The best party-based games
A party based system allows the player to create, customize and play with a party of adventurers at the beginning or during the game. The vast majority of old RPGs were party based: Ultima, Eye of the Beholder, The Magic Candle are just a few.
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Ultima 7 Part 1: The Black Gate
DOS1992 Origin Systems
Ultima 7 is often hailed as the crown jewel of the series, and with good reason. It throws you into an open world that feels startlingly alive, even decades later. Townsfolk go about their daily routines, you can bake bread if you...
Eye of the Beholder 2: The Legend of Darkmoon
DOS1991protecteddemo Westwood Studios
Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon is a first-person party-based role-playing game (RPG) developed by Westwood Associates and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI). It was released in 1991 as a sequel to ...
Ultima 6: The False Prophet
DOS1990protected Origin Systems
In Ultima 6, you finally meet the Gargoyles, who aren’t the snarling monsters everyone assumed—they’re just misunderstood neighbors with a different perspective. Cue moral dilemmas and cross-cultural negotiations...
Eye of the Beholder
DOS1991protected Westwood Studios
Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia
Windows XP/98/951999protected New World Computing
Pools of Darkness
DOSMac OS1991protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Pools of Darkness is a computer role-playing game (CRPG) developed and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI). It is the fourth entry in the "Gold Box" series of Dungeons & Dragons games, which are based on the Advance...
Jagged Alliance 2
Windows XP/98/95LinuxMac OS1999protected Sir-tech Software
Jagged Alliance 2 is a turn-based tactical role-playing strategy game developed by Sir-Tech and released in 1999 for Windows. It is the sequel to the original Jagged Alliance and has earned a reputation as one of the best games in...
Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant
Windows XP/98/95LinuxDOS1992protected Sir-tech Software
Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant is a first-person perspective party-based RPG developed and released by Sir-tech Software in 1992 for Windows, Linux and DOS. Wizardry 7 is the seventh chapter in the Wizardry series and ...
Jagged Alliance: Deadly Games
DOS1996protected Sir-tech Software
X-Men 2: The Fall of the Mutants
DOS1991 Paragon Software
Ultima 3: Exodus
DOSMac OS1985 Origin Systems
By Ultima 3, the series had discovered the magic of party-based adventuring. No longer a lonely trek, now you command a ragtag group of heroes who bicker only in your imagination. Exodus, the mysterious villain, is less a person a...
Jagged Alliance
DOS1994protected Sir-tech Software
Crystals of Arborea
DOS1990 Silmarils
In Crystals of Arborea, you lead a team of heroes on a quest to defeat the evil Lord of Chaos and restore balance to a shattered world. It’s part RPG, part strategy game, with an open map to explore and tactical battles to f...
Knights of Legend
DOS1989 Origin Systems
Knights of Legend is a tactical role-playing game (RPG) released by Origin Systems in 1989 for MS-DOS, the Apple II, and the Commodore 64. Known for its complex gameplay and strategic depth, the game provides a turn-based combat e...
Arcanum: of Steamworks and Magick Obscura
DOS2001protected Troika Games
Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is a classic role-playing game developed by Troika Games and published by Sierra On-Line. It was released in 2001 for Microsoft Windows. The game is set in a unique steampunk fantasy world...
Ultima 5: Warriors of Destiny
DOS1988 Origin Systems
Ultima 5 takes a darker turn. Lord British is missing, and his regent, Lord Blackthorn, has turned Britannia into a police state where virtues are enforced at sword-point. You know things are bad when honesty is compulsory and pun...
The Bard's Tale 3: Thief of Fate
DOS1990 Interplay Productions
The Bard’s Tale III: Thief of Fate is the third and final installment in the original The Bard’s Tale trilogy, developed by Interplay and published by Electronic Arts in 1988. It is a classic turn-based dungeon crawler...
Dungeon Master
DOS1992 FTL
Dungeon Master is a classic computer role-playing game (CRPG) developed by FTL Games and released in 1987. It's considered one of the pioneering titles in the dungeon crawler genre. In Dungeon Master, players navigate through a du...
Might and Magic: Swords of Xeen
DOS1995 Catware, Inc.
Heroes of Might and Magic II
DOSWindows XP/98/951996protected New World Computing
Wizardry 6: Bane of the Cosmic Forge
DOSLinuxMac OS1990protected Sir-tech Software
Wizardry VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge is a role-playing game (RPG) developed by Sir-Tech and released in 1990. It's the sixth installment in the long-running "Wizardry" series. The game begins with the player's party investig...
Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday
DOS1990protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
In the 25th century, bureaucracy is still awful—but now you also have laser guns. Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday is a surprisingly solid sci-fi RPG that blends space opera drama with crunchy tactical combat. Think Dungeo...
Dark Queen of Krynn
DOS1992protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Fans of Dragonlance novels rejoiced at Dark Queen of Krynn, a Gold Box RPG where you battle alongside iconic heroes in a desperate fight against Takhisis, the dark goddess herself. This game isn’t here to coddle you—it...
Journey: The Quest Begins
DOS1989 Infocom
Realms of Arkania 2: Star trail
DOS1994protected Attic Entertainment Software
Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar
DOS1985freeware Origin Systems
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 th...
Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator
Windows XP/98/951999protected
Secret of the Silver Blades
DOSMac OS1990protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Secret of the Silver Blades is a fantasy RPG set in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons universe, developed and released by SSI Strategic Simulations Inc. in 1990 for DOS, Macintosh, Amiga and Commodore 64 systems. Secret of the S...
Phantasie 3: The Wrath of Nikademus
DOS1987 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
The Four Crystals of Trazere
DOS1992 Mindscape