Wizardry: The Five Ordeals coming to Nintendo Switch on January 25, 2025

As a seasoned RPG enthusiast with decades of gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that the announcement of “Wizardry: The Five Ordeals” for Nintendo Switch has me absolutely thrilled! Having grown up playing the original Wizardry games on various platforms, this latest installment promises to bring back those nostalgic feelings of adventure, challenge, and sheer excitement.


59 Studio and Game*Spark Publishing have revealed plans to release the game “Wizardry: The Five Ordeals” on the Nintendo Switch on January 25, 2025.

Initially launched in Japan on June 8, 2006 as “Wizardry Gaiden: Itsuro no Shiren – Five Ordeals,” a game that was inspired by the gameplay mechanics from 2005’s “Wizardry Gaiden: Prisoners of the Battles.

As an avid fan, I’m excited to share that the Steam edition, reimagined with Unity engine, initially entered Early Access in 2021 and finally hit the shelves in its full release in 2023. Although the global community has embraced the Steam version, it remains uncertain if the Switch version will be accessible beyond Japan’s borders.

In the game Wizardry: The Five Ordeals, there are several pre-set storylines: “Traveler’s Property”, “Children of Queen Selene”, “The Preserved Man of Galvan”, “Wheels of Flame”, and “The Void of Apotheosis”. Additionally, it features a tool for players to create their own scenarios. However, at its launch, English support for the in-game editor was not available, but it is currently being finished.

It should be noted that Wizardry: The Five Ordeals is unrelated to Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, a 3D remake of the first game in the legendary franchise.

Switch Announcement Trailer

Players in Japan will have three options to choose between:

  • The digital version for 3,980 yen
  • The physical version for 4,980 yen
  • The Collector’s Edition, which is priced at 9,980 yen, and includes an acrylic stand, several cards based on the game’s monsters, a soundtrack CD, and a digital code for a DLC scenario, “The Absence of Misericordia”

You can buy “The Absence of Misericordia” individually for 1,480 yen. Additionally, there’s another DLC called “Prisoners of the Battles,” priced at 2,480 yen. Essentially, this DLC is the original Wizardry Gaiden: Prisoners of the Battles.

About the Steam Version

As a devoted gamer, I’m diving into an authentic hardcore gaming experience, immersing myself in a richly layered Role-Playing Game (RPG) that takes me deep into a labyrinthine dungeon world. This game is the brainchild of the masterminds behind the iconic RPG series from 2006, offering a unique opportunity to explore multiple dungeon crawler RPGs using a single comprehensive system. For the first time ever on Steam and outside Japan, it’s been upgraded with improved user interfaces and other exciting additions. Each official scenario offers a staggering amount of gameplay, clocking in at dozens of hours each.

Experience a game where newcomers can quickly jump in. You’ll have the opportunity to design your own character, similar to a traditional tabletop role-playing game, then embark on a grid-based dungeon journey with a team of up to six allies. The strategic turn-based combat merges the straightforwardness of Japanese RPGs with the challenge found in tabletop RPGs. Rest assured, our internal dice are fair! Be prepared to face a genuine hardcore adventure, where your character can potentially be lost forever and saves may be overwritten.

Newly Improved Version

In a modern upgrade, the Steam edition of the game now runs on the Unity engine. Although the original gameplay remains consistent with the 2006 version, the user interface has been enhanced to cater to contemporary players.

Improvements include:

  • Widescreen / high-resolution support with new user interface and 3D mazes with high-resolution monsters.
  • In-game scenario selection.
  • Gamepad support.
  • Steam cloud support.
  • Custom portraits support.

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2024-09-28 17:26