Moonstone: A Hard Days Knight

Moonstone: A Hard Days Knight is an action role-playing game developed and published by Mindscape for the Amiga in 1991.

It is one of the most iconic and controversial games ever released on the Amiga. Developed by Rob Anderson and published by Mindscape in 1991, it blends brutal real-time action, fantasy exploration, and light strategy into a dark and bloody medieval world inspired by folklore and 1980s fantasy films. A dark medieval world not different from the one found in Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior.

The player takes on the role of a knight chosen to retrieve the legendary Moonstone. The game map is divided into regions, each filled with monsters, dangers, and secrets. Gameplay progresses in turns across a board-like grid, but when battles begin, they switch to real-time combat sequences filled with surprisingly fluid and grotesque animations. Decapitations, dismemberment, and splashes of blood were so graphic for the time that the game stirred controversy, even being censored in countries like Germany.

One of Moonstone’s standout features is its support for up to four players, each controlling a different knight. The competition is not just against the deadly creatures in the world, but also against other players, who can be challenged to duels. Between battles, players can train, gather treasures, buy magical items, and prepare to become the only one worthy of entering the final temple where the Moonstone is kept.

Technically, Moonstone remains impressive. The animations are smooth and expressive, the soundtrack is haunting, and the overall art direction strikes a perfect balance between grotesque and epic. Every creature, from trolls to dragons, has its own fighting style, requiring different strategies. Some sequences, like the eerie battle against the Guardian in the fog, are unforgettable highlights.

Despite its popularity on the Amiga, Moonstone was never officially released on other platforms. A PC MS-DOS version was released in 1992, with different music and graphics. But this version never reached the success of the Amiga one, contributing to its cult status for Commodore users.

Over the years, Moonstone has remained a favorite among retro gamers and has inspired unofficial remakes and tribute videos. Its punishing difficulty, atmospheric world, and intense action made it a spiritual predecessor to games like Dark Souls. For many, it stands as one of the greatest achievements in the Amiga’s library.