Action RPGs (ARPG) sorted by release date

ARPG games (the acronym stands for Action Role-Playing Game) borrow gameplay elements from the action genre and mix them with real-time gameplay still retaining core RPG concepts that makes a CRPG (Computer Role-Playing Game) what it is. Combat is often dependent on the players' own reflexes while combat tactics usually play a minor role.

Most popular action RPG games

The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall

The Elder Scrolls: Arena

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Sort by:

ICON: Quest for the Ring

DOS1984 Macrocom

Autoduel

DOS1985 Origin Systems

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.

Moebius

DOS1987 Origin Systems

The Faery Tale Adventure: Book I

DOS1987 MicroIllusions

Alien Fires 2199 AD

DOS1988 Paragon Software

Alien Fires: 2199 AD is a 1987/88 science fiction RPG (role-playing game) developed and published by Paragon Software for the Amiga, Atari ST and MS-DOS. Players can customize their character’s stats and skills at the beginning of the game. The graphics were considered quite advanced, especially on the Amiga platform.

Dragons of Flame

DOS1989protected U.S. Gold

Hillsfar

DOS1989protected Westwood Studios

Prophecy: the Fall of Trinadon

DOS1989 Activision

Times of Lore

DOS1989 Origin Systems

Times of Lore is an abandoned action RPG designed by Chris Roberts, developed and released by Origin Systems in 1989 for DOS and many more 8 bit and 16 bit platforms. Compared to Ultima (the much more popular franchise also by Origin) Times of Lore is a washed down RPG, more similar to a NES game. In fact, Roberts was inspired by The Legend of Zelda.

Windwalker (Moebius 2)

DOS1989 Origin Systems

Ys: The Vanished Omens

DOS1989 Nihon Falcom

Ys: The Vanished Omens (also known as The Ancient Land of Ys) is an abandoned top-down open-world action RPG designed by Masaya Hashimoto, developed by Nihon Falcom and released by Kyodai Software Marketing for DOS in 1989. Ys: The Vanished Omens was published (earlier) for quite a few other home computers and console.

DarkSpyre

DOS1990 Event Horizon

Sorcerian

DOS1990 Nihon Falcom

Spirit of Excalibur

DOS1990 Synergistic Software

Zeliard

DOS1990 Game Arts

Zeliard is a fantasy platformer - JRPG hybrid with metroidvania gameplay elements developed by Game Arts and released for DOS in 1990. Zeliard is a single-player game.

Conan: the Cimmerian

DOS1991 Synergistic Software

Vengeance of Excalibur

DOS1991 Synergistic Software

X-Men 2: The Fall of the Mutants

DOS1991 Paragon Software

Legends of Valour

DOS1992 Syntetic Dimensions

Moonstone: A Hard Days Knight

DOS1992 Mindscape

Moonstone: A Hard Days Knight is an action-RPG and strategy game developed by Rob Anderson and published by Mindscape in 1991 for the Amiga and later for MS-DOS. The game is famous for its combination of strategic, RPG elements with fast-paced, brutal action combat, as well as its dark medieval fantasy setting. Up to four players can take turn...

The Adventures of Robin Hood

DOS1992 Millennium Interactive

Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss

DOS1992protected Blue Sky Productions

Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss is one of the first free-roaming first-person 3D ARPG (action RPG) ever created. The Stygian Abyss is the dungeon of the same name, part of the land of Britannia, and it's set in the Ultima universe created by Richard Garriott. Ultima Underworld was designed by Paul Neurath, developed by Blue Sky Productions and...

Burntime

DOS1993 Max Design

God of Thunder

DOSWindows XP/98/951993freeware Adept Software

God of Thunder is a classic computer game developed by Adept Software and released in 1993. It's a puzzle platformer with a fantasy theme. In the game, you control Thor, the Norse god of thunder, on a quest to save Midgard (Earth) from the evil god Loki and his minions.The gameplay involves navigating through various levels filled with obstacles, e...

ShadowCaster

DOS1993 Raven Software

Shadowcaster is a first-person action role-playing game developed by Raven Software and published by Origin Systems. It was released in 1993 for MS-DOS computers.In Shadowcaster, players assume the role of Kirt, a young man who discovers that he is the last of the Shadowcasters, a powerful group of shapeshifters with the ability to transform into d...