Gaming History: The Wizardry Series
Did you know that Wizardry is the game series that helped shape the future of RPGs and set the stage for dungeon crawlers, tactical combat, and immersive role-playing adventures?
It began in 1981 with Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, which released for the Apple II. This dungeon-crawling RPG, developed by Sir-Tech, was revolutionary and set the stage for future dungeon crawlers and becoming one of the pioneers of the RPG genre. Imagine a dark labyrinth where every turn could bring monsters, treasure, or death.
For many, this was their first taste of role-playing games, and its influence on future RPGs cannot be overstated. The game was later ported to numerous platforms, including the Commodore 64, NES, and PC, and it’s still available today on GOG and Steam."
With its immersive dungeon exploration and party-based combat, Wizardry became a timeless classic that would influence the future generations of RPG developers.
After the success of the original game , Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds was released the following year in 1982. This sequel expanded the world and allowed players to continue their adventures using saved data from the first game, introducing one of the defining features of the series—seamless progression from one game to the next. The sequel offered new labyrinths filled with dangerous enemies, building on the formula that made the original game a hit.
In 1983, Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn came along, sending players on a quest to recover a mystical orb guarded by a dragon. The Wizardry series was known for its tough challenges, but it was also one of the first games to integrate a rich lore and unique quests.
Fans of the series didn't see a new release until December of 1987 when Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna flipped the script, making players take on the role of Werdna, the villain from the first title, as he tried to escape the labyrinth. This was a unique twist that defied RPG conventions and gave the series a darker, more complex narrative. The game originally released for the Apple II but over the years has been available on multiple platforms, including the first Playstation.
As the series evolved, so did its ambition. The 1990’s brought us Wizardry VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge which marked a significant turning point for the series by introducing science fiction elements that would become a staple of later Wizardry titles. With this, the series started blending fantasy and sci-fi in a way that few other games had ever attempted before.
And in 1988, Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom introduced the first NPC conversations, adding depth to the world and giving players more interactive choices. It also expanded the game world to a new level, increasing the challenge and scope of the adventure.
This shift continued in Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant which released in 1992, it continued the story from the previous game, taking players on an epic quest through space and time, cementing the Wizardry series’s place in the sci-fi RPG genre.
While the core Wizardry series continued to evolve, spin-offs and side games began to emerge, expanding the franchise in new directions. In the early 1990s, Wizardry saw the release of the Wizardry Gaiden series, a set of titles released exclusively for the Game Boy in Japan. The Gaiden titles were a departure from the main series, bringing the Wizardry experience to a portable format with new mechanics and stories while still staying true to the core dungeon-crawling RPG roots. This series introduced players to new settings and challenges, offering a unique take on the Wizardry formula while laying the groundwork for future spin-offs in the franchise.
Released in 1991
Wizardry: The First Episode
Suffering of the Queen
Released in 1993
Wizardry: The Third Episode
Scripture of the Dark
Released in 1992
Wizardry: The Second Episode
Curse of the Ancient Emperor
Released in 1996
Wizardry: The Final Episode
Throb of the Demon’s Heart
Fast forward to the late '90s and early 2000s, and we see the Wizardry Empire series. These games, which debuted on the Game Boy Color, were dungeon crawlers that closely followed the classic Wizardry gameplay style but introduced new elements for a fresh experience.
Wizardry Empire: Princess of the ancient released exclusively in Japan in 1999, this title brought the Wizardry series to the Game Boy Color, with gameplay closely following the Gaiden titles but adding more features from Bane of the Cosmic Forge.
Released in 2002, Wizardry Empire II: Legacy of the Princess was a direct sequel that continued the Empire series' tradition of dungeon exploration, this title expanded on the first game’s systems.
Wizardry Empire III: Ancestry of the Emperor was the third and final title in the Empire series, further refining the core gameplay mechanics and bringing the story to a close with it’s release in 2003.
The Wizardry Empire games helped keep the franchise alive on portable platforms, offering players new challenges while maintaining the traditional Wizardry experience. Like the Gaiden series, they offered fans more ways to explore the world of Wizardry while still retaining that dungeon-crawling magic.
With the arrival of the 21st century, the Wizardry series expanded into new platforms and genres. In 2001, Wizardry VIII was released as the final numbered title in the main series, integrating exploration and combat systems into a unique gameplay experience that set it apart from its predecessors. It serves as the final game in the Dark Savant Trilogy, which include the two previous main titles, Wizardry VI and VII.
The years following saw several more spin-offs, reboots, and mobile adaptations.
In 2009, Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls was released, a challenging title known for its unforgiving dungeons.
And in 2011, Wizardry: Prisoners of the Lost City continued the dungeon-crawling trend, offering a mysterious city shrouded in fog for players to explore.
Two years later was also the PC release of my personal introduction to the series Wizardry Online, while it was available in japan the previous year, it wasn't available in the US until 2013. In that time of my life I was an avid MMO player, I spent my teen years putting several hours into mostly World of Warcraft, but whenever my subscription went down or I got bored, I would turn to the plethora of free to play MMO that you could find on sites like MMOBomb or MMORPG.com
Wizardry Online was one such title, and I absolutely loved this game. It was my first experience with a game that had the looming threat of permadeath, though you could instead sacrifice your items to save your character. I played as an adorable Gnome Cleric, and often found myself offering aid to wayward adventures that I found in trouble in the labyrinth, which in turned earned me many allies that helps me push deeper into the depths and progress my character further than I could have on my own.
I'm sad to say I only got to play this game for less than a year, as the servers were unfortunately shutdown in July of 2014. The official reason that was given was that they were unable to provide new content is due to the adverse “market conditions” of online gaming.
was absolutely devastated by this news, but I moved on to play many other free MMOs, and even went back WoW several times, but despite this disappointing event, this wasn't the end of games being released for the Wizardry series.
Watch the awesome game trailer here.
As we fast forward to 2024, the Wizardry franchise continues to innovate.
Wizardry: Eternal Crypt was released as a blockchain game that challenges players to guide adventurers through treacherous dungeons in search of treasure, all while staying true to the series' legacy of dungeon-crawling adventures.
And Wizlite: Everybod Loved RPGS, which released in December 18, 2024, is a fast-paced, 15-minute dungeon RPG that mixes classic command battles with roguelite gameplay.
Though shorter in scope, it captures the essence of Wizardry’s tense battles, dungeon exploration, and spell management which is perfect for fans looking for a quick yet thrilling RPG experience.
And finally we have Wizardry Variants Daphne which first released in August 2023 for mobile, and later became available for PC via Steam on March 6th of this year. This fresh entry in the series re-imagines the classic formula, offering new mechanics and story elements while honoring the franchise’s roots. With new labyrinths and challenges to explore, Daphne brings the Wizardry experience to an even wider audience, including myself and I especially enjoy seeing how the story is unfolding.
While it may have started as a simple dungeon crawler in 1981, over the years, the Wizadry series has evolved into one of the most influential RPG franchises of all time. From its roots in classic dungeon exploration to its far-reaching sci-fi adventures, Wizardry has shaped the RPG genre in ways that are still felt even today. So, whether you’re a fan of the classic dungeon crawler or the more modern takes, there’s no denying that Wizardry is the cornerstone for the RPGs we love today.
Play the games on STEAM:
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Wizardry 6: Bane of the Cosmic Forge
Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant
Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls
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Source: Wizardry Timeline
Article Author: Bonny Abomination
Contact: Bonny@Maelstromhold.com
