Wizardry: The Five Ordeals similar games & best alternatives

Wizardry: The Five Ordeals - wizardry-the-five-ordeals_1.avif
Wizardry: The Five Ordeals - wizardry-the-five-ordeals_2.avif
Wizardry: The Five Ordeals - wizardry-the-five-ordeals_3.avif
Wizardry: The Five Ordeals - wizardry-the-five-ordeals_4.avif
Wizardry: The Five Ordeals - wizardry-the-five-ordeals_5.avif
Wizardry: The Five Ordeals - wizardry-the-five-ordeals_6.avif

Wizardry: The Five Ordeals

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch • 2023

Should you play it?

Welcome to the world of dungeon crawling! The classic dungeon crawler released back in 2006, returns to Steam with improved UI and more.

What works
  • Authentic classic wizardry dungeon crawling experience
  • High challenge and rewarding gameplay
  • Extensive official and user-created scenarios
  • Customizable character portraits and party building
  • Active developer support and frequent updates
Things to keep in mind
  • Steep learning curve and punishing difficulty
  • Clunky and archaic user interface
  • Partial english translation with some untranslated text
  • No manual save function, only auto-save
  • Limited quality of life features (e.g. no automap)

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Legend of Grimrock

  • StarCrawlers

  • Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant

  • Paper Sorcerer

  • Cosmic Star Heroine

  • Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

  • Legend of Grimrock 2

  • SKALD: Against the Black Priory

  • Pathfinder: Kingmaker — Enhanced Plus Edition
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant

  • Remyadry

  • Souls of Blades
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Wizardry: The Five Ordeals: Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Violence, Survival, Fellowship, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Leadership, Expression. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players create and customize their own party and make strategic decisions in exploration and combat, with freedom to approach puzzles and combat in multiple ways."

    Capsule for Legend of Grimrock Legend of Grimrock

    "Players create and customize their own party and make strategic decisions in dungeon exploration and combat, with freedom to choose tactics and party composition."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    5

    "The game is challenging and punishing, requiring skillful play, mastery of mechanics, and strategic decision-making."

    Capsule for System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster

    "The game is highly challenging, requiring skillful play, careful planning, and mastery of mechanics to overcome punishing encounters and puzzles."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on personal progress and survival rather than direct competition or leaderboards; no evidence of ranked or PvP modes."

    Capsule for Over the Counter Over the Counter

    "Focus is on personal progress and survival rather than competing against others; no evidence of PvP or ranked modes."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Players report long play sessions and habitual engagement driven by progression, variety of modes, and content updates."

    Capsule for Deadswitch Combat Deadswitch Combat

    "Players report long play sessions and habitual engagement due to deep content, multiple scenarios, and user-created modules."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -4

    "Gameplay centers on managing a single player's party; no multiplayer or cooperative play mentioned."

    Capsule for Zavix Tower Zavix Tower

    "Gameplay centers on managing a single party independently; no multiplayer or cooperative play mentioned."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "The scenario editor allows players to create and share custom maps and game modes, fostering creative expression."

    Capsule for Dinogen Online Dinogen Online

    "Supports custom character portraits and user-created scenarios with a scenario editor, encouraging player creativity."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -4

    "Interactions are balanced within the party; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over other players."

    Capsule for Hard West 2 Hard West 2

    "Interactions are balanced within the party; no evidence of exerting control or superiority over other players."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Players use the game as a fun distraction and nostalgic escape, enjoying immersive fantasy battles and strategic depth."

    Capsule for Demigod Demigod

    "Players use the game as a challenging fantasy escape, immersing in dungeon crawling and character growth."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and nostalgia; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries

    "Players engage voluntarily out of interest and nostalgia; no indication of obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players try different party compositions, strategies, and explore multiple story routes, encouraging experimentation."

    Capsule for THE LEGEND OF HEROES: HAJIMARI NO KISEKI THE LEGEND OF HEROES: HAJIMARI NO KISEKI

    "Varied scenarios and user content encourage trying new strategies, party builds, and exploration approaches."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Core gameplay involves exploring complex dungeon levels, mapping, and discovering secrets."

    Capsule for Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

    "Core gameplay revolves around exploring complex dungeons, mapping manually, and discovering secrets."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    4

    "Players can customize character appearance and portraits."

    Capsule for StarCrawlers StarCrawlers

    "Players can customize character portraits extensively, including different states and effects."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    5

    "Strong fantasy setting with magic, monsters, and dungeon crawling rooted in classic RPG lore."

    Capsule for Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

    "Strong fantasy setting with magic, monsters, and dungeon crawling consistent with classic Wizardry lore."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -4

    "Minimal social interaction; primarily a solo experience."

    Capsule for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

    "Minimal social interaction; primarily a solo experience managing one party."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    5

    "Character progression, skill development, and learning game mechanics are core to the experience."

    Capsule for System Shock® 2 (1999) System Shock® 2 (1999)

    "Character development, learning game mechanics, and mastering puzzles are central to progression."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; requires prolonged focus but no physical exertion."

    Capsule for WazHack WazHack

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; requires long focus sessions but no physical exertion."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and careful planning; not suited for casual or background play."

    Capsule for Party Hard Party Hard

    "Requires sustained attention and careful planning; not suited for casual or background play."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "No evidence of forming close relationships or emotional social interactions within the game."

    Capsule for Superliminal Superliminal

    "No evidence of forming close relationships or emotional social interactions within the game."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    3

    "Players lead and manage their party members, making strategic decisions and directing actions."

    Capsule for Etrian Odyssey HD Etrian Odyssey HD

    "Players lead and manage their party members, making strategic decisions and guiding their actions."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on leveling up characters, acquiring gear, and unlocking skills."

    Capsule for Etrian Odyssey HD Etrian Odyssey HD

    "Strong emphasis on leveling up characters, acquiring better gear, and advancing through scenarios."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -3

    "High tension and difficulty create sustained pressure rather than relaxation or flow."

    Capsule for Sword of the Stars: The Pit Sword of the Stars: The Pit

    "High tension and challenge create sustained pressure rather than relaxation or flow."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visuals and music provide moderate sensory enjoyment, though graphics are dated and animations simple."

    Capsule for Digimon World: Next Order Digimon World: Next Order

    "Enjoyment comes from atmospheric art and music, but graphics are simple and sensory stimulation is moderate."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -4

    "Achievements and progress are personal; no social recognition or leaderboards."

    Capsule for Little Big Workshop Little Big Workshop

    "Achievements and progress are personal; no social recognition or leaderboards."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    1

    "Contains lore and some narrative elements, but gameplay is largely focused on dungeon crawling and progression."

    Capsule for Heroes of Hammerwatch II Heroes of Hammerwatch II

    "Game is story-light focusing on dungeon crawling and mechanics; some scenarios have puzzles and mysteries."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "Requires careful planning, resource management, and tactical combat decisions."

    Capsule for Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

    "Requires careful planning, resource management, and tactical combat decisions."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    4

    "Suspenseful and punishing gameplay with risk of failure, tension during combat, and relief upon success."

    Capsule for Darkest Dungeon® II Darkest Dungeon® II

    "Unforgiving difficulty and permanent consequences create suspense and thrill in gameplay."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Large amount of content and replayability provide good value for time and money."

    Capsule for Super Robot Wars 30 Super Robot Wars 30

    "Large amount of content including official and user scenarios offers high value for time and money."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat and defeating monsters are core gameplay elements involving action and destruction."

    Capsule for Onigiri Onigiri

    "Combat and defeating monsters are core gameplay elements involving attacks and destruction."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    5

    "Central theme of avoiding death, managing resources, and overcoming threats."

    Capsule for Left 4 Dead Left 4 Dead

    "Avoiding death, managing resources, and overcoming threats are central to the experience."

Last update: 10/07/2026