Prince of Persia

A cinematic platformer and action-adventure video game franchise created by Jordan Mechner, debuting in 1989.

Action

Action-adventure

Special edition

Platformer

53

Games

1989–2024

Years

43

Platforms

$25.53

Ø CIB

+18.8%

24M change

About

The series began with the highly influential 1989 platformer developed by Jordan Mechner, which utilized rotoscoping for realistic character animations. It evolved from 2D side-scrolling games into a successful 3D action-adventure franchise under Ubisoft, notably with the Sands of Time trilogy. The series is celebrated for its acrobatic movement, environmental puzzles, and time-manipulation mechanics.

Following the initial release, the property expanded rapidly across various home consoles and computer systems. Early adaptations and regional ports include the Prince of Persia [Super CD] (1987) version, alongside multiple self-titled editions released as Prince of Persia (1989), Prince of Persia (1991), and Prince of Persia (1992) for platforms such as the NES, Game Boy, Sega Genesis, and SNES. These releases helped cement the title's global reach.

The narrative typically centers on an unnamed protagonist navigating treacherous dungeons and palaces to rescue a princess from an evil vizier, often Jaffar. Broader media adaptations followed, including a 2010 feature film, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, produced by Walt Disney Pictures.

The franchise also served as the conceptual foundation for other major industry intellectual properties; early development on a planned spin-off title eventually transitioned into the creation of the Assassin's Creed series. Recent entries, such as the critically acclaimed Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (2024), demonstrate the franchise's ongoing adaptability across different gameplay genres.