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

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Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption

Windows XP/98/95Mac2000protected4.3/5 Nihilistic Software
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The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall

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 popular 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...
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X-Men 2: The Fall of the Mutants

DOS19914.2/5 Paragon Software
nox-04

Nox

Windows XP/98/95Mac2000protected4.2/5 Westwood Studios
uu1-5

Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss

DOS1992protected4.2/5 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...
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Conan: the Cimmerian

DOS19914.2/5 Synergistic Software
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Ultima 8: Pagan

DOSMac1994protected4.2/5 Origin Systems
moonstone-5

Moonstone: A Hard Days Knight

DOS19924.2/5 Mindscape
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System Shock 2

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.
elderscrollsarena-8

The Elder Scrolls: Arena

DOS1994freeware4.2/5 Bethesda Softworks
The Elder Scrolls: Arena is the first installment in the highly acclaimed Elder Scrolls series of fantasy ARPG (action role-playing games), developed and published by Bethesda Softworks. It was initially released in 1994. Arena is set in the continent of Tamriel, which later becomes the central location for all the Elder Scrolls games (Skyrim,...
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Legends of Valour

DOS19924.2/5 Syntetic Dimensions
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Deus Ex

DOSMac2000protecteddemo4.1/5 Ion Storm
Deus Ex is a critically acclaimed action role-playing video game developed by Ion Storm and published by Eidos Interactive. It was released in 2000 and was designed by Warren Spector, combining elements of first-person shooters, stealth games, and role-playing games. The game is set in a dystopian future where society is fraught with conspiracy the...
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Diablo

Windows XP/98/951996protecteddemo4.1/5 Blizzard Entertainment
anachronox-06

Anachronox

Windows XP/98/952001protected4.1/5 Ion Storm
morrowind-01

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

Windows XP/98/952002protected4.1/5 Bethesda Softworks
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is a critically acclaimed open-world action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios. It was released in 2002 and is the third installment in the Elder Scrolls series. The game is set in the fantasy world of Tamriel, on the island of Vvardenfell in the province of Morrowind.The game offers a vast a...
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Amulets & Armor

DOS1997freeware4.1/5 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.
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Ys: The Vanished Omens

DOS19894.1/5 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.
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ShadowCaster

DOS19934.1/5 Raven Software
ShadowCaster is a first-person action role-playing game (ARPG) developed by Raven Software and published by Origin Systems. It was released in 1993 for MS-DOS and later for other platforms such as Amiga and FM Towns.The storyline of ShadowCaster follows Kirt, who discovers that he has the ability to transform into various creature forms. As Kirt ex...
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Ultima Underworld 2: Labyrinth of Worlds

DOS1993protected4.1/5 Looking Glass Studios
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Times of Lore

DOS19894.1/5 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.
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Burntime

DOS19934.1/5 Max Design
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Warriors of Legend

DOS19934/5 Synergistic Software
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Ultima 9: Ascension

Windows XP/98/951999protected4/5 Origin Systems
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Zeliard

DOS19904/5 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.
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God of Thunder

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.
dinksmallwodhd-3

Dink Smallwood

Windows XP/98/951998freeware4/5 Robinson Technologies
Dink Smallwood is an action role-playing video game developed by Robinson Technologies. It was first released in 1997 for Windows and later became freeware. The game was created by Seth Robinson, and it gained a cult following for its humor.The game's plot revolves around the titular character, Dink Smallwood, a pig farmer who embarks on an epic ad...
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Divine Divinity

WindowsMac2002protected4/5 Larian Studios
Divine Divinity is a role-playing game (RPG) developed by Larian Studios and released in 2002. It's the first game in the Divinity series, which has since expanded with several sequels and spin-offs. The game is set in a fantasy world called Rivellon, which is threatened by the rise of an evil force known as the Black Ring. Players take on the role...
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An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire

Windows XP/98/951997protected4/5 Bethesda Softworks
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Sorcerian

DOS19904/5 Nihon Falcom
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Entomorph: Plague Of The Darkfall

Windows XP/98/95Windows 3.xMac1995protected3.9/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.