Abandonware DOS title

The best action RPG games

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

Action RPG games

  • darkstone-03
    Windows XP/98/951999protected4.3/5 Delphine software
  • morrowind-01
    Windows XP/98/952002protected4.3/5 Bethesda Softworks
  • daggerfall-01
    DOS1996freeware4.3/5 Bethesda Softworks

    The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall is an old school first-person 3D RPG developed by Bethesda Softworks and released in 1996 for DOS. Daggerfall is the second chapter in The Elder Scrolls Series. The open world gameplay, the procedural generation of dungeons and the freedom of exploring and taking on the quests at your own pace are some of the feature...

  • nox-04
    Windows XP/98/95Mac2000protected4.2/5 Westwood Studios
  • xmen2-fall-of-the-mutants-03
    DOS19914.2/5 Paragon Software
  • ultima8-pagan-05
    DOS1994protected4.2/5 Origin Systems
  • amulets-armor-04
    DOS1997freeware4.2/5 United Software Artists

    Amulets & Armor is a first-person ARPG (action RPG) with a fantasy setting. It was developed and published as shareware for DOS by United Software Artists in 1997. Amulets & Armor became freeware in 2013. Gameplay is mission-based; the player can take up quests in any order and even complete the same quests over and over.

  • system-shock-2-07
    Windows XP/98/95LinuxMac1999protected4.2/5 Irrational Games

    System Shock 2 is a Windows science fiction cyberpunk game developed by Irrational Games, designed by Ken Levine and published by Electronic Arts in 1999. System Shock 2 is a blend of more than one genre: RPG, action-adventure, shooter, stealth game.

  • legends-of-valour-02
    DOS19924.2/5 Syntetic Dimensions
  • elderscrollsarena-8
    DOS1994freeware4.2/5 Bethesda Softworks

    The Elder Scrolls: Arena is the first chapter in the popular fantasy  ARPG (action RPG) series "The Elder Scrolls" developed by Bethesda Softworks. Like the other games in the series, Arena takes place in the continent of Tamriel and allow the player to roam freely in an open world scenario.

  • conancimmerian-3
    DOS19914.2/5 Synergistic Software
  • diablo1-06
    Windows XP/98/951996protected4.1/5 Blizzard Entertainment
  • vengeance-excalibur-04
    DOS19914.1/5 Synergistic Software
  • deus-ex-02
    DOSMac2000protected4.1/5 Ion Storm
  • anachronox-06
    Windows XP/98/952001protected4.1/5 Ion Storm
  • uu1-5
    DOS1992protected4.1/5 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...

  • uu2-4
    DOS1993protected4.1/5 Looking Glass Studios
  • moonstone-5
    DOS19924.1/5 Mindscape
  • ultimuh-03
  • zeliard-3
    DOS19904.1/5 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.

  • battlespire-04
    Windows XP/98/951997protected4.1/5 Bethesda Softworks
  • entomorph-05
    Windows XP/98/95Windows 3.xMac1995protected4.1/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
  • warriors-of-legend-07
    DOS19934/5 Synergistic Software
  • dink-smallwood-02
    Windows XP/98/951998freeware4/5 Robinson Technologies
  • godofthunder-2
    DOSWindows XP/98/951993freeware4/5 Adept Software

    God of Thunder is a free computer role-playing game designed by Ron Davis, developed by Adept Software and released by Software Creations in 1993 for DOS and Windows platforms. God of Thunder is an action oriented RPG (sort of...) with strong puzzle elements with a norse mythology theme.

  • burntime-01
    DOS19934/5 Max Design
  • faery-tale-adventure-1-02
    DOS19874/5 MicroIllusions
  • ultima9-01
    Windows XP/98/951999protected4/5 Origin Systems
  • ultima8-lost-vale-01
    DOS1994canceled4/5 Origin Systems
  • timesoflore-4
    DOS19894/5 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.