With the latest Prince of Persia The Lost Crown arriving, you’re probably fiending for a list of all the Prince of Persia games in chronological order.
There are quite a few games in the series, some that you may not even have access to playing. But if you can, here is the timeline order of all the Prince of Persia games.
Prince of Persia: All games in timeline order
Although we have a pretty definitive timeline of all the old Prince of Persia games, we don’t know just yet when The Lost Crown takes place. It’s a standalone game in the series with an entirely new premise and main protagonist, Sargon. Otherwise, here’s the full chronological order of all the Prince of Persia games.
1. Prince of Persia (2008)
Although it wasn’t the very first Prince of Persia game created, it’s technically the first in the timeline. This installment takes place 1,000 years before The Sands of Time from 2003. This reboot is separate from the main trilogy that most fans have played, taking place in ancient Persia and having you in the shoes of an unnamed character.
In this game, a huge sandstorm diverts you off course and you find yourself lost in a strange land. Your job is to imprison Ahriman, an evil being who corrupted this land. Prince of Persia released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.
2. Prince of Persia: The Fallen King (2008)
Released on the Nintendo DS, this is a direct spin-off of the previous game and takes place after it. Still set in ancient Persia, you’re stuck in a battle between Ahriman and Ormazd, two gods. This time you’ll be playing as two characters, who are Zal and the Prince.
Unfortunately, it garnered middling reviews, and most critics complained about how The Fallen King felt to control. If you still have a Nintendo DS, you’re free to check this one out.
3. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003)
Finally, we get to the beloved Prince of Persia trilogy. The Sands of Time released in 2003 on the PS2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, Gamecube, and PC. It was immediately loved by critics and players, and following its release this was nominated for multiple awards.
You’re back to playing an unnamed Prince, and your father’s army finds a mysterious hourglass that contains the Sands of Time. After the Prince releases the sand, which turns the citizens into terrible creatures, he’s on a quest to correct his mistakes and save the people of Azad.
4. Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands (2010)
Taking place between The Sands of Time and Warrior Within, The Forgotten Sands follows the same unnamed Prince in his efforts to deal with various monsters and threats, still centering around the gameplay mechanics of bending time.
Interestingly, there were multiple versions of this game made by different teams. But the main version of The Forgotten Sands released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. The other versions are on the Nintendo DS, Wii PlayStation Portable, and even mobile.
Related: All system requirements for Prince of Persia The Lost Crown
5. Battles of Prince of Persia (2005)
Instead of the usual gameplay, Battles of Prince of Persia is a turn-based tactical game created for the Nintendo DS. Not only do you play as the Prince, but other recognizable character from the series. It’s said to take place sometime between The Sands of Time and Warrior Within, just like the previous game.
There’s not just turn-based mechanics, but it includes a collectable card game as well. Accidentally triggering a war between India and Persia, the Prince must deal with his accidents and clean up messes…again.
6. Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (2004)
Warrior Within is the second installment in The Sands of Time Trilogy, taking place seven years after the first in the trilogy. You again follow the Prince on his quest to stop the Dahaka, a strange entity who seeks to punish him for messing with the hourglass and Sands of Time.
Releasing on PS2, GameCube, Xbox, PC, and even mobile, you travel to the Island of Time to stop the Empress of Time from creating the Sands of Time. Many of the critics and fans enjoyed this second installment, although it did change to a darker tone.
7. Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (2005)
As the final game in the main Prince of Persia trilogy, The Two Thrones continues after the Warrior Within’s ending, having the Prince discover that everything he did in the previous game undid everything in The Sands of Time.
Vizier, the main villain, takes the Sands of Time from The Empress of Time. In this final battle against Vizier, the Prince must defeat him, alongside fighting against his Dark Prince persona. Although it wasn’t as praised as the previous games, it still received generous reviews.
8. Prince of Persia (1989)
Technically this list should end at number seven, but if you really want the true chronological order we must include the very original Prince of Persia from 1989. It takes place a few hundred years after The Two Thrones, and was released on the Apple II.
This is a very old game, but nevertheless it has you play in medieval Persia through platform dungeons as an unnamed protagonist. Upon its original release, it was critically acclaimed, despite not selling a ton of copies initially.
9. Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame (1993)
Next up in the timeline is the sequel to the 1989 Prince of Persia, which released on the MS-DOS. Later it came to the Macintosh and Super NES. It’s not too different from its direct predecessor, having you explore deadly dungeons with traps and puzzles.
The Shadow and the Flame was another big success, and most critics found it to be an overall improvement from the 1989 game.
10. Prince of Persia 3D (1999)
The final game in this chronological list released six years later on Windows and the Dreamcast. Interestingly, the port was developed by Avalanche Software, who most recently developed Hogwarts Legacy.
Prince of Persia 3D is, well, 3D, and was another action-adventure title. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as beloved as the previous two entries. It didn’t take long for Ubisoft to purchase the IP and soon pump out The Sands of Time.
Now that you know about all the Prince of Persia games in chronological order, how about you check out our list of Metro Exodus games in timeline order as well?
