I have been a fan of the Prince of Persia series for a long time. My experience is more closely linked to the 3D games, though Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is one of my favorite Metroidvanias ever. When The Rogue Prince of Persia came out, I almost bought it on release, but something stopped me.

Now, with The Rogue Prince of Persia available (both physically and digitally) on Nintendo Switch 2, I have a new reason to cover it. In The Rogue Prince of Persia, you play as the titular prince, who must protect his home and rescue his family after the Huns send possessed soldiers to overtake the land he loves.

Unlike some other Rogue-likes, The Rogue Prince of Persia is a very mobility-focused Rogue-like. Not only do you have a melee and ranged weapon, but you also have a dash and wall run, both of which can be used in various ways to traverse levels. You also have (at the start) a single potion to refill your health as you progress.

By collecting Dark Cinders between runs, you can return to the Oasis (a hub area) and unlock new abilities, weaponry, and medallions. You can also use Skill Points gained from leveling up to upgrade your existing abilities and unlock things like extra health, potions, etc. The mechanics are fairly easy to understand, but there is a problem that sits at the heart of The Rogue Prince of Persia’s progression.

The game’s progression is slow. In fact, you may die two or three times before getting a skill point that will provide a permanent upgrade. While the game is meant to be difficult, some of the early game can feel like a slog, and the learning curve is a little bit tough to start.

To soften the blow, however, The Rogue Prince of Persia’s story is very engaging. Additionally, there is a lot of enjoyment to be had in the mobility and movement. The developers are also working on some polish work and two free updates, including one that will include a tutorial rework that I believe is very necessary.

The Rogue Prince of Persia is a fast-paced Rogue-like that blends a few Metroidvania elements in its story to guide you along. I wouldn’t say it is perfect, but I would say that it feels similar to how Dead Cells felt prior to some of its DLCs.

The artwork is fantastic, giving it an almost Graphic Novel-esque quality that doesn’t feel too rough around the edges. Also, the soundtrack gives a perfect atmosphere that really aids the experience. Overall, I think if you like action platformers or action Rogue-likes, then The Rogue Prince of Persia is a solid investment.

If you are a fan of the Prince of Persia franchise, this is an easy recommendation. It has some rough edges, but the development team is still working on content updates, and I have no doubt that they will soften some of those edges with time. It isn’t perfect, but I would still recommend checking the game out if you are curious.

A Nintendo Switch 2 review copy of The Rogue Prince of Persia was provided by Ubisoft for the purposes of this review.

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The Rogue Prince of Persia

$29.99 USD

8.5

Score

8.5/10

Pros

• Great Graphic Novel Art Style
• Fluid Mobility and fun Combat
• Intriguing Storyline
• Lots of weapons and equipment

Cons

• Progression is slow to start
• Learning Curve is a little sharp