First released in 1981, Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord was one of the first computer-based RPGs. It drew inspiration from tabletop games, prompting players to create a team of adventurers to explore a 20x20 labyrinthine dungeon. Over several sequels, some of the window dressing changed, but that tried-and-true formula is a standard-bearer for a reason.
The Wizardry series was rebooted in 2023, and its newest entry is inspired by, but not handcuffed to, its history. Wizardry Variants Daphne is, in the grand tradition, a first-person dungeon crawler, but with new shine and action-infused hack-and-slash combat. It carries the banner of one of the most venerable names in gaming, while still making its own mark. Filled with compelling characters, intense battles and branching narratives, this is one dungeon you'll want to dive back into.
The abyss calls
Let's start where every good RPG starts: the story. Once every 100 years, the abyss opens and a deadly curse spreads over the continent to lay waste to all it touches. This time around, the king has vanished, so the task of saving the world falls to you and your ragtag group of adventurers.
You'll choose your compatriots from a wide variety of unique individuals, who can be one of four races that you'll probably be somewhat familiar with: the stalwart dwarf, the haughty elf, the athletic beastfolk, and humans. Each race can choose from six classes: priest, thief, knight, mage, ninja and fighter. They also differ in alignment, from good to neutral to evil. You'll put together a party of five adventurers to travel alongside you in the dungeons.
As you continue your dungeon dive, your characters endure battles, becoming progressively dirtier, with front-line characters getting the worst of it, ending up visibly more weathered than those in the back. This kind of visual flourish makes sense for a game as challenging as Wizardry Variants Daphne. Even the tutorial is out to kill you. Games that feature a mobile component generally want to take it easy on you to reduce drop-off rates. Not this one. Here, they want you to be authentically challenged.
The thrill of exploring dungeons while seeking out high-quality gear makes for an engaging experience—you could easily lose yourself in it for hours. However, some enemies are mobile, and you may be ambushed from outside your field of vision. What's more, not all enemies are immediately visible, and you might find yourself suddenly face-to-face with a deadly necromancer before you even realize it.
Save the world… from anywhere
As is expected of a game in the Wizardry line, you'll experience unflinching combat within a dark fantasy world. The battles are challenging but rewarding. In a world where surviving is the greatest reward, reaching the end of a series of intense battles offers a real sense of achievement. Going into these dungeons and putting everything on the line, including the lives of your team members, is a risk. But it is a risk worth savoring.
Maybe most importantly, this is a game you can take anywhere your phone can go. It's available on iOS and in the Google App Store, but that's not all. A game of this size shouldn't be exclusively experienced on a small screen. You'll want to see the detail in illustrator Katsuya Terada's boss monster designs. That's why it received a Steam release in March of this year.
Wizardry Variants Daphne is a game steeped in history but willing to step out and carve its own path. If you're looking for an RPG you can take on the go, this free-to-play option is worth exploring.
