Review: Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition

Developer – Infinity Plus 2

Publisher – 505 Games

Platforms –   PS4/5, Xbox One , Xbox Series S|X,PC (Reviewed)

Review copy given by Publisher

Puzzle Quest has always been a strange blend of genres that shouldn’t work as well as it does. It’s a simple match-3 puzzle game on the surface, but bolted onto that foundation is a surprisingly deep RPG system filled with quests, loot, companions, mounts, and even city sieges. Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition is pitched as the definitive way to experience the original trilogy of content that’s been slowly built up over the past two decades. On paper, it’s the ultimate collection for long-time fans and newcomers who want to see where the Match-3 RPG craze began. In practice, though, there’s one big problem that makes this “ultimate” package feel more like a test of patience than a test of skill: the AI.

From the very first battles, the computer seems to have been juiced up to absurd levels. It doesn’t just take advantage of your mistakes—it actively feels like it’s running a different version of the game altogether. Every time you think you’ve lined up a clever combo, the AI responds with a never-ending cascade that chains itself into mana boosts, skull matches, and spell casts. It’s not uncommon to watch your opponent take ten turns in a row while you sit there helpless, wondering why you even bothered planning ahead. The balance feels so skewed that the word “unfair” barely does it justice.

The frustrating part is that Puzzle Quest is supposed to be about strategy, building your hero, and using smart spell combinations to overcome varied opponents. But all of that nuance gets undermined when the AI is essentially pulling from a stacked deck. The sheer frequency of cascades and extra turns it gets goes far beyond bad luck. It feels scripted, like the computer has been blessed by the RNG gods while you’re left scrounging for whatever scraps the board offers.

And this isn’t just the occasional rough battle either—it’s baked into the DNA of the Immortal Edition from the very beginning. Whether you’re fighting a random wolf on the map or a major quest villain, you’re constantly reminded that the AI isn’t playing fair. Even casual encounters feel like slogs, as you’re forced to endure round after round of the enemy getting more free turns than you can count. Losing isn’t discouraging because you made bad choices—it’s discouraging because you never really had a chance in the first place.

That imbalance drains so much of the fun from what should otherwise be a rewarding grind. The joy of leveling up, unlocking new spells, and collecting gear gets overshadowed by the constant irritation of watching your opponent chain together yet another perfect sequence of moves. It’s less about you honing your skills and more about bracing yourself for the AI’s inevitable rampage.

What’s disappointing is that the underlying RPG systems are still as strong as ever. The citadel-building, the creature capturing, the rune crafting—these are all great mechanics that give Puzzle Quest its unique depth. The structure of traveling through Etheria, completing quests, and expanding your dominion is still compelling. There’s plenty of content to chew through, and the nostalgic charm of the original storylines remains intact. On paper, this should have been the perfect package.

But none of that content feels truly enjoyable when every fight boils down to surviving the AI’s overpowered momentum swings. The promise of varied strategies against different opponents gets lost when every encounter plays out the same way: the computer overwhelms you with endless combos, you scrape together whatever damage you can, and then you pray for a lucky break. The tension that should come from tough fights is replaced with pure frustration.

It’s worth noting that I’ve played plenty of other match-3 titles, and this isn’t just a case of me being rusty. Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition is genuinely tuned in a way that feels punishing and rigged, and I’ve confirmed that it’s not just me losing my touch. If anything, the game feels like it leans into that “AI advantage” to artificially extend its difficulty curve, rather than rewarding actual player growth.

When Puzzle Quest first released nearly 20 years ago, its blend of puzzle and RPG mechanics felt fresh and exciting. But in 2025, with countless competitors in the genre, the cracks are much harder to ignore. The Immortal Edition might be the most content-complete version of the game, but it’s also one of the most infuriating thanks to how blatantly stacked the battles feel.

For die-hard fans of the series, there’s definitely a nostalgia kick here. It’s cool to have all the expansions and extra content bundled into one package, and the polish does make the presentation a bit smoother. But you have to be prepared to fight not just your enemies, but also the game’s very own balance problems. That’s a much taller order, and not everyone will have the patience for it.

Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition should have been a celebration of everything that made the original game such a cult hit. Instead, it often feels like a reminder of its most frustrating flaws, magnified by the AI’s overwhelming advantage. If you’re someone who can stomach unfair losses and still enjoy the grind, there’s a mountain of content here to keep you busy. But if you value fair challenge and strategic payoff, you’re probably going to find yourself walking away long before Etheria is saved.

In the end, Immortal Edition is a package that shines in theory but falters in execution. The RPG elements remain engaging, the quest structure is robust, and the nostalgic weight of the original trilogy is undeniable. But all of that is held hostage by an AI that simply refuses to play fair. Puzzle Quest still has its charms, but when the board is this rigged, even the most loyal fans might find themselves questioning whether it’s worth the grind anymore.