About Trial of the Sorcerer
Trial of the Sorcerer is a retro first-person shooter in which you play a sorcerer armed with a magic staff. Your mission is to descend into the demon realm and defeat the demon lord Bahmott and his evil servants. The levels are procedurally generated, so each trip through the dungeon is a different layout.
The game takes its inspiration from classics such as Wolfenstein 3D and Catacomb Abyss, and it shows. You shoot monsters, collect loot, find keys to open locked doors, and look for the exit to the next level. Along the way you pick up power crystals that level up your staff, so you grow stronger the further you get.
It was built in PICO-8 by Tom Mulgrew, and the browser version runs in a CRT-style frame. The game supports keyboard, mouse, gamepad, and touch input, according to its itch.io page. You can play Trial of the Sorcerer online for free here, with nothing to install and no account to create.
How to Play Trial of the Sorcerer
- Move with the arrow keys and press X to shoot your magic staff.
- Hold Z to strafe while you move, which helps you circle enemies and dodge attacks.
- As an alternative, use the E, S, D, and F keys to move and strafe, and the other controls to turn.
- Press P to open the pause menu. You can enable mouse control there, then click the game window once so it can capture the mouse.
- Look for keys. Doors with a small black keyhole need one, and each door needs its own matching key.
- Collect power crystals to level up your staff, then find the exit to reach the next level.
What to Expect in Trial of the Sorcerer
Expect a chunky, old-school dungeon crawl with simple, direct controls. There is no complicated inventory. You explore, shoot, grab keys, and move on, with the crystals giving you a steady sense of growth. The pixel art and the CRT effect around the screen give the game a nostalgic look.
The game is made for quick runs, and the itch.io page lists the average session as a few minutes. It features fantasy combat against monsters and demons. If you enjoy the early days of first-person shooters, this is a compact tribute that you can play in a browser tab.
The game also shows how much a small engine can do. PICO-8 limits resolution, colors, and memory, yet the first-person view, the procedural levels, and the key-and-door puzzles all fit inside it. Trial of the Sorcerer is a neat showpiece for the format, and a quick, satisfying shooter in its own right.
Tips for Trial of the Sorcerer
- Learn the strafe key. Circling enemies makes you much harder to hit.
- If a door will not open, it likely needs a different key, so keep exploring.
- Collect every power crystal you can. They level up your staff and make later fights easier.
- Click the game window once after enabling mouse control, so the game can capture the pointer.
- Do not rush through corridors. Check corners for loot and keys before heading for the exit.
Who Made Trial of the Sorcerer
Trial of the Sorcerer was made by Tom Mulgrew and released on itch.io as a PICO-8 browser game. FunClicker embeds the creator's own build so you can play it here without downloading anything. We did not make the game, and the credit for its code, art, and design belongs to its creator. You can find the original on the Trial of the Sorcerer page on itch.io.
FAQ
Is Trial of the Sorcerer free?
Yes. Trial of the Sorcerer is free to play in your browser on this page. You do not need an account, and nothing has to be installed. Press play, grab your staff, and head into the demon realm. The game is small and loads quickly.
How do you play Trial of the Sorcerer?
Move with the arrow keys, shoot with X, and hold Z to strafe. You explore procedurally generated levels, defeat monsters, collect loot, find keys to open doors, and look for the exit. Press P to open the pause menu, where you can switch on mouse control.
What inspired Trial of the Sorcerer?
According to its creator, the game is inspired by Wolfenstein 3D and Catacomb Abyss. You can see that influence in the first-person dungeon design, the keys and locked doors, and the focus on shooting. The levels are procedurally generated, which gives it a modern twist on that retro formula.
Who made Trial of the Sorcerer?
Trial of the Sorcerer was made by Tom Mulgrew and released on itch.io, built with PICO-8. FunClicker did not create it. We embed the creator's own browser build, and the credit link on this page leads to his itch.io profile.
Can I play Trial of the Sorcerer on a Chromebook or phone?
Yes, in most cases. The itch.io page lists keyboard, mouse, Xbox controller, other gamepads, and touchscreen as supported inputs, so it should run on a Chromebook or a phone browser. The small PICO-8 build is light, though a keyboard gives the best control.
Is Trial of the Sorcerer unblocked at school?
It needs only a browser tab, with no download, plugin, or login. Whether it opens on a school or library network depends on that network's filter, which we do not control. It is a fantasy shooter, so keep that in mind when choosing where to play.
How do keys and doors work in Trial of the Sorcerer?
Doors with a small black keyhole need a key, and each door needs its own specific key. If a door will not open, you probably have not found the right one yet. Keep exploring the level, and remember that finding keys is part of the route to the exit.
Can I use the mouse in Trial of the Sorcerer?
Yes. Mouse input can be enabled from the pause menu, which you open by pressing P once in the game. After that, click the game window once so it can capture the mouse. The default controls use the arrow keys, X, and Z.
