Madō Monogatari
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Madō Monogatari, formerly known as Sorcery Saga outside Japan, is a dungeon crawler role-playing video game franchise created by Compile. The first game was released in 1990 for MSX2. Sega published the Game Gear remakes based on 1-2-3. The characters of this series would later be used in the puzzle game Puyo Puyo.
The plot of the first game consists of a six-year-old named Arle Nadja, who has passed the written test and she needs to scale a giant tower to pass the actual test. In the second game, ten years later, Arle Nadja encounters Schezo Wegey, and also Satan (Dark Prince outside of Japan), and in the end Carbuncle joins Arle Nadja.
Gameplay
Gameplay combines role-playing elements with some unique twists. For example, there are no numeric stats; instead, everything is represented by character facial expressions and sprites. Another is the complete lack of physical attacks. Everything utilizes one of four magical elements: Fire, Ice Storm, Thunder, and Bayoen. Some enemies are weaker against one particular magic attack than another.
Games in the series
| Game | Details |
|---|---|
| Madō Monogatari 1-2-3 Original release date(s): JP: June 15, 1990 (MSX2)JP: November 23, 1991 (PC-9801)WW: June 26, 2025 (Nintendo Switch) | Release years by system: 1990 – MSX2 1991 – PC-9801 2025 – Nintendo Switch |
| Notes: The MSX2 version was re-released by D4 Enterprise under its EGG Console label for Nintendo Switch in 2025. Despite releasing worldwide, the game remained playable in Japanese only. | |
| Madō Monogatari A-R-S Original release date(s): JP: December 10, 1993 | Release years by system: 1993 – PC-9801 |
| Madō Monogatari: Hanamaru Daiyōchienji Original release date(s): JP: January 12, 1996 | Release years by system: 1996 – Super Famicom |
| Notes: Japanese: (はなまる大幼稚園児, Kids of Hanamaru Big Kindergarten), another episode of Madō Monogatari I. Released on Project EGG in March 2024 as Madō Monogatari Hanamaru dai youchienji, despite no in-game English translation available. | |
| Madō Monogatari Original release date(s): JP: July 23, 1998 | Release years by system: 1998 – Sega Saturn |
| Madō Monogatari Original release date(s): JP: 2005 | Release years by system: 2005 – i-mode |
| Notes: Developed and published by D4 Enterprise. | |
| Sorcery Saga: Curse of the Great Curry God Original release dates: JP: March 28, 2013NA: December 10, 2013EU: February 21, 2014 | Release years by system: 2013 – PlayStation Vita 2018 – Windows |
| Notes: Known in Japan as Sei Madou Monogatari (聖魔導物語, Sei Madō Monogatari, Story of Holy Sorcery). Developed and published by Compile Heart in cooperation with D4 Enterprise and ZeroDiv. First game in the series to receive an English-language release. | |
| Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy Original release date(s): JP: November 28, 2024WW: July 29, 2025 | Release years by system: 2024 – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 2026 – Windows |
| Notes: Developed by Sting Entertainment and published by Compile Heart in cooperation with D4 Enterprise and Sega. Published in the West by Idea Factory International. |
Remakes
| Game | Details |
|---|---|
| Madō Monogatari I: Mittsu no Madō-kyū Original release date(s): JP: December 3, 1993 | Release years by system: 1993 – Game Gear |
| Notes: Japanese: (3つの魔導球, The Three Magic Spheres), remake of the first part of 1-2-3 Published by Sega. Released on Project EGG in November 2023 as Madō Monogatari I The Three Magic Spheres, despite no in-game English translation available. | |
| Madō Monogatari II: Arle 16-Sai Original release date(s): JP: May 20, 1994 | Release years by system: 1994 – Game Gear |
| Notes: Japanese: (アルル16才, 16-year-old Arle), remake of the second part of 1-2-3. Published by Sega. Released on Project EGG in December 2023 as Madō Monogatari II 16-year-old Arle, despite no in-game English translation available. | |
| Madō Monogatari III: Kyūkyoku Joō-sama Original release date(s): JP: November 25, 1994 | Release years by system: 1994 – Game Gear |
| Notes: Japanese: (究極女王様, The Ultimate Queen), remake of the third part of 1-2-3 Published by Sega. Released on Project EGG in January 2024 as Madō Monogatari III The Ultimate Queen, despite no in-game English translation available. | |
| Madō Monogatari A: Dokidoki Vacation Original release date(s): JP: November 24, 1995 | Release years by system: 1995 – Game Gear |
| Notes: Japanese: (ドキドキばけ～しょん, Excited Vacation), remake of the first part of A-R-S. Released on Project EGG in February 2024 as Madō Monogatari A, despite no in-game English translation available. | |
| Madō Monogatari I Original release date(s): JP: March 22, 1996 | Release years by system: 1996 – Mega Drive |
| Notes: Remake of the first part of 1-2-3. Released on Project EGG in January 2024 as Madō Monogatari I, despite no in-game English translation available. | |
| Madō Monogatari: Honō no Sotsuenji Original release date(s): JP: December 13, 1996 | Release years by system: 1996 – PC Engine CD-ROM² |
| Notes: Japanese: (炎の卒園児, Graduate Child of Flame), remake of the first part of 1-2-3 published by NEC Avenue. |
Disc Station
| Game | Details |
|---|---|
| Madō Monogatari Episode II: Carbuncle Original release date(s): JP: December 10, 1989 | Release years by system: 1989 – MSX |
| Notes: Found in Disc Station Special: Christmas Edition; prototype of the second part of 1-2-3. | |
| Madō Monogatari: Michikusa Ibun Original release date(s): JP: July 15, 1994 | Release years by system: 1994 – PC-9801 |
| Notes: Japanese: (道草異聞, lit.'Loitering around and the rumor'); found in Disc Station Vol. 3. | |
| Madō Monogatari: Hachamecha Kimatsu Shiken Original release date(s): JP: September 6, 1996 | Release years by system: 1996 – Windows |
| Notes: Japanese: (はちゃめちゃ期末試験, lit.'Confused final exam'); found in Disc Station Vol. 12. | |
| Madō Monogatari: Madōshi no Tō Original release date(s): JP: September 6, 1997 | Release years by system: 1997 – Windows |
| Notes: Japanese: (魔導師の塔, lit.'Magician's Tower'); found in Disc Station Vol. 16. | |
| Mado Jeongi: Elysion e Bimil Original release date(s): KO: 1997 | Release years by system: 1997 – Windows |
| Notes: Korean: (엘리시온의 비밀, lit.'Secret of Elysion'); found in the Korean version of Disc Station Vol. 5. |