Top-down view party-based RPGs sorted by release date

Party-based role-playing games played in a top down perspective were perhaps the first CRPGs to get some attention by fans of pen & paper RPGs. After all, a top down view is the ideal way to convey the feeling of looking at a map, and it's the perfect way to show every member of the party in a turn-based combat. The most fondly remembered top-down CRPGs of the golden age of gaming were perhaps the ones designed by the immortal Richard Garriott: the Ultima series. Let's not forget classics such as The Magic Candle, Dark Sun, Wasteland.

Most popular top-down party-based RPG games

Ultima 7 Part 1: The Black Gate

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Ultima 5: Warriors of Destiny

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Ultima 3: Exodus

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Top-down party-based RPG games

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Ultima 2: Revenge of the Enchantress

DOS19834/5 Origin Systems

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.
Ultima 3: Exodus

DOS19854.1/5 Origin Systems
Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar

DOS1985freeware4.2/5 Origin Systems

Ultima IV is remembered as one of the best Ultima games ever released, designed as usual by Richard Garriott. Garriott took the Ultima series to a whole new level by introducing the eight virtues: honesty, compassion, valor, justice, sacrifice, honor, spirituality, humility. Ultima IV started the trilogy known as "Age of Enlightenment".
Phantasie 1

DOS1987protected3.9/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Phantasie 3: The Wrath of Nikademus

DOS19874.1/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Ultima 1: The First Age of Darkness

DOS19874.1/5 Origin Systems

This is the first of the very popular RPG saga Ultima. The setting is the land of Sosaria, the enemy to defeat is Mondain. It's a classic cRPG. The wilderness and cities are represented from a top down perspective, while dungeons can be explored in a first person 3d view.
Scavengers of the Mutant World

DOS19883.9/5 Interstel Corporation
Ultima 5: Warriors of Destiny

DOS19884.2/5 Origin Systems
Wasteland

DOS1988protected3.9/5 Interplay Productions
Demon's Winter

DOS1989protected3.7/5 SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
Dungeons of Kairn

DOS19893.7/5
The Dark Heart of Uukrul

DOS19894/5 Digital Studios Limited
The Magic Candle

DOS19894.1/5 Mindcraft Software

The Magic Candle: Volume 1 is the first chapter of a series of fantasy old school RPGs. The Magic Candle was developed and released by Mindcraft Software in 1989 for DOS but was also published for Apple II and Commodore 64. The whole Magic Candle series is very similar to some of the early Ultima games in every aspect: turn-based combat, top-down v...
Fountain of Dreams

DOS19904.1/5 Electronic Arts
Hard Nova

DOS19903.8/5 Malibu Interactive
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I

DOS19904/5 Interplay Productions

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I is an abandoned fantasy top-down DOS RPG game set in the The Lord of the Rings universe. The Lord of the Rings I was developed and released by Interplay Productions in 1990. The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I is based on the popular The Lord Of The Rings book by J.R.R. Tolkien and it's focused on the f...
Keys to Maramon

DOS19903.9/5 Mindcraft Software
Megatraveller 1: the Zhodani conspiracy

DOS19903.9/5 Paragon Software
Space 1889

DOS19904/5 Paragon Software

Space 1889 is an abandoned top down RPG developed by Paragon Software and released in 1990 for DOS, Atari ST and Amiga. Space 1889 setting is classic science fiction, but is set in the Victorian. It's worth noting that Space 1889 is loosely based on the tabletop game of the same name.
Tunnels & Trolls: Crusaders of Khazan

DOS19904.2/5 New World Computing
Ultima 6: The False Prophet

DOS1990protected4.3/5 Origin Systems
Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire

DOS1990freeware4/5 Origin Systems

After the success of Ultima 6: The False Prophet, Origin decided to "create worlds" not part of the popular Ultima series (strictly speaking) using the same engine of Ultima 6. They came up with two games: The Savage Empire and Martian Dreams. The Savage Empire is set in a stone age-like world and features prehistoric tribes, dinosaurs, insectoid a...
Dragonflight

DOS19913.6/5 Thalion
Megatraveller 2: Quest for the ancients

DOS19913.6/5 Paragon Software
Planet's Edge

DOS1991protected4/5 New World Computing
The Magic Candle 2: The Four and Forty

DOS19913.8/5 Mindcraft Software
Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams

DOS19914/5 Origin Systems

Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams is an abandoned science fiction RPG designed by Jeff George, developed by Origin Systems and released in 1991 for DOS. Martian Dreams uses the Ultima VI engine to depict Mars in a top down perspective.
Amberstar

DOS19923.9/5 Thalion

Amberstar is a fantasy old school RPG very similar to Ultima 6 that uses a top-down view for interiors and small locations and a first person pseudo 3D view for everything else. Unfortunately, the sequel (called Ambermoon) was available for Amiga only and no version existed for DOS or Windows. Amberstar was developed and published by Thalion for DO...
Challenge of the Five Realms

DOS1992protected3.7/5 MicroProse Software
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers

DOS19923.9/5 Interplay Productions

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers is an abandoned fantasy top-down DOS RPG game set in the The Lord of the Rings universe. The Lord of the Rings II was developed and released by Interplay Productions in 1992. The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers is based on the popular The Lord Of The Rings book by J.R.R. Tol...