Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is a 1981 RPG developed by Sir-Tech and one of the most influential early computer role-playing games. Players create a party of up to six adventurers and descend through a ten-level dungeon in a first-person, grid-based view to recover an amulet stolen by the evil wizard Werdna and return it to the mad overlord Trebor.
The game emphasised deep character creation across races, classes, and alignments, spell learning, and unforgiving turn-based combat where a single ambush could wipe out an entire party permanently, with dead characters requiring risky resurrection. Its dungeon-crawling structure, class-change system, and reliance on careful mapping profoundly shaped the genre and heavily influenced later series, particularly in Japan where it helped inspire console RPGs.
Wizardry's legacy endures through decades of sequels and spinoffs, and the original has seen modern remasters that update its visuals while preserving the classic gameplay. It remains available through re-releases and emulation for players interested in the foundations of the RPG.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, 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.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wizardry Variants Daphne | Free + in-app purchases | Not on Steam | iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet |
| Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (2024) | € 39,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk Indie | € 39,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, PlayStation, Switch |
| Etrian Odyssey HD | € 39,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Switch |
Wizardry Variants Daphne
Free + in-app purchasesAn official free-to-play Wizardry for phones and tablets, with permadeath and party building.
Wizardry Variants Daphne runs on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. Not available on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (2024)
€ 39,99An official 3D remake of the original that preserves the classic dungeon-crawling systems.
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (2024) runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk Indie
€ 39,99An indie-spirited dungeon RPG deeply rooted in the Wizardry-style crawl.
Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk runs on PC, PlayStation, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Xbox.
Etrian Odyssey HD
€ 39,99A first-person dungeon crawler where you draw your own map as you go, the modern continuation of Wizardry's design.
Etrian Odyssey HD runs on PC, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox.
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