Simon the Sorcerer 5: Who'd Even Want Contact?! vs Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Simon the Sorcerer returns in his fifth outing, blending classic point‑and‑click puzzles with a tongue‑in‑cheek sci‑fi storyline. Travel across dimensions, barter with bizarre extraterrestrials, and solve quirky riddles in a world that mixes magic and technology. The game delivers witty dialogue, hand‑drawn art, and a single‑player narrative that rewards exploration and clever thinking, perfect for fans of retro adventure games looking for a fresh comedic twist.
Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter puts you in the shoes of Roger Wilco, a space‑faring janitor who must thwart an alien invasion with wit and a trusty wrench. The game blends classic point‑and‑click puzzles with a comedic sci‑fi storyline, delivering a nostalgic experience for adventure fans. Originally released in 1986 for the Macintosh, the title features pixel art, text‑based dialogue, and a humor‑driven narrative that has become a cult classic. Its challenging puzzles and quirky characters make it a timeless example of early adventure gaming.
- Engaging humor and witty dialogue
- Rich hand‑drawn visuals
- Varied puzzle design keeps gameplay fresh
- Single‑player story is easy to pick up
- Charming humor and memorable characters
- Challenging puzzles that reward logical thinking
- Authentic retro graphics and sound
- Rich sci‑fi world building
- Some puzzles can be obscure and require trial‑and‑error
- Voice acting quality varies across characters
- Graphics feel dated compared to modern titles
- Obsolete interface may feel clunky to modern players
- Limited save system can require frequent restarts
- Puzzles sometimes rely on obscure logic
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Simon the Sorcerer 5: Who'd Even Want Contact?!
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A hilariously twisted sci‑fi adventure where every choice mutates the fun
Alternatives to Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter
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A hilarious sci‑fi adventure where Roger Wilco must outwit the evil Vohaul again
A wacky interstellar adventure with humor and puzzles.
A hilarious time‑traveling adventure starring the bumbling hero Roger Wilco.
A hilariously twisted sci‑fi adventure where every choice mutates the fun
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataChoose Space Quest for a classic 1980s text-parser retro experience, or Simon the Sorcerer 5 for a fully voiced 2009 sci-fi fantasy adventure with modern quality-of-life features like auto-save. The core trade-off is between authentic 1980s nostalgia with a clunky save system versus a 2009 game with voice acting and a user-friendly drag-and-drop inventory.
Key differences
- •Save System: Space Quest has a limited save system requiring frequent restarts, whereas Simon the Sorcerer 5 features an auto-save system allowing you to save at any point.
- •Interface: Space Quest uses a text parser alongside point-and-click commands, while Simon the Sorcerer 5 utilizes a user-friendly inventory supporting drag-and-drop item usage and branching dialogue trees.
- •Audio & Presentation: Space Quest offers original 1980s sound effects/music and retro graphics (Macintosh version), compared to Simon the Sorcerer 5 which features fully voiced characters, comedic narration, and hand-drawn visuals.
- •Puzzle & Content Volume: Simon the Sorcerer 5 specifically includes over 50 logic and inventory puzzles and hidden artifacts for optional side-quests, whereas Space Quest relies on critical challenges with multiple endings and choices that affect Roger Wilco's character development.
Gameplay & fun factor
Both offer comedic sci-fi adventures with inventory and logic puzzles, though Space Quest adds a text parser while Simon the Sorcerer 5 features branching dialogue.
Platform availability
Not specified for either game beyond general release details.
Price & value
Simon the Sorcerer 5 has a listed MSRP of $29.99, whereas Space Quest's specific price is not specified beyond being a paid one-time purchase.
Multiplayer / co-op
Both games are strictly single player with no multiplayer features listed.
Content & replayability
Simon the Sorcerer 5 features over 50 puzzles and hidden artifacts for optional side-quests, while Space Quest offers multiple endings based on critical challenges.
Difficulty & accessibility
Simon the Sorcerer 5 is easier to pick up with an auto-save feature and user-friendly drag-and-drop inventory, whereas Space Quest's limited save system can require frequent restarts.
Graphics & performance
Simon the Sorcerer 5 offers rich hand-drawn visuals and fully voiced characters, whereas Space Quest relies on authentic retro graphics and 1980s sound effects.
Choose Simon the Sorcerer 5: Who'd Even Want Contact?! if…
Players wanting modern conveniences like auto-save, fully voiced characters, and over 50 hand-drawn puzzles.
Choose Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter if…
Retro enthusiasts seeking 1980s nostalgia, a text parser, and multiple endings based on choices.
Common questions
How do the save systems compare between the two games?
Space Quest has a limited save system that can require frequent restarts, while Simon the Sorcerer 5 lets you save at any point and includes an auto-save feature.
What kind of interfaces do they use for solving puzzles?
Space Quest uses a point-and-click interface combined with a text parser for typed commands, whereas Simon the Sorcerer 5 uses a drag-and-drop inventory system and branching dialogue trees.
Are the characters voiced in either game?
Simon the Sorcerer 5 features fully voiced characters and comedic narration, while Space Quest supports original 1980s sound effects and music without full character voice acting.