Developer: Infinity Plus 2
Publisher: 505 Games
Genre: Puzzle, RPG,
Price: $14.99
Release Date: Sept 18th, 2025
Where to buy: Steam, Switch, PSN, Xbox
When Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords first launched in 2007, it was a lightning-in-a-bottle moment for the gaming industry. By welding the casual, addictive loop of Bejeweled to the progression systems of a hardcore RPG, it created a sub-genre that felt entirely new. Nearly two decades later, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition arrives with the goal of being the definitive archive of that legacy. Released in late 2025 across modern consoles and PC, this remastered package offers a robust, nostalgia-laden experience that proves the core gameplay is timeless, even if the “updated” visuals and persistent AI quirks remind us that some flaws are indeed immortal.
The Core Loop: Still the Gold Standard At its heart, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition remains an ingenious hybrid. The gameplay loop is deceptively simple: you travel an overworld map accepting quests, but instead of swinging swords in real-time, combat is resolved through a match-3 puzzle board. Unlike standard puzzle games, however, every move here is tactical. Matching colored gems gathers mana, which fuels your RPG character’s spells; matching skulls deals direct damage to the enemy; and matching gold or experience stars yields resources for out-of-combat progression.
This system is where the game still shines brightest. The RPG layer is not merely window dressing; it is essential. As you level up, you allocate stat points and learn new spells that can manipulate the board—turning red gems into skulls, draining enemy mana, or stunning your opponent. The “Immortal” update preserves this addictive chemistry perfectly. Whether you are capturing monsters to learn their spells, training mounts, or forging items in your citadel, the sense of progression is constant and satisfying. The game tricks your brain into thinking you are playing “just one more round,” easily turning a 15-minute session into a three-hour marathon.
The “Immortal” Upgrades: Content vs. Aesthetics The primary selling point of the Immortal Edition is its comprehensive content package. It bundles the original game with its two major expansions, Revenge of the Plague Lord and Attack of the Golem Lord (previously seen in the Switch-exclusive The Legend Returns). Furthermore, it introduces a brand-new character class, the Swordmaster, along with over 40 new items and additional quests. For a price point generally around $20, the sheer volume of content is staggering, offering potentially 50 to 80 hours of gameplay.
However, the visual remastering is a point of contention. The developers have updated the assets to 4K resolution, replacing the pixelated charm of the handheld originals with crisp, high-definition artwork. While the clarity is welcome on modern 65-inch displays, the new art direction can feel somewhat sterile and “mobile-game-esque” compared to the gritty, hand-drawn aesthetic of the 2007 original. The character portraits are high-quality, but long-time fans may find the new gem designs and UI glossiness slightly jarring, lacking the “soul” of the original’s low-res sprites.
The “Cheating” AI and Old Frustrations A review of Puzzle Quest would be incomplete without addressing the elephant in the room: the AI. Veteran players have long suspected the computer opponent of cheating, and Immortal Edition does little to dispel this belief. The AI frequently benefits from miraculous “sky-falls” (cascades of gems falling from the top of the screen) that seem statistically improbable.
New to this edition—or at least more prominent—is the mechanic regarding “Mana Storms.” When no legal moves are available, the board resets, often gifting the AI a perfect setup immediately after. While this adds tension, it can feel punitive, as if the game decides you are destined to lose a match regardless of your tactical skill. This friction is part of the game’s DNA, but in 2025, it feels less like “challenge” and more like artificial difficulty, which may frustrate modern players accustomed to fairer RNG (random number generation).
In Closing: Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition is a triumphant, if slightly imperfect, resurrection of a classic. For newcomers who have never experienced the series, this is an absolute must-play; it remains the best iteration of the puzzle-RPG genre, far superior to the microtransaction-heavy sequels that followed. For returning veterans, specifically those who played The Legend Returns on Switch, the upgrade is less essential, as the Swordmaster class and 4K visuals may not justify a double-dip.
Ultimately, Immortal Edition succeeds because its foundation is rock solid. It ignores the modern trend of live-service monetization in favor of a complete, standalone experience. It is a reminder of a time when puzzle games respected your intelligence and your time, even if the computer occasionally cheats to keep you humble.
Score: 8.5/10 A definitive, value-packed remaster that proves good game design never ages.
