The Rogue Prince of Persia (Switch) Review
Release Date: December 16, 2025, physical release April 10
Publisher/Developer: Ubisoft/Evil Empire
Platform: Switch (reviewed), Switch 2, Steam, Xbox, PlayStation 5
Price: $29.99, $34.99 physical
The Rogue Prince of Persia is exactly what it sounds like, a roguelike game in the Prince of Persia series. Created with a team that helped with Dead Cells, the pedigree of both series shines through. While it definitely feels like both of them, the crossover allows it to become it’s own thing, offering an exciting and fun experience that stands on its own.
Playing as a completely new Prince, the story involves the destruction of the kingdom and the introduction of a resurrection element that allows you to keep coming back until you make it right. As expected from the genre, each death allows you to return with experience, weapons, and more that help you get further and further.
Fusing the traditional Prince gameplay with 2D platforming makes for some fun experiences. Portions of the background show large, sprawling vistas, but if there is a nearby wall you can use it to parkour, scaling walls and reaching new areas. Ropes, walls, and poles reward exploration. Successful parkour skills actually help fill a meter that allows you to have more agility and speed. Enemies have variety: some of them require deft dodging, others brute force, and some have specialized armor that can be broken if you can find something to throw at them. You can have a main weapon and a sub weapon. Mixing them up changes the approach you take through the randomly generated worlds.
As I reviewed this title, I have found that the game has been constantly improving since launch, offering updated visuals and additional areas to explore. The graphics and animations are all very well polished, and the music is catchy and fun. If the developers have any say in the matter, hopefully Rogue Prince of Persia will be getting updates for ages much like Dead Cells.
I will be honest; most roguelikes are not my cup of tea. I prefer a direct story and progression that makes me feel like I’m moving forward. Maybe I’m softening to the genre, but Rogue Prince of Persia feels different to me; I genuinely feel like runs are more unique and I am getting somewhere with each attempt. Overall, a fun game worth trying even if you are like me and a bit averse to them.
Rogue Prince of Persia is getting a bit more notice right now despite being released originally in December. Here in April, a physical release is coming out. Nintendo has been making a bit of controversy lately with their statement that their physical cartridges would be $10 more than their digital counterparts; Rogue Prince of Persia is close to this with a $29.99/$34.99 price variation. My review copy was of course digital, but I do appreciate the ability to choose, especially as memory that we have to buy on our own can be pointlessly expensive as well and every game is clamoring for more room on the card. If you’ve waited this long to pick up the title, I suggest heading to your favorite retailer and picking up a physical, or even the Immortal Edition which comes with a Steelbook, art cards, map, and poster for $49.99 total.
Pros:
-Excellent pedigree makes for a wonderful combination of talents to make an amazing roguelike
-Well crafted storyline
-Parkour is fun and rewards exploration
-Newly released physical and deluxe editions for major fans
Cons:
-If you aren’t a rougelike fan, it may not sway you much
Special thanks to Ubisoft and Evil Empire for providing a code for review!