Prince of Persia
Also known as Prince of Persia 1
Prince of Persia is a 1989 cinematic platformer developed by Broderbund and created by Jordan Mechner. Players guide a nameless hero through a dungeon and palace, racing against a strict sixty-minute time limit to rescue a princess while overcoming traps, spikes, chasms and sword-wielding guards.
The game was renowned for its fluid, lifelike animation, achieved through rotoscoping footage of a real person, which gave the protagonist a realistic sense of momentum and weight rare for its time. Its deliberate pacing, deadly traps, careful jumps and tense one-on-one sword duels that used a parry-and-strike system made every leap and clash feel consequential, and death was frequent and unforgiving.
Prince of Persia influenced a generation of platformers and later spawned an acclaimed 3D reinvention, The Sands of Time, that carried its acrobatic spirit forward. The original can be experienced today through re-releases and faithful ports on modern platforms.
Where can you play Prince of Persia today?
Device by device, which of the 5 alternatives below you can play on it.
- PC
- The Messenger (€ 19,99), Blasphemous 2 (€ 29,99), Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (€ 49,99) and 2 more.
- Mac
- None of the alternatives to Prince of Persia runs on Mac.
- Linux
- None of the alternatives to Prince of Persia runs on Linux.
- iPhone
- None of the alternatives to Prince of Persia runs on iPhone.
- iPad
- None of the alternatives to Prince of Persia runs on iPad.
- Android phone
- None of the alternatives to Prince of Persia runs on Android phone.
- Android tablet
- None of the alternatives to Prince of Persia runs on Android tablet.
- PlayStation
- The Messenger (€ 19,99), Blasphemous 2 (€ 29,99) and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (€ 49,99). All 3 on PlayStation
- Xbox
- The Messenger (€ 19,99), Blasphemous 2 (€ 29,99) and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (€ 49,99). All 3 on Xbox
- Switch
- The Messenger (€ 19,99), Blasphemous 2 (€ 29,99), Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (€ 49,99) and 1 more. All 4 on Switch
- Steam Deck
- The Messenger (€ 19,99), Blasphemous 2 (€ 29,99), Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (€ 49,99) and 2 more.
Games like Prince of Persia
Modern alternatives to Prince of Persia, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
The Messenger Indie
€ 19,99A slick indie action-platformer with tight, acrobatic movement.
The Messenger is also an alternative to 4 other classics
The Messenger runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Blasphemous 2 Indie
€ 29,99A punishing, beautiful 2D action-platformer with the same emphasis on precise jumps and lethal spikes.
Blasphemous 2 runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
€ 49,99A brilliant modern Metroidvania revival of the series.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is also an alternative to 1 other classic
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
The Rogue Prince of Persia
€ 19,99A stylish 2D action roguelite spin on the franchise.
The Rogue Prince of Persia runs on PC, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
€ 9,99The 2003 reinvention that carried the original's trap-filled platforming into three dimensions.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Playable.
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