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Best rpg games on GamesNostalgia

RPG games, or role-playing games, have come a long way since their humble beginnings as pen-and-paper adventures. From classic tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons to immersive virtual reality experiences, RPG games have captivated players with their rich storytelling, character development, and strategic gameplay.

Some of the first computer games were RPGs. Initially, they were entirely text-based; then, from Dunjonquest: Temple of Apshai, they began incorporating simple graphics. Richard Garriot's Akalabeth: World of Doom was the first first-person RPG, but Lord British real masterpiece was the Ultima series, one of the most important franchises in the RPG genre, along with Wizardry, Might and Magic, and others. Traditional computer RPGs feature turn-based combat, as seen in The Bard's Tale, but also in other titles such as SSI's Dark Sun: Shattered Lands.

The dungeon crawler sub-genre was made popular by Dungeon Master in 1987 and later by Eye of the Beholder and many other titles like Ishar: Legend of the Fortress. These titles featured a first-person view, in pseudo-3D, with real-time combat.

The Immortal and Darkmere: The Nightmare's Begun are examples of isometric RPGs, and also, the masterpiece Ultima VII: The Black Gate uses a kind of isometric top-down perspective.

To see a full 3D graphical implementation but also a more faithful roleplaying experience, we need to wait for The Elder Scrolls: Arena and The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. These games included gameplay that involved exploring vast, detailed landscapes and interacting with lifelike characters.

The RPG genre doesn't end here because we also have Japanese RPGs, like Sweet Home, or tactical RPGs like Jagged Alliance.

Finally, we cannot forget the legendary action-rpg Diablo, the first chapter of the popular series, probably the most iconic name in all the computer role-playing games genre, a title that redefined the genre with randomly generated levels and frenetic hack-and-slash combat.

Akalabeth: World of Doom apple-ii

Akalabeth: World of Doom is often considered the first stepping stone in the evolution of Western computer role-playing games. Developed in 1980 by Richard Garriott, who was still ...

Year: 1980 Genre: Role Playing

dungeon crawler first-person freeware procedurally generated rpg turn-based rpg

The Elder Scrolls: Arena dos

The Elder Scrolls: Arena is the first game in The Elder Scrolls series, developed and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is an epic fantasy open-world role-playing game published in 1994 for MS-DOS.

Year: 1994 Genre: Role Playing

action-rpg fantasy medieval non-linear open world rpg sandbox sword and sorcery

Darkmere: The Nightmare's Begun amiga

Darkmere (or Darkmere: The Nightmare’s Begun) is a fantasy RPG-action-adventure game developed by Zero Hour Software. It was published by Core Design in 1994 for the Amiga. There...

Year: 1994 Genre: Role Playing

action-adventure adventure-rpg fantasy isometric rpg sword and sorcery

Chrono Trigger snes

Chrono Trigger, released in 1995 for the SNES, is often regarded as one of the greatest role-playing games of all time. Developed by Square (now Square Enix), the game was the resu...

Year: 1995 Genre: Role Playing

anime jrpg rpg turn-based rpg

The Immortal amiga

The immortal is an action RPG developed by Sandcastle and published by Electronic Arts in 1990. The title was initially created for Apple IIgs but was later ported to Amiga, MS-DOS, Atari ST, NES, and Genesis.

Year: 1990 Genre: Role Playing

action-rpg apple 2 original game dungeon crawler isometric rpg sword and sorcery

Ogre Battle snes

Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen is a tactical rpg released in 1993 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The game is a landmark in tactical role-playing game design.

Year: 1993 Genre: Role Playing

fantasy rpg snes original game strategy-rpg tactical-rpg tactics turn-based rpg

Death Bringer amiga

Galdregon's Domain is a fantasy RPG created originally for the Amiga by Pandora Software and released in 1989 for Atari ST, DOS, and Commodore 64. Two years later, Spotlight/Cinemare released it in the US with the title Death Bringer.

Year: 1989 Genre: Role Playing

amiga original game barbarian dungeon crawler first-person rpg sword and sorcery

Windwalker amiga

Windwalker is an action RPG created by ORIGIN Systems and initially released for Commodore 64 and Apple II in 1989. In 1990, it saw releases on Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, and Macintosh.

Year: 1989 Genre: Role Playing

action-rpg brawler japan rpg

Xenomorph amiga

Xenomorph is a sci-fi RPG set in space, developed by Pandora and published in 1990 for the Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, and - strangely - Commodore 64. The title is clearly inspired by the movie Alien.

Year: 1990 Genre: Role Playing

aliens dungeon crawler first-person rpg science fiction survival horror

Legends of Valour amiga

Legends of Valour is a 3D RPG created by Synthetic Dimensions and released in 1992 for MS-DOS, Amiga, and Atari ST. The game's main feature is the engine, which is entirely 3D. This technology was not new but wasn't used in RPGs yet.

Year: 1993 Genre: Role Playing

3d fantasy first-person open world rpg sword and sorcery texture map

Star Command amiga

Star Command is a 1988 space role-playing game released by Strategic Simulations Inc initially for MS-DOS, then Amiga and Atari ST. One of the things I learned from the world of v...

Year: 1988 Genre: Role Playing

aliens rpg science fiction space exploration squad management turn-based rpg

Shadoworlds amiga

Shadoworlds is an RPG created by Krisalis/Teque and released in 1992 as a sequel to Shadowlands. It was published by Domark. While the predecessor was a classic fantasy RPG with ...

Year: 1992 Genre: Role Playing

aliens cyborgs isometric military multi-directional post-apocalyptic rpg science fiction

Moebius: The Orb of Celestial Harmony amiga

Moebius: The Orb of Celestial Harmony is a role-playing game initially created by Origin Systems for the Apple II and published in 1985. The game was designed and programmed by Greg Malone.

Year: 1988 Genre: Role Playing

apple 2 original game japan rpg wanderer

Pool of Radiance amiga

Pool of Radiance is a computer RPG created by Strategic Simulations Inc and released initially for Commodore 64 and Apple II in 1988. It is the first official adaptation of the rul...

Year: 1989 Genre: Role Playing

d&d fantasy forgotten realms gold box licensed party-based rpg sword and sorcery turn-based rpg