🐳 New! Moby v2023.06.02 update

Game Groups > Wizardry games

Wizardry is a series of role-playing games originally developed by Sir-tech. The first game, Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981), is widely considered one of the progenitors of the genre, alongside Ultima. The game required the player to create a party of six characters, selecting between races and classes influenced by D&D scenarios. The player then explored a maze-like pseudo-3D dungeon, fighting randomly appearing enemies in turn-based combat. Subsequent installments were for the most part based on this template.

Wizardry introduced the concept of prestige classes, allowing the player to create versatile and powerful characters belonging to the classes of bishop, lord, ninja, samurai, and valkyrie, available only through large quantities of bonus points received at dice rolls, or by switching to them during the course of the game. The initial entries were set in a traditional fantasy environment with the races typical for the setting; later games incorporated science fiction elements and added exotic playable races such as lizardman, dracon, the feline Felpurr, the canine Rawulf, and the mysterious alien-like Mook.

The first installments in the series were created by Robert Woodhead and Andrew Greenberg. David Bradley was brought to the team as the lead designer of Heart of the Maelstrom (1988). However, it was mainly in Bane of the Cosmic Forge (1990) where his ideas were fully realized, making that entry a turning point in the series with its new skill system, magic disciplines, and a more refined interaction with NPCs. The main series ended with the release of Wizardry 8 (2001), the last Wizardry game developed by Sir-tech. However, several spin-offs designed by Japanese developers were released afterwards.

Early Wizardry games had a considerable influence on the development of role-playing games. In particular, they proved to be popular in Japan, influencing early Xtalsoft RPGs, Dragon Quest and to a certain extent Phantasy Star. Random enemy encounters and party turn-based combat mechanics eventually became the staple element of the Japanese RPG genre.

This group includes the main series as well as spin-offs.

Award(s)

  • Computer Gaming World
    • November 1996 (15th anniversary issue) – #2 Most Memorable Game Villain (Werdna)

Related Link(s) * Wikipedia: Wizardry

Related Groups

160 Games

[ view in game browser ] [ add game ]
Title Platforms Released
box cover thumbnail Nemesis: The Wizardry Adventure DOS, SEGA Saturn, Windows 1996
box cover thumbnail The Ultimate RPG Archives DOS, Windows 1998
box cover thumbnail The Ultimate Wizardry Archives DOS, Windows 1998
box cover thumbnail The Wizardry Trilogy: Scenarios I, II & III PC Booter, Commodore 64, Apple II 1987
box cover thumbnail Wizardry 6+7 Windows, Macintosh 2013
box cover thumbnail Wizardry 6, 7, and 8 Linux, Windows, Macintosh 2013
box cover thumbnail Wizardry 8 Windows, Macintosh 2001
Wizardry Chronicle Windows 2001
box cover thumbnail Wizardry Gold Windows, Macintosh 1996
box cover thumbnail Wizardry III惻IV TurboGrafx CD 1994
box cover thumbnail Wizardry I•II•III: Story of Llylgamyn SNES 1999
box cover thumbnail Wizardry I惻II TurboGrafx CD 1993
box cover thumbnail Wizardry Online Windows 2013
box cover thumbnail Wizardry Trilogy 2 DOS 1994
box cover thumbnail Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom PC Booter, SNES, Commodore 64, Apple II, TurboGrafx CD, Commodore 128, PC-88, PC-98, FM Towns 1988
box cover thumbnail Wizardry VI & VII Complete SEGA Saturn 1996
box cover thumbnail Wizardry Xth: Academy of Frontier PlayStation 2 2005
box cover thumbnail Wizardry Xth: Unlimited Students PlayStation 2 2006
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Bane of the Cosmic Forge DOS, SNES, Amiga, Macintosh, PC-98, FM Towns, Linux, Windows 1990
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Chapter 1 J2ME 2003
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Crusaders of the Dark Savant DOS, PlayStation, PC-98, FM Towns, Windows, Linux 1992
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Knight of Diamonds - The Second Scenario PC Booter, Game Boy Color, NES, Commodore 64, Apple II, Macintosh, PC-88, PC-98, Sharp X1, FM-7, MSX, Commodore 128 1982
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls Windows 2020
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls PlayStation 3, iPhone, PS Vita 2009
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Barrage Ring PlayStation 3 2009
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Bishop's Book PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Bizen Osafune PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Boomerang PlayStation 3 2009
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Boots... PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Bushido Blade PlayStation 3 2009
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Caduceus PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Crushing Mace PlayStation 3 2009
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Dragon Kite PlayStation 3 2009
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls -... PlayStation 3 2009
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Fruit... PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Fruit of Faith PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Fruit... PlayStation 3, Windows 2009
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Fruit... PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Fruit... PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Gale Ring PlayStation 3 2009
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Gram PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Great... PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Greatsword PlayStation 3 2009
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Helm of Mists PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Holy Armor PlayStation 3 2009
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Holy Mace PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Iron Boots PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Kotetsu PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls -... PlayStation 3 2010
box cover thumbnail Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls - Limit... PlayStation 3 2010

[ Page 1 of 4 ] [ Next ]