Prince of Persia The Lost Crown

About

"Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown" is an action-adventure platformer set in a mythological Persian world, where you play as Sargon and master acrobatic combat and time manipulation abilities. Explore the vast and detailed world of Mount Qaf, full of puzzles, hidden treasures, and time-corrupted enemies. Immerse yourself in a rich and original story as you evolve from a sword-wielding prodigy to an extraordinary legend.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Prince of Persia The Lost Crown screenshot

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,415 reviews

story278 positive mentions

stability53 negative mentions

Fluid and satisfying combat mechanics that allow for creative combos and strategies.
Engaging platforming with a variety of abilities that enhance exploration and gameplay.
Beautiful art style and level design that brings the world to life, along with a decent story.

Ubisoft Connect is required, which can be frustrating and has caused issues with saving progress.
Some platforming challenges can be overly difficult and may lead to frustration.
The story, while decent, lacks depth and some character motivations feel underdeveloped.

story
691 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
54%
6%
The story of "Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging yet somewhat predictable and cliché. While some appreciate the intriguing twists and the incorporation of Persian mythology, others criticize the narrative for being underdeveloped and lacking depth, with characters that feel flat. Overall, the game offers a serviceable story that complements its strong gameplay mechanics, though it may not leave a lasting impression.
- “The story is engaging, filled with intriguing twists, betrayals, and mythical lore that keeps you hooked.”
- “The voice acting is solid and brings the characters to life, while the story’s pacing keeps players engaged from start to finish.”
- “Genuinely a great expansive metroidvania with an interesting story and well-developed characters combined with really fun mechanics for exploration and a pretty deep combat system.”
- “The story is very simple, with characters that are not too well written and some plot holes.”
- “I have to give a negative review due to the bad story design, lore, and character development.”
- “The story makes no sense and the characters have zero depth.”
gameplay
438 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The gameplay of *Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown* is widely praised for its fluid mechanics, engaging combat, and innovative traversal options, making it a standout in the metroidvania genre. Players appreciate the depth of combat systems, the variety of abilities, and the rewarding exploration, although some note issues with repetitive elements and linear storytelling. Overall, the game successfully combines challenging gameplay with a charming world, offering a satisfying experience for both newcomers and veterans of the series.
- “Overall, it’s a thrilling adventure that combines excellent gameplay with an immersive and well-crafted narrative.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and rewarding.”
- “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a truly engaging metroidvania with a plethora of items to discover, an extended map to traverse, smooth mechanics to execute, some pretty difficult objects and platforming challenges to conquer, some tough bosses that will make you sweat and test your skills and an overall feeling of remarkable rewarding each time you progress further.”
- “I hung in there as long as I could, but the gameplay gets so repetitive after a while.”
- “Frustrating gameplay (if you don't like parrying mechanics, don't bother playing this); you have to backtrack through tons of rooms when you die, making the whole process tedious.”
- “The times I had to replay 30 minutes of gameplay over and over because I was 15 feet away from the next 'save tree' should be zero, but it wasn't.”
graphics
261 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
30%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and vibrant art style, which effectively bring the diverse biomes and intricate designs to life. Players appreciate the seamless integration of 2D and 3D elements, along with the fluid animations that enhance the overall gameplay experience. While some noted minor graphical glitches and a lack of intensity in certain areas, the overall aesthetic and attention to detail have been highlighted as standout features that contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere.
- “The graphics are stunning, with beautifully designed levels that feel alive and immersive.”
- “The game’s visuals are absolutely beautiful, with each biome featuring distinct and intricate designs that bring the world to life.”
- “This is a hell of a game with buttery smooth combat and platforming, crisp, colorful visuals, a unique lore and setting, and a memorable map with tons of nooks and crannies and shortcuts and puzzles.”
- “I will say, this is not a graphically intense game and yet the visuals seemed stepped down, even on my Steam Deck.”
- “The graphics are okay, I guess, but only okay.”
- “The lack of gore and art style sometimes makes it look like a Disney kids' game.”
music
156 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
35%
6%
The music in **Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown** has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric and culturally rich soundtrack that enhances both combat and exploration. While some players appreciate the orchestral and regional influences, others feel the tracks lack memorability and impact, failing to leave a lasting impression. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a solid complement to the game's visuals and gameplay, though it may not reach the heights of previous titles in the franchise.
- “The soundtrack pays homage to Persian heritage, adding energy to battles and tranquility to exploration.”
- “The music is atmospheric and fits the game super well.”
- “From level design to combat, from the platforming to its visual style, from the exploration to the soundtrack, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an impressive accomplishment in more ways than one, and one of Ubisoft's best games in years.”
- “I expected more from the soundtrack because I'm a huge fan of Gareth Coker, and although it's very good, I think it's lacking very memorable tracks like in Ori and the Blind Forest, or a few bangers like in Darksiders Genesis.”
- “The music has almost no memorable hooks; it's forgettable and sometimes, like in the library level, it can even be called annoying.”
- “The soundtrack is very poor and lacks the impact needed to make the game’s world feel truly special.”
stability
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
77%
The game generally runs well on the Steam Deck, achieving high frame rates and good battery life, but it is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as issues with achievements, the parry system, and occasional crashes. While some players report a smooth experience without major crashes or freezes, many others highlight the frustrating impact of these bugs on their enjoyment. Overall, the game's stability is inconsistent, with a mix of solid performance and significant technical issues.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck OLED, 90 fps on ultra, looks amazing.”
- “Great game that runs great on Steam Deck maxed out and has achievements.”
- “Game always looks great, runs great.”
- “It also bears mention that it's pretty buggy.”
- “But the glitches really take the fun out of it.”
- “What really surprised me was how buggy it was for such a big game.”
optimization
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
50%
8%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for delivering solid performance, with many players reporting smooth frame rates (averaging around 90 fps on the Steam Deck) and minimal load times. While some users noted issues with battery drain during idle periods and high expectations from Ubisoft, the majority found the game well-optimized, with responsive combat and intricate level design. There were no significant bugs or performance issues reported, making for a generally positive experience across various platforms.
- “The game's performance is excellent, with smooth frame rates and minimal load times.”
- “Gorgeous art style, flawlessly optimized, quick, responsive combat and intricate and delightful level design.”
- “Well optimized game on Steam Deck, 90fps in max settings.”
- “Unfortunately, Ubisoft's expectations were too high and unrealistic for performance in a 2D sidescrolling genre.”
- “The game also sucks down performance (idle), which can be hard on batteries (close it).”
- “This means that a) you need to download additional software and register with them to play, b) it runs in the background, hurting performance, and, most importantly c) now there are two storefronts controlling your access to the product, with one being substantially less trustworthy than the other.”
grinding
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with players expressing dissatisfaction over the repetitive combat mechanics, excessive backtracking, and cumbersome shop interactions. Many reviewers felt that the rewards for grinding, such as cosmetic changes, were not worth the effort, leading to a sense of tedium rather than engagement. Overall, the grinding experience detracts from the enjoyment of the game's platforming and story elements.
- “Purchasing a single item from a shopkeeper is incredibly tedious - between talking to them, clicking through their dialogue, opening the shop, navigating to the correct item, selecting it, confirming, waiting for the popup, closing the popup, then waiting on a black screen for up to 30 seconds, then returning to the shopkeeper menu, and closing it out.”
- “This turns otherwise highly technical, difficult, but enjoyable platforming into a tedious slog, where the main thing tested is your ability to endure frustration.”
- “Frustrating gameplay (if you don't like parrying mechanics, don't bother playing this); you have to backtrack through tons of rooms when you die, making the whole process tedious.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
21%
13%
The atmosphere in the game receives mixed reviews; while some praise its fantastic ambience, music, and graphics, others find it lacking compared to titles like Hollow Knight. The orchestral and regional influences in the music enhance the setting, but the overall atmosphere can feel simplistic or underwhelming, particularly in relation to the story and character depth. Notably, players recommend using Persian as the spoken language to better complement the game's atmosphere.
- “The music is atmospheric and fits the game super well.”
- “Great graphics, sound, and music; the atmosphere is all there.”
- “The Persian dialogue sounds great, tonally and acting-wise, complimenting the atmosphere well.”
- “Unfortunately, this isn’t the only aspect of 'Lost Crown' I found lacking: while I wasn’t surprised by the unimpressive and partially predictable story with mostly flat characters – as this isn’t an uncommon occurrence in the genre - I was disappointed by the lacking atmosphere, however.”
- “Unlike many of its peers that prioritize atmosphere and exploration, 'Lost Crown' offers a more action-packed experience, blending the agility and combat of the classic Prince of Persia series with the exploratory structure of Metroidvania.”
- “An important note for atmosphere though - make sure you choose Persian as the language spoken (as it has English text).”
character development
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
36%
18%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the character designs and voice acting as subpar, leading to a negative perception of the overall story and lore. However, others praised the character design as vibrant and engaging, particularly highlighting the protagonist Sargon as a well-developed and likable character. Overall, while there are notable inconsistencies in character design, the gameplay and worldbuilding have been positively received, making the game a worthwhile experience for some players.
- “I loved the immortals as a concept and their character design is top notch - really all of them could be the protagonists of their own games.”
- “If you can approach the game without prejudice, you’ll see that Sargon is a very likable protagonist with very good character development.”
- “From character designs to the music to the combat and worldbuilding, the newest entry to the Prince of Persia franchise competes easily with its great predecessors of the modern age.”
- “Some of the worst character designs in gaming and bad voice acting, lame generic story.”
- “I have to give a negative review due to the bad story design, lore, and character development.”
- “The character design somehow feels out of sync with everything else on the screen.”
humor
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mix of intentional and unintentional moments, with players finding amusement in both the quirky game-breaking bugs and the absurdity of dropped plotlines and characters. While some encounters and flashy failures provide genuine laughs, the overall humor is often overshadowed by the game's flaws, leading to a blend of frustration and hilarity. Ubisoft's departure from their usual formula has resulted in a game that is humorously chaotic, albeit in ways that may not have been intended.
- “It's almost funny that Ubisoft managed to break away from their usual dull, formulaic approach to create something this brilliant - only to shut down the very team responsible for this digital masterpiece.”
- “Also, it's Ubisoft, so there's some fun little game-breaking bugs — like freezing after a hard boss fight (but not autosaving so I had to do it all over again), and one funny bug where the camera just got stuck in a wall.”
- “Entire plotlines and characters are dropped at random or never go anywhere; all of this is honestly crossing into hilarious territory for how bad it is.”
monetization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
50%
29%
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, with alternate skins and cosmetics earned through challenges rather than purchases. Reviewers appreciate this approach, viewing it as a refreshing change from typical cash-grab models, and express hope for future installments to maintain this monetization strategy. Overall, the absence of aggressive monetization is seen as a significant positive aspect of the game.
- “Alternate skins (cosmetics) are obtained through challenges and not microtransactions.”
- “This is one of the actually good Ubisoft games, and after years of constant garbage that they re-release, this one is an actual complete game with story and with no microtransactions or live service elements, which is a breath of fresh air.”
- “The controls and combat are silky smooth, no bugs, no crashes, no dumb nonsense, and no microtransactions.”
- “I hope for a second part without aggressive microtransactions.”
- “Also, yes this is one of the actually good Ubisoft games and after years of constant garbage that they re-release, this one is an actual complete game with story and with no microtransactions or live service elements, which is a breath of fresh air.”
- “The controls and combat are silky smooth, no bugs, no crashes, no dumb nonsense (except Uplay, which is a bummer but not a dealbreaker in my opinion), no microtransactions.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
22%
Players express a complex emotional response to the game, with some feeling deeply invested in the characters' journeys and the narrative, while others struggle with gameplay frustrations like clunky controls and lack of save points. The combination of an evocative soundtrack and striking visuals enhances the emotional experience, making it a compelling yet polarizing adventure. Overall, the emotional impact varies significantly among players, reflecting both attachment to the story and frustration with gameplay mechanics.
- “I'm about halfway through the story and I'm getting a bit emotional over the story.”
- “I genuinely cared about their journey and found myself emotionally invested in the unfolding story.”
- “As players navigate the intricacies of the game, the symbiotic relationship between the evocative soundtrack and striking visuals becomes a driving force, elevating the emotional resonance of the narrative and enveloping players in a truly immersive adventure.”
- “Add on top of that, games not being saved after you complete one of the hardest challenges in the game, clunky movement (jumping from the poles goes to a totally random direction on my controller and yes, I checked the calibration; all is good there), and the boring story, and it's a love-hate relationship.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate features like boss trials and permadeath that enhance replay value, others criticize the absence of a New Game Plus mode and limited save slots, leading to a perception of low replayability due to repetitive story elements and unengaging characters.
- “One of the best games I've played; the replay value is enhanced with boss trials and permadeath/speedruns.”
- “The lack of a new game plus feature and only three save slots renders replayability lower than it should be, with bland, humorless characters and bad lip syncing.”
- “Story beats sometimes miss the mark, leading to a lack of replayability once completed.”
- “Low replay value.”