Games based on a novel sorted by release date

Many classic games were based on books, whether novels or short stories. This literary influence brought rich narratives and intricate worlds to the gaming medium. Some notable examples include "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien, which inspired numerous games that explore Middle-earth's epic battles and complex lore. "Rendezvous with Rama" by Arthur C. Clarke provided a foundation for games that delve into the mysteries of space exploration and alien encounters. "The Mist" by Stephen King led to atmospheric horror games that capture the suspense and terror of the original story.

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Circuit's Edge

DOS19904.1/5 Westwood Studios

Circuit's Edge is a cyberpunk-themed role-playing game developed by Westwood Associates and published by Infocom. It was released in 1990 for MS-DOS. Set in a dystopian future, Circuit's Edge takes place in the fictional city of Rhoes Island, a dark and gritty urban landscape filled with crime, corruption, and advanced technology. Players take on t...

Flight of the Intruder

DOS19903.9/5 Rowan Software

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I

DOS19904/5 Interplay Productions

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I is an abandoned fantasy top-down DOS RPG game set in the The Lord of the Rings universe. The Lord of the Rings I was developed and released by Interplay Productions in 1990. The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I is based on the popular The Lord Of The Rings book by J.R.R. Tolkien and it's focused on the f...

Romance of the Three Kingdoms 2

DOS19903.9/5 KOEI

Romance of the Three Kingdoms II is a turn-based strategy game developed and published by Koei. It was released in 1989 for various platforms, including the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), MS-DOS.In Romance of the Three Kingdoms II, players take on the role of a ruler during this period, and their objective is to unify China under their rule. ...

Spirit of Excalibur

DOS19903.8/5 Synergistic Software

Team Yankee

DOS19904.2/5 Oxford Digital Enterprises

The Cardinal of the Kremlin

DOS19903.9/5 Capstone

The Cardinal of the Kremlin is an abandoned simulation game involving espionage, politics and govern management set in the cold war years. It was designed by Kenneth Rothschild, developed by Capstone and released by IntraCorp in 1990 for DOS and Amiga. The Cardinal of the Kremlin was based on the Tom Clancy novel of the same name.

War of the Lance

DOS1990protected4.3/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.

Conan: the Cimmerian

DOS19914.2/5 Synergistic Software

Dragonflight

DOS19913.6/5 Thalion

Lone Wolf: The Mirror of Death

DOS19913.8/5 Mr. Micro

Megafortress

DOS1991protected4.1/5 Artech Studios

Scrooge

DOS19913/5 Leisuresoft

Scrooge is an abandoned interactive fiction graphic adventure game developed and released by Leisuresoft in 1991 for DO. Scrooge is based on the popular Christmas tale of the same name.

The Rocketeer

DOS19912.8/5 NovaLogic

Castle Elsinore

DOS19923.5/5 Temple Software

Dune

DOS19924.1/5 Cryo Interactive Entertainment

Dune, released in 1992, is a game developed by Cryo Interactive and published by Virgin Games. It's based on the iconic science fiction novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. In Dune, players assume the role of Paul Atreides, the young scion of House Atreides, as he arrives on the desert planet Arrakis with his family to take control of spice pro...

Dune II: The building of a dynasty

DOS19924.2/5 Westwood Studios

Dune II, released in 1992, is a pioneering real-time strategy game developed by Westwood Studios. Set in the world of Frank Herbert's Dune, players command noble houses in a battle for control over the planet Arrakis. With base-building, resource management, and tactical combat, the game introduced key elements of the genre and influenced future RT...

Frederik Pohl's Gateway

DOS19924.1/5 Legend Entertainment

Frederik Pohl's Gateway is one of the best abandoned adventures games from Legend Entertainment. Gateway is an interactive fiction with graphics and an improved interface (unusual for IFs), based on the Frederik Pohl's novel Gateway. Tt was designed by Michael Verdu and Glen R. Dahlgren and published by Legend Entertainment in 1992.

Hook

DOS19924.2/5 Shadow Software

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers

DOS19924/5 Interplay Productions

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers is an abandoned fantasy top-down DOS RPG game set in the The Lord of the Rings universe. The Lord of the Rings II was developed and released by Interplay Productions in 1992. The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers is based on the popular The Lord Of The Rings book by J.R.R. Tol...

Pacific Islands

DOS19924.1/5 Oxford Digital Enterprises

Ringworld: Revenge of the Patriarch

DOS19924/5 Tsunami Media

Betrayal at Krondor

DOS1993protected4.1/5 Dynamix

Companions of Xanth

DOS1993protected3.8/5 Legend Entertainment

Gateway 2: Homeworld

DOS1993protected3.9/5 Legend Entertainment

Return of the Phantom

DOS1993protecteddemo3.7/5 MicroProse Software

Return of the Phantom is adventure game set in France, designed by Raymond Benson, developed by MicroProse Software and released in 1993 for DOS only. Return of the Phantom is a third-person adventure game based on the book Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux.