Here's a Complete List of 'Prince of Persia' Games in Order

• Metacritic Metascore: 86

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown takes players on a journey back in time, immersing them in the tumultuous period of the Kushan Empire's invasion of Persia during the 1st and early 2nd centuries CE. As the newest mainline Prince of Persia game, but the oldest installment in the series in terms of continuity, this game explores an era rarely touched upon in video games. The narrative unfolds against the historical backdrop, offering a fresh perspective on the iconic franchise while putting you in the shoes of a new protagonist named Sargon, who is a member of the Persian Immortals of 300 fame. With the blend of ancient lore and excellently executed "Metroidvania" gameplay, The Lost Crown aims to carve its place as a unique and engaging addition to the legendary Prince of Persia saga.

• Metacritic Metascore: 81

Though released after the popular Sands of Time trilogy, the 2008 Prince of Persia reboot serves as a new chapter in the franchise's expansive mythos. Set one thousand years before the events of Sands of Time but well after The Lost Crown,  it introduces players to Ancient Persia circa the 9th century CE and follows a nameless adventurer who comes to be known only as the Prince. While searching for his missing donkey, he chances upon a Princess named Elika and her father fighting for control over the mythical "Tree of Life" - until the Prince's interference accidentally unleashes Ahriman, the god of darkness, cursing the land. This catastrophic turn forces the unlikely duo of the Prince and Princess Elika into a globetrotting journey to heal the corruption now plaguing the world, with unexpectedly tragic results.

• Metacritic Metascore: 64

Serving as a direct narrative sequel to the 2008 Prince of Persia reboot, the Nintendo DS title The Fallen King picks up where the previous game left off - with the Prince resurrecting Princess Elika despite her wishes to continue their fight against her father and the dark god Ahriman. With Elika now leading the Ahura resistance forces against Ahriman's spreading corruption, the Prince searches for the King of the City of the New Dawn, who has become split into both human and monstrous forms due to the effects of said corruption. The roguish protagonist soon crosses paths with a magical being named Zal who joins him on his quest to track down and confront the fractured king in the hopes of saving the city from utter ruin and darkness.

• Metacritic Metascore: 92

The Sands of Time kicks off the fan-favorite trilogy that propelled the Prince of Persia franchise to new heights and is set one thousand years after the events of the 2008 Prince of Persia reboot, although not in the same timeline. Driven by selfish desires by the Vizier to cheat death, an attempt to harness the mystical "Sands of Time" housed within an ancient hourglass goes awry, unleashing chaos throughout the kingdom. Thrust into the ensuing turmoil with the magical "Dagger of Time" in hand, players guide the acrobatic Prince on his quest to undo the damage caused by this catastrophic mistake. For those looking to delve in for the first time, you may want to wait for the upcoming remake that was announced by Ubisoft several years ago instead of returning to the 2003 PS2 era to experience the original release. 

• Metacritic Metascore: 74

Bridging the seven-year narrative gap between Sands of Time and Warrior Within, The Forgotten Sands midquel sees the Prince travel to the aid of his brother Malik, whose kingdom is on the brink of ruin in a seemingly unwinnable war. In a desperate move that will have disastrous consequences, Malik breaches his royal treasure vault to unleash the mythical "Solomon's Army" - a force of powerful sand creatures - and quickly loses control of them. Working to contain the damage done by this reckless act, the Prince embarks on a quest to re-imprison Solomon's deadly forces by fusing two halves of a powerful relic.

• Metacritic Metascore: 64

Sandwiched narrative-wise between the events of Sands of Time and Warrior Within, but set after Forgotten Sands, the 2005 Nintendo DS exclusive Battles of Prince of Persia finds the Prince reckoning with the existential consequences of cheating death and warping time. In this time, he draws the ominous pursuit of the "Dahaka," a destructive embodiment of fate itself. Amid this supernatural threat, his actions manage to ignite conflict between Persia and India, and the increasingly cynical Prince fights through demonic hordes while coming to grips with his destiny. Serving as a thematic prologue to the Prince's distinctive grittier turn in Warrior Within, Battles illustrates the burgeoning callousness and combat prowess that defined his next chapter.

• Metacritic Metascore: 83

Marked by a controversial yet trendsettingly darker tone, Warrior Within directly continues the Prince's story as he attempts to avert his fate after interfering with the timestream, now hunted relentlessly by the ethereal Dahaka. With mortality on the line, players guide a grittier, more violent Prince wielding dual blades and a more ruthless edge while navigating treacherous environments - echoing the combat-driven adventuring of God of War's intense action only a year later. Though divisive for its severe tonal departure from Sands of Time upon its initial 2004 release, in retrospect Warrior Within serves as a thematic prologue for the Prince's ultimate redemption and crowning heroism in the Sands of Time series conclusion The Two Thrones.

• Metacritic Metascore: 85

Bookending the well-regarded trilogy started by Sands of Time, 2005's climactic The Two Thrones delivers a satisfying sense of finality for the embattled Prince's story that began with cheating death. Returning home after barely surviving the timeline-shattering events of the previous games, the Prince finds his kingdom under siege and divided for dark purposes as his very being becomes fractured in two. Guiding the iconic hero through these dualities - embodying both the heroic Prince and the ruthless "Dark Prince" manifestations - players lead a frenetic final adventure blending fluid platforming, tense stealth, and hard-hitting combat, with the Prince at last achieving redemption and restoring order through selfless heroism.

• Metacritic Metascore/User Score: N/A

The original 1989 Prince of Persia pioneered cinematic platforming with fluid animation and challenging environmental puzzles, yet exists as its distinct storytelling canon separate from the other Prince of Persia continuities. Set in a stylized Medieval Persia approximately two centuries after the events of the acclaimed Sands of Time trilogy, the seminal escapade depicted a nameless hero battling to rescue a Princess from the sinister Grand Vizier Jaffar across 60 rooms of lethal traps. Establishing core tenants later built upon by successive 3D outings and modern reboots like 2008's eponymous Prince of Persia and 2024's The Lost Crown, this seminal side-scroller still stands tall as a retro exemplar of precision platforming and timeless adventure.

• Metacritic Metascore/User Score: N/A

Furthering the swashbuckling adventures first depicted in the landmark 1989 original, 1993's The Shadow and the Flame has the unnamed Prince embarking on a new side-scrolling odyssey to halt the destructive spread of otherworldly forces across ancient Persia. Occurring roughly two centuries following The Sands of Time saga in an alternate continuity untouched by modern reboots, this challenging 16-bit sequel retains the groundbreaking animation, environmental hazards, and tactical swordplay that defined its predecessor. Tasking players with guiding the daring Prince through a series of intricate 2D maps to once and for all defeat the evil Wizard Jaffar, this follow-up makes a case for a retro charm that is best experienced remastered for iOS and Android devices. 

• Metacritic Metascore/User Score: N/A

Prince of Persia 3D, the final installment in the original trilogy, marked a significant departure from its predecessors with its leap into the realm of 3D graphics. Released in 1999, this title sought to redefine the classic platformer with its immersive environments and intricate level design. Unfortunately, the game received a lukewarm reception, criticized for its awkward controls and camera angles. The tepid response led to a hiatus in the series until the triumphant return with The Sands of Time in 2003, which revitalized the franchise and set a new standard for action-adventure gaming.