Abandonware rpg games sorted by release date
In a Role-Playing Game (RPG), players control one or more characters in a fictional world, be it fantasy-oriented, contemporary, sci-fi, etc. RPGs follow up on traditional tabletop role-playing games features, including narrative threads full of obstacles and enigmas, character development, combat systems, or complex inventories.
Sort by:
Akalabeth: World of Doom
DOS1981freeware3.7/5
Akalabeth is a RPG game allegedly developed in just one summer by the Ultima franchise creator Richard Garriott. It's a dungeon crawler with wire-frame black and white graphics. Akalabeth is played in both first person 3d and top down view points.
The Wizard's Castle
DOS1981freeware3.3/5
The Wizard's Castle is a classic text-based, dungeon-crawling adventure game released in 1980, designed by Joseph R. Power. The game was originally developed for the Exidy Sorcerer computer and later ported to various platforms, such as the TRS-80 and early IBM PCs. The game is set in a mysterious wizard's castle, where the player takes on the...
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
DOS19813.9/5 dungeon crawl, first-person party-based RPG
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is a role-playing video game that was first released in 1981. It's one of the pioneering titles in the dungeon-crawling genre and one of the first computer role-playing games (CRPGs).Developed by Andrew C. Greenberg and Robert Woodhead, and published by Sir-Tech, Wizardry was initially released for the ...
Wizardry 2: The knight of diamonds
DOS19823.8/5 dungeon crawl, first-person party-based RPG
Beneath Apple Manor
DOS1983freeware4.2/5 roguelike, dungeon crawl
Beneath Apple Manor is a pioneering game in the roguelike genre, originally developed and released in 1978 by Don Worth for the Apple II and later re-released for DOS as a "Special Edition". It's one of the earliest known role-playing video games (RPGs) with procedurally generated dungeons.In Beneath Apple Manor, players take on the role of an adve...
Oubliette
DOS19833.3/5 dungeon crawl, roguelike
Rescue at Rigel
DOS19833.3/5
Ultima 2: Revenge of the Enchantress
DOS19834/5 top-down party-based RPG
The second chapter of the Ultima saga is much similar to the first one (same top down visual, same dungeon 3d visual, same gameplay), although there are many small improvements. The series begins to take the shape of the detailed, deep, rpg saga that gamers will always remember.
Wizardry 3: Legacy of Llylgamyn
DOS19833.8/5 dungeon crawl, first-person party-based RPG
Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn is a classic role-playing video game developed by Sir-Tech and released in 1983. It is the third installment in the Wizardry series. Originally released for the Apple II, it was later ported to other platforms, including the Commodore 64, IBM PC, and various Japanese computers. The game is set in the fant...
DND
DOS19844.1/5 dungeon crawl, roguelike
Hack
DOS1984freeware3.8/5 dungeon crawl, roguelike
ICON: Quest for the Ring
DOS19843.6/5 dungeon crawl, action RPG
Rogue
Windows XP/98/95DOSLinuxMac OS19844.1/5 dungeon crawl, roguelike
Rogue is one of the first RPGs in the history of video gaming. It's a text-based dungeon crawler in which you have to fight your way in the dungeon to recover the Amulet of Yendor. Rogue became popular around 1980 on mainframes and later ported to various platforms, including DOS in 1984. Rogue is simply the father of all the roguelike games that c...
Amulet of Yendor
DOS19853.6/5 roguelike
Autoduel
DOS19853.9/5 board game, vehicular combat, action RPG
Autoduel is an abandoned top-down open world post apocalyptic RPG/driving game hybrid designed by Chuck Bueche and Richard Garriott of Ultima fame. Autoduel was developed by Origin Systems and was released in 1985 for DOS, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, C64, Apple II, Macintosh, Amiga. Autoduel is based on a board game designed by Steve Jackson himself.
Cavequest
DOS19853.3/5
Telengard
DOS1985freeware3.4/5 dungeon crawl
Temple of Apshai Trilogy
DOS19853.5/5 dungeon crawl
The Temple of Apshai Trilogy is a series of classic role-playing games developed by Automated Simulations (later known as Epyx) in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These games were among the earliest examples of computer-based RPGs and were influential in shaping the genre.The "Temple of Apshai Trilogy" was notable for its depth of gameplay and intr...
Ultima 3: Exodus
DOSMac OS19854.2/5 top-down party-based RPG
Ultima III: Exodus is a role-playing video game developed by Richard Garriott and published by Origin Systems. It was released in 1983 for the Apple II and later ported to various other platforms such as the Commodore 64, MS-DOS, and NES.The game is set in the fantasy world of Sosaria, where the player controls a party of adventurers on a quest to ...
Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar
DOS1985freeware4.1/5 sandbox RPG, top-down party-based RPG
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar is one of the most influential and innovative role-playing games (RPGs) in video game history. Released in 1985 by Richard Garriott under the Origin Systems banner, it is the fourth installment of the Ultima series and marked a significant shift in the genre of RPGs at the time. Unlike previous RPGs which revolve...
Larn
DOS1986freeware3.9/5 dungeon crawl, roguelike
Starflight
DOS19864.1/5 sandbox RPG
Starflight is a classic space exploration and role-playing video game released in 1986 by Binary Systems and published by Electronic Arts. It is known for its innovative gameplay, as well as its open-ended approach to space exploration and storytelling.The game is set in a massive, procedurally generated universe with thousands of star systems to e...
Tera: La Cité des Crânes
DOS19863.2/5
Adventure Construction Set
DOS19873.9/5
Adventure Construction Set is an abandoned application developed by Stuart Smith and published for DOS, Amiga, Apple II and Commodore 64 by Electronic Arts in 1987. As the name suggests, ACS is a game-building system (we're talking about adventure RPGs) that lets you edit maps, items, creatures, etc. Included with ACS is a complete game called...
Le Maitre Des Ames
DOS19873.6/5 first-person party-based RPG
Might and Magic Book One: Secret of the Inner Sanctum
DOS19874/5 first-person party-based RPG
Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum is a classic first-person role-playing video game (RPG) released in 1986 for DOS and other platforms. It was developed and published by New World Computing and designed by Jon Van Caneghem. This game is considered one of the pioneers of the RPG genre.
Mission: Mainframe
DOS19873.9/5 board game
Moebius
DOS19873.4/5 action RPG
NetHack
DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac OSLinux1987freeware3.7/5 dungeon crawl, roguelike
NetHack is an open-source roguelike game that's been around since the early 1980s. It's a single-player dungeon exploration game where you navigate your character through a randomly generated dungeon filled with monsters, traps, treasures, and various items. The goal is to retrieve the Amulet of Yendor, located deep within the dungeon's lowest leve...
Phantasie 1
DOS1987protected3.9/5 top-down party-based RPG