutiful nod to its side-scrolling past, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a lean and assured mechanical treat.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown puts its best foot forward with rewarding and satisfying gameplay at its core. Combining the series' 2D past with the time-bending powers from later games, this Metroidvania is a brilliant blend that brings the franchise back in a fresh new way. While it can sometimes look a little underwhelming, and the sheer size of the game threatens to slow its own momentum, the fluid, challenging platforming and combat are so fun that any shortcomings fade into the background. This is an overall great action adventure with a lot to offer.

As a layered platformer, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown rocks that tangible sense of cool that’s so hard to define and grasp. It packs in style, and satisfaction, and consistently rewards you for exploring further, challenging yourself, and surmounting its vast wave of puzzles.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a great new addition to the Metroidvania subgenre that offers players unique combat and an all-around good time.

Prince of Persia was long in need of a resurrection, and in The Lost Crown, it's found it. Excellent platforming, clever puzzles and a huge map make one of the best Metroidvania's in years, and kicks off 2024 in style.

The Lost Crown is a great metroidvania. Sometimes the difficulty level peaks unexpectedly, which can lead to some frustration due to the linear nature, but usually the strong combat and fast platforming ensure that this is a very fun game.

Prince of Persia takes the series on a new path, it is a great proposal for this Metroidvania and of course we have several changes in its story. We have ingenious puzzles and fast-paced combat, the start of the game is slow and the bad graphics make it clear to us that the game was made for smartphones. If you are a fan of this genre you probably won't find anything original in it.