Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord remake launches in early access

Digital Eclipse has announced and released Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, a remake of the 1981 classic.

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is now available on Microsoft Windows (through Steam’s Early Access).

Here’s a rundown on the remake, plus a new trailer:

In 1981, Sir-Tech released Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord — the first-ever party-based dungeon crawler and first installment in the venerable Wizardry series. The new remake invites RPG fans to help shape how history will remember the game that launched a genre and inspired enduring series like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Baldur’s Gate.

Digital Eclipse’s Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord revival is built directly on top of the original Apple II game’s code, preserving the appeal of the classic while also incorporating modern graphics and improved party management, navigation, spellcasting, and combat. While the remake may look all new, the complete Apple II game is under the hood — you can even view the original interface while you’re playing.

Craft your own party of adventurers and head into the labyrinth at the behest of the mad overlord Trebor, in search of the amulet stolen by the evil wizard Werdna. Battle challenging monsters, avoid hidden traps, and find your way through the dungeon for the ultimate showdown with Werdna himself.

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord has been under development for nearly two years by a small but dedicated team at Digital Eclipse, a studio known for historical preservation of classic games such as The Making of Karateka and Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration. With the core game fully playable and several quality-of-life improvements already implemented (including one-button combat selection and streamlined party management), the team is now bringing it to Early Access to solicit feedback from fans of the long-running Wizardry series as well as modern RPG players. The current $29.99 price is expected to rise as new updates are released and the game approaches completion.