Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown marks the series' return to its acrobatic platforming roots, this time in the form of a metroidvania from Ubisoft Montpellier. The player takes on the role of Sargon, a young warrior of the elite Immortals unit, who sets out to rescue the kidnapped prince within the legendary Mount Qaf, a space distorted by time where past and present constantly intertwine. The gameplay is built on precise, acrobatic movement interwoven with a fast combat system, with gradually acquired abilities opening up previously inaccessible areas of the sprawling interconnected map. The combat system combines a sword, bow, and special abilities gained throughout the game, so battles with regular enemies and striking bosses alike keep evolving and demand thoughtful tactics.

On PlayStation 5, the game runs at a high frame rate, which is essential given its emphasis on precisely timed jumps, dodges, and combos. The level design offers a densely interconnected world full of shortcuts, hidden treasures, and demanding challenges, while also offering mapping tools that make orientation easier for players just starting out with the metroidvania genre. Visually, it combines a stylized Persian aesthetic with striking color accents and fluid character animation, while the musical score draws on Middle Eastern motifs to complete the unique atmosphere of Mount Qaf.

Upon release, the game was received exceptionally well and was named by many players and critics as one of the best titles in the genre in recent years, one that holds its own against established metroidvania franchises. It showed that a traditional action series can successfully transition to modern, interconnected level design without losing its own identity, and brought Prince of Persia back into the spotlight as a respected gaming brand that players are eager to follow even after years of silence, now expecting further quality sequels.

Why play it: For fans of metroidvanias and returns to classic action series alike, it offers interconnected level design without losing its own identity and ranks among the best titles of the genre in recent years.