Wizardry (franchise)
- Wizardry redirects here. For other uses, see Wizardry (disambiguation).
The Wizardry franchise refers to the entirety franchise of Wizardry games and its Japanese made spin-offs, primarily and originally developed by Sir-Tech. Wizardry was began in 1981 started with the final version of Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, it has crossed many consoles genres, and forms of media, and becoming influential franchise as an inspiration to many Japanese role-playing games particularly such as Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy.
The first five games known as "Classic Wizardry" are comprised of Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, The Knight of Diamonds, Legacy of Llylgamyn, The Return of Werdna, and Heart of the Maelstrom. These were not sold, nor were any derivative works bearing the Wizardry mark created prior to Nov 27, 2006; ownership was retained by Sir-Tech. The corporate has been established to exclusively exploit those games through licensing, development, and publishing. Bane of the Cosmic Forge, Crusaders of the Dark Savant, and Wizardry 8 were sold and are currently owned by Drecom.
While the original company ceased operating, it was recently reincarnated as Sirtech Entertainment Corp. and is currently remaking the first game through a development license with Digital Eclipse. During the time the original company ceased operating and the reboot of the second iteration of the firm, there are a number of active Japanese-made Wizardry product-lines, which are considered to be worthy "spin-offs". In fact, some were officially licensed for development by the original company before it ceased operating; the other unofficial product-lines were by fans.
List of Games
American Wizardry series
| Image | English language title | Japanese language title(s) | Platform | Release date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord | 狂王の試練場 Kyōō no Shirenjō |
Apple II, Commodore 128, Commodore 64, FM-7, Game Boy Color, Macintosh, MSX, NES, PC-88, PC-98, PC Booter, Sharp X1, WonderSwan Color | NASeptember 1981 EU1983 JPNovember 1985 |
The group of adventurers dwells into the depths of dungeon to reclaim the amulet from evil wizard Werdna. |
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The Knight of Diamonds | ダイアモンドの騎士 Daiamondo no Kishi |
Apple II, Commodore 128, Commodore 64, FM-7, Game Boy Color, Macintosh, MSX, NES, PC-88, PC-98, PC Booter, Sharp X1 | NA1982 JPDecember 1986 |
A direct sequel to the first scenario. After the evil wizard demise, an evil knight Davalpus invades the castle to slaughter royal family, then declares as supreme dictator of himself. Prince Alavik takes the part and slain the dictator by using Staff of Gnilda and wearing legendary Knight of Diamonds armor. However, Gnilda took the staff back in the depths of the ruins. |
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Legacy of Llylgamyn | リルガミンの遺産 Rirugamin no Isan |
Apple II, Commodore 128, Commodore 64, FM-7, Game Boy Color, Macintosh, MSX, Famicom, PC-88, PC-98, PC Booter, Sharp X1 | NA1983 JP1987 |
|
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The Return of Werdna | ワードナの逆襲 Wādona no Gyakushu |
Apple II, IBM PC, PC-88, PC-98 | NA1987 JPDecember 1988 |
|
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Heart of the Maelstrom | 災渦の中心 Saika no Chūsin |
Apple II, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, IBM PC, PC-88, PC-98, FM Towns, PC Engine CD, SNES | NA1988 JPJune 8, 1990 |
|
 |
Bane of the Cosmic Forge | ベイン・オブ・ザ・コズミック・フォージ Bein obu za Kozumikku Fōji |
MS-DOS, Amiga, Macintosh, FM Towns, PC-98, Super Famicom, Microsoft Windows (Emulated), Linux | NA1990 EU1991 JPDecember 23, 1991 |
|
 |
Crusaders of the Dark Savant | クルセーダーズ・オブ・ザ・ダーク・サヴァント Kurusēdāzu obu za Dāku Savanto |
MS-DOS, FM-Towns, PC-98, Microsoft Windows (Emulated), Linux (Emulated) | NAOctober 1992 EU1992 JPSeptember 23, 1994 |
|
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Wizardry 8 | ウィザードリィ・エイート Uizādorī Eito |
Microsoft Windows | NANovember 14, 2001 EU2001 JPDecember 20, 2001 |
The final conclusion in a chapter of Dark Savant Trilogy where heroes takes the quest on last confrontation against Dark Savant. |
Remake
| Image | English language title | Japanese language title(s) | Platform | Release date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord | 狂王の試練場 Kyōō no Shirenjō |
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch | WWSeptember 15, 2023 | The enhanced modern remake of the very first game with full 3D graphics and visuals. |
Spin-off
| Image | Original title | Japanese title | Platform | Release date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Nemesis: The Wizardry Adventure | ウィザードリィネメシス Uizādorī Nemeshisu |
MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, Sega Saturn | NASeptember 30, 1996 EU1996 JPJanuary 22, 1998 |
Wizardry Gaiden series
| Image | Primary subtitle(s) | Original subtitle(s) | Platform | Release date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Suffering of the Queen | 女王の受難 Joō no Junan |
Game Boy | JPApril 20, 1990 | |
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Curse of the Ancient Emperor | 古代皇帝の呪い Kodai Kōtei no Noroi |
Game Boy | JPOctober 1, 1991 | |
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Scripture of the Dark | 闇の聖典 Yami no Seiten |
Game Boy | JPSeptember 25, 1993 | |
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Throb of the Demon's Heart | 胎魔の鼓動 Taima no Kodō |
Super Famicom | JPSeptember 20, 1996 | |
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Dimguil | ディンギル Dingiru |
PlayStation | JPApril 20, 2000 | |
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Prisoners of the Battles | 戦闘の監獄 Sentō no Kangoku |
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 | JPMarch 25, 2005 WWMarch 30, 2023 (DLC) |
|
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The Absence of Misericordia | 慈悲の不在 Jihi no Fuzai |
Microsoft Windows | JPApril 25, 2003 WWJune 22, 2023 (DLC) |
|
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The Five Ordeals | 五つの試練 Itsutsu no Shiren |
Microsoft Windows | JPJune 8, 2006 WWDecember 17, 2021 |
Starfish Wizardry series
| Image | Primary subtitle(s) | Original subtitles | Platform | Release date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Empire | エンパイア Enpaia |
Game Boy Color | JPOctober 29, 1999 | |
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The Staff of Resurrection | 復活の杖 Fukkatsu no Tsue |
Game Boy Color | JPDecember 22, 2000 | |
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Princess of the Ancient | 古の王女 Inishie no Ōjo |
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation | JPNovember 15, 2000 | |
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Legacy of the Princess | 王女の遺産 Ōjo no Isan |
PlayStation, Microsoft Windows (Plus) | JPOctober 17, 2002 | |
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Ancestry of the Emperor | 覇王の系譜 Haō no Keifu |
PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable | JPDecember 25, 2003 | |
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Asterisk: The Scarlet Seal | アステリスク 〜緋色の風位〜 Asutarisuku ~Hīro no Fūin~ |
Nintendo DS | JPDecember 29, 2005 |
BUSIN series
| Image | Primary title(s) | Original title(s) | Platform | Release date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Tale of the Forsaken Land | ブシン 〜ウィザードリィオルタナティブ〜 Bushin ~Uizādorī Orutanatibu~ |
PlayStation 2 | JPNovember 15, 2001 NADecember 19, 2001 EUOctober 4, 2002 |
|
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BUSIN 0: Wizardry Alternative NEO | ブシン０ 〜ウィザードリィオルタナティブネオ〜 Bushin Zero ~Uizādorī Orutanatibu Neo~ |
PlayStation 2 | JPNovember 13, 2003 KORMarch 25, 2005 |
Wizardry XTH series
| Image | Primary title(s) | Original title(s) | Platform | Release date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Academy of Frontier | 前線の学府 Zensen no Gakufu |
PlayStation 2 | JPFebruary 24, 2005 | |
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Unlimited Students | 無限の学徒 Mugen no Gakuto |
PlayStation 2 | JPMarch 23, 2006 |
Wizardry Renaissance
| Image | Primary title(s) | Original title(s) | Platform | Release date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
The Wedge of Life | 生命の楔 Seimei no Kusabi |
Nintendo DS | JPNovember 19, 2009 | |
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Labyrinth of Lost Souls | 囚われし魂の迷宮 Torawareshi Tamashī no Meikyū |
PlayStation 3, iOS, Android, PlayStation Vita, Microsoft Windows | JPDecember 9, 2009 NAMay 16, 2011 EUDecember 7, 2011 |
|
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Online Mobile | オンライン モバイル Onrain Mobairu |
Mobile Phones | JPMay 24, 2010 | |
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Legacy of Oblivion | 忘却の遺産 Bōkyaku no Isan |
Nintendo DS | JPJuly 29, 2010 | |
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Prisoners of the Lost City | 囚われし亡霊の街 Torawareshi Bōrei no Machi |
PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita | JPJanuary 27, 2011 | |
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Tokyo Labyrinth – Wizardry 0 | 東京迷宮 - ウィザードリィ0 Tōkyō Meikyū – Wizardry 0 |
Mobile Phones | JPAugust 24, 2011 | |
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Online | オンライン Onrain |
Microsoft Windows | JPOctober 14, 2011 WWJanuary 16, 2013 |
|
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The Magical Tower of War | 戦乱の魔塔 Senran no Matō |
iOS, Android | JPJanuary 24, 2013 | |
 |
Schema | スキーマ Sukīma |
iOS, Android | JPJuly 29, 2014 | |
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Wizrogue: Labyrinth of Wizardry | ウイズローグ ラビリンス オブ ウィザードリィ Uizurōgu ~Rabirinsu obu Uizādorī~ |
iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows (FE) | JPDecember 22, 2014 WWFebruary 24, 2017 (FE) |
Drecom
| Image | English language subtitle | Original subtitle | Platform | Release date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Variants Daphne | ヴァリアンツ ダフネ Variantsu Dafune |
iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows | WW2023 | A newest brand new entry as well the mobile app game. |
Other Standalone Games
| Image | Primary subtitle | Original subtitle(s) | Platform | Release date(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Chronicle | クロニクル Kuronikuru |
Microsoft Windows | JPMarch 23, 2001 | |
 |
Summoner | サマナー Samanā |
Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2 | JPNovember 15, 2001 NA Unreleased |
Unreleased Games
Wizardry: Stones of Arnhem
A sequel to Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant was planned by Sir-Tech developed by Directsoft. The story was supposed to be based on Australian Aboriginal mythology not connected from predecessors, but never eventuated due to controversy surrounding a chaotic full of legal drama and oddly erotic designs while the whole document about the game was leaked into public years later. Following after its cancellation, a sequel was eventually made as Wizardry 8, and resulted in completely different game than former.
Wizardry: Strange Tale of the Rising Sun
A game was announced by ASCII to be released for Microsoft Windows 95 compatible operating computers, but there hasn't any further details revealed about the game itself, only a single CD containing the theme song "Tomorrow Promise" (あしたの約束, Ashita no Yakusoku) sung by Yukana was ever released.
Wizardry XTH 3
A sequel to Wizardry XTH: Unlimited Students was rumored in development and planned to be a trilogy in the series, but it was never got made due to departure of Team Muramasa from Michaelsoft and the developer bankruptcy.
Wizrogue: Labyrinth of Wizardry - Wandering Dark Lord
An arcade game version adapted from Wizrogue: Labyrinth of Wizardry entitled Wizrogue: Labyrinth of Wizardry - Wandering Dark Lord with new features and contents served as pairing bonus for smartphone version, but never eventuated on local amusements.
Novels
- Futabasha Fantasy Novel Series
- Wizardry Novel: Ash and Youth Side by Side
- Wizardry Novel II: The Wind. Has it reached Dragon?
- Novel Wizardry IV: Werdna no Gyakushu
- Wizardry Gaiden: Suffering of the Queen Iris
- Wizardry Gaiden II: King of the Sands
- Wizardry: The League of the Crimson Crescent
- Blade & Bastard
Tabletop
Animation
Manga
Wizardry Clones
- Main article:
Wizardry Clone
As mentioned above, there are several dungeon crawler games that plays almost exactly similar to Wizardry. Although every games aren't usually considered scope in the franchise. Various developers including those who previously involved on creating Wizardry spin-offs before went develop its own spiritual successors or independently.
References
External Links
- Official portal website (English)
- Wikipedia article
- Official X (Former Twitter)