Year
|
Title
|
Developer
|
Publisher
|
Setting
|
Platform
|
Subgenre
|
Series/Notes
|
COO
|
1986 (NA/UK)
|
Alternate Reality: The City |
Paradise Datasoft |
Datasoft U.S. Gold |
Sci-Fi |
APPII (Port) C64 (Port) MAC (Port) ST (Port) |
|
Series debuts. |
US
|
1986 (NA/UK)
|
Bards Tale, The |
Interplay |
EA |
Fantasy |
AMI (Port) |
|
Bard's Tale |
US
|
1986 (NA)
|
Bard's Tale II, The: The Destiny Knight |
Interplay |
EA |
Fantasy |
C64 |
|
Bard's Tale |
US
|
1986 (JP) 1987 (NA)
|
Deadly Towers (NA) Mashou (JP) 魔鐘 (JP) |
Irem |
Broderbund Irem |
Fantasy |
NES[1] |
Action RPG[2] |
|
JP
|
1986 (JP)
|
Deep Dungeon: Madō Senki (JP) ディープダンジョン 魔洞戦記 (JP) |
HummingBird |
DOG |
Fantasy |
FDS[3] |
Dungeon crawl |
|
JP
|
1986 (JP) 1989 (NA)
|
Dragon Warrior (NA) Dragon Quest (JP) ドラゴンクエスト (JP) |
Chunsoft |
Enix Nintendo |
Fantasy |
NES[1] PC98 MSX[4] |
JRPG[5] |
Series debuts. |
JP
|
1986 (JP)
|
Ganso Saiyuuki: Super Monkey Dai Bouken (JP) 元祖西遊記 スーパーモンキー大冒険 (JP) |
|
VAP |
Fantasy |
NES[1] |
Action RPG[6] |
Based on the novel Journey to the West |
JP
|
1986 (JP)
|
Haja no Fuuin (JP) 覇邪の封印 (JP) |
Kogado |
ASCII |
Fantasy |
FM7 PC88 |
JRPG[7] |
|
JP
|
1986 (JP) 1989 (NA)
|
Hydlide (NA) Hydlide Special (JP) ハイドライドスペシャル (JP) |
T&E |
FCI, Inc.. Tohiba EMI |
Fantasy |
NES[1] (Remake) |
Action RPG[8] |
Series debuts. |
JP
|
1986 (JP)
|
Hydlide II: Shine of Darkness (JP) ハイドライド II (JP) |
T&E |
T&E |
Fantasy |
FM7 (Port) MSX[4] (Port) |
Action RPG[8] |
|
JP
|
1986 (FR)
|
Mandragore (FR) |
Infogrames |
Infogrames |
Fantasy |
MSX[4] |
Computer-style RPG[9] |
|
FR
|
1986 (NA)
|
Might & Magic: Book I |
New World |
New World |
Fantasy |
APPII |
|
Series debuts. |
US
|
1986 (NA)
|
Phantasie |
Logical Design |
SSI |
Fantasy |
ST (Port) |
|
Series debuts. |
US
|
1986 (NA)
|
Phantasie II |
SSI |
SSI |
Fantasy |
APPII |
|
|
US
|
1986 (NA)
|
Phantasie II |
Logical Design |
SSI |
Fantasy |
C64 (Port) ST (Port) |
|
|
US
|
1986 (NA)
|
Shard of Spring |
SSI Digital Illusions |
SSI |
Fantasy |
APPII C64 DOS |
|
Followed by Demon's Winter. |
US
|
1986 (NA)
|
Starflight |
Binary Systems |
EA |
Sci-Fi |
DOS |
|
A rare example of a sci-fi CRPG and the spiritual ancestor to such games as Star Control 2 and Space Rangers. |
US
|
1986 (JP)
|
Super Rambo Special (JP) スーパーランボースペシャル (JP) |
Pack-In-Video |
Pack-In-Video |
Modern |
MSX2[4] |
Action RPG[10] |
|
JP
|
1986 (NA)
|
Temple of Apshai Trilogy |
Westwood |
Epyx |
Fantasy |
AMI (Port) ST (Port) |
|
|
US
|
1986 (NA)
|
Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness |
Origin |
Origin |
Fantasy |
APPII (Remake) |
|
Series debuts. |
US
|
1986 (NA)
|
Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness |
Origin |
Origin |
Fantasy |
C64 (Port) |
|
Series debuts. |
US
|
1986 (JP/NA)
|
Ultima III: Exodus |
Origin |
Origin StarCraft |
Fantasy |
AMI (Port) MAC (Port) ST (Port) FM7 (Port) PC88 (Port) PC98 (Port) |
Computer-style RPG |
Pioneered many innovations that would become standard on many CRPGs, both Western and Eastern, that followed. |
US
|
1986 (NA)
|
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar |
Origin |
Origin |
Fantasy |
ATR (Port) |
|
The first major CRPG to move from "hack and slash" gameplay to a "virtuous" story-driven approach. |
US
|
1986 (JP)
|
Valkyrie no Bōken: Toki no Kagi Densetsu (JP) ワルキューレの冒険 時の鍵伝説 (JP) |
Namco |
Namco |
Fantasy |
NES[1] |
Action RPG[11] |
|
JP
|
1986 (JP) 1989 (NA)
|
WiBArm (NA) WiBArm (JP) ウィバーン (JP) |
Arsys Software (JP) |
Arsys Software (JP) Broderbund (NA) |
Sci-Fi |
PC88 DOS (Port) |
Action RPG[12] |
|
JP
|
1986 (NA/UK)
|
Wizard's Crown |
SSI |
SSI |
Fantasy |
APPII (Port) ATR (Port) C64 (Port) |
Tactical RPG |
|
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna |
Sir-Tech |
Sir-Tech |
Fantasy |
APPII DOS |
Dungeon crawl |
|
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
2400 A.D. |
Origin |
Origin |
Sci-Fi |
APPII |
|
|
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
Alternate Reality: The Dungeon |
Datasoft |
Datasoft |
Sci-Fi |
APPII ATR C64 |
|
|
US
|
1987 (JP)
|
Artelius (JP) アルテリオス (JP) |
Nihon Bussan |
Nihon Bussan |
Fantasy |
NES[1] |
Action RPG[6] |
|
JP
|
1987 (JP/NA)
|
Bard's Tale, The (NA) バーズテイル (JP) |
Interplay |
EA |
Fantasy |
APPGS (Port) DOS (Port) ST (Port) PC88 (Port) PC98 (Port)[13] |
Dungeon crawl |
|
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
Bard's Tale II, The: The Destiny Knight |
Interplay |
EA |
Fantasy |
APPII (Port) |
Dungeon crawl |
|
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
Beyond Zork: The Coconut of Quendor |
Infocom |
Infocom |
Fantasy |
AMI APPII APPGS C128 DOS MAC ST |
Adventure game/RPG hybrid |
|
US
|
1987 (JP)
|
Black Onyx, The (JP) ザ・ブラックオニキス (JP) |
Bullet-Proof |
Sega |
Fantasy |
SG1K[14] |
Dungeon crawl[15][16] |
The original release is often considered one of Japan's first RPGs.[16] |
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
Cleopatra no Mahou (JP) クレオパトラの魔宝 (JP) |
Square |
Square |
|
FDS[3] |
|
|
JP
|
1987 (NA)
|
Deathlord |
EA |
EA |
Fantasy |
APPII C64 |
|
|
US
|
1987 (JP)
|
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei (JP) デジタル・デビル物語 女神転生 (JP) |
Atlus |
Namco |
Fantasy |
NES[1] |
Dungeon crawl[17] |
Series debuts. |
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
Dragon Scroll (NA) ドラゴンスクロール 甦りし魔竜 (JA) |
Konami |
Konami |
Fantasy |
NES |
Action RPG |
|
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu (JP) ザナドゥ (JP) |
Nihon Falcom |
Sony |
Fantasy |
MSX[4] MSX2[4] |
Action RPG[18] |
|
JP
|
1987 (JP) 1990 (NA)
|
Dragon Warrior II (NA) Dragon Quest II Akuryo no Kamigami (JP) ドラゴンクエストII 悪霊の神々 (JP) |
Chunsoft |
Enix |
Fantasy |
NES[1] |
JRPG[5] |
|
JP
|
1987 (NA) 1988 (UK)
|
Dungeon Master |
FTL |
FTL |
Fantasy |
ST (Port) |
|
|
US
|
1987 (JP)
|
Esper Dream (JP) エスパードリーム (JP) |
Konami |
Konami |
Fantasy |
FDS[3] |
Action RPG |
Series debuts. |
JP
|
1987 (NA)
|
Eternal Dagger, The |
SSI |
SSI |
Fantasy |
APPII ATR |
Tactical RPG |
Sequel to Wizard's Crown. |
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
The Faery Tale Adventure |
MicroIllusions |
MicroIllusions |
Fantasy |
DOS AMI C64 |
|
Series debuts. |
US
|
1987 (JP) 1989 (NA) 1990 (EU)
|
Faxanadu (INT) ファザナドゥ (JP) |
Falcom |
Hudson Soft Nintendo |
Fantasy |
NES[1] |
Action RPG[6][11] |
Spin-off of the Dragon Slayer series. |
JP
|
1987 (JP) 1990 (NA)
|
Final Fantasy (JP/NA) ファイナルファンタジー (JP) |
Square |
Square Nintendo |
Fantasy |
NES[1] |
JRPG[19] |
Series debuts. |
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
Getsu Fūma Den (JP) 月風魔伝 (JP) |
Konami |
Konami |
Fantasy |
NES[1] |
Action RPG[6] |
|
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
Ginga no Sannin (JP) 銀河の三人 (JP) |
Pax Softnica |
Nintendo |
Sci-fi |
NES[1] (Port) |
|
aka The Earth Fighter Rayieza |
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
Golvellius (JP) 魔王ゴルベリアス (JP) |
Compile |
Compile |
Fantasy |
MSX[4] |
Action RPG[20] |
|
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
Hydlide 3: The Space Memories (JP) ハイドライド 3 (JP) |
T&E |
T&E |
Fantasy |
MSX[4] MSX2[4] |
Action RPG[8]
|
|
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
Kalin no Tsurugi (JP) Sword of Kalin (JP) カリーンの剣 (JP) |
XTALSOFT |
DOG |
Fantasy |
FDS[3] |
Action RPG[21] |
|
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
King Kong 2: Yomigaeru Densetsu (JP) キングコング 2 (JP) |
Konami |
Konami |
|
MSX2[4] |
Action RPG |
|
JP
|
1987 (JP) 1989 (NA)
|
Legacy of the Wizard (JP) Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family (JP) ドラゴンスレイヤーIVドラスレファミリー (JP) |
Nihon Falcom |
Nihon Falcom Namco Broderbund |
Fantasy |
MSX[4] NES[1] |
Action RPG[22] |
Sequel to Dragon Slayer Jr: Romancia. |
JP
|
1987 (JP) 1989 (NA)
|
Magic of Scheherazade, The (NA) Arabian Dream Scheherazade (JP) アラビアン・ドリーム シェラザード (JP) |
Culture Brain |
Culture Brain |
Fantasy |
NES[1] |
Action RPG[6][11] |
|
JP
|
1987 (NA)
|
Might & Magic: Book I |
New World |
New World |
Fantasy |
APPII (Rerel) |
|
Series debuts. |
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
Might & Magic: Book I |
New World |
New World |
Fantasy |
C64 (Port) DOS (Port) MAC (Port) |
|
Series debuts. |
US
|
1987 (JP)
|
Minelvaton Saga: Ragon no Fukkatsu (JP) ミネルバトンサーガ ラゴンの復活 (JP) |
Taito |
Taito |
|
NES[1] |
Action RPG |
|
JP
|
1987 (JP) 1988 (NA/PAL)
|
Miracle Warriors: Seal of the Dark Lord (NA/PAL) Haja no Fuin (JP) 覇邪の封印 (JP) |
Kogado |
Kogado Sega ASCII |
Fantasy |
MSX[4] MSX2[4] NES[1] SMS[23] |
JRPG[7] |
|
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
Outlanders (JP) アウトランダーズ (JP) |
Micronics |
VMI, Inc. |
Sci-Fi |
NES[1] |
Action RPG[24] |
|
JP
|
1987 (NA)
|
Phantasie |
Logical Design |
SSI |
Fantasy |
ATR (Port) DOS (Port) |
|
|
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
Phantasie |
Andromeda |
SSI |
Fantasy |
AMI (Port) |
|
|
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
Phantasie II |
Logical Design |
SSI |
Fantasy |
ATR (Port) |
|
|
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
Phantasie III: Wrath of Nikademus |
SSI |
SSI |
Fantasy |
APPII |
|
|
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
Phantasie III: Wrath of Nikademus |
Westwood |
SSI |
Fantasy |
AMI (Port) C64 (Port) ST (Port) |
|
|
US
|
1987 (JP) 1988 (NA/EU)
|
Phantasy Star (INT) ファンタシースター (JP) |
RD4 (Sega) |
Sega |
Sci-Fi |
SMS[23] |
JRPG[25] |
Series debuts. |
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
Return of Ishtar, The (JP) Ishitā no Fukkatsu (JP) イシターの復活 (JP) |
Game Studio |
Namco |
Fantasy |
Arcade |
Action RPG[26] |
Sequel to Tower of Druaga |
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead (JP) 死霊戦線 (JP) |
|
Victor Music Industries |
Fantasy |
MSX2[27] |
Action RPG |
Ancestor of the survival horror subgenre.[citation needed] |
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
Sorcerian (JP) ソーサリアン (JP) |
Nihon Falcom |
Nihon Falcom |
Fantasy |
PC88 |
Action RPG |
Fifth game in the Dragon Slayer series. |
JP
|
1988 (JP)
|
Star Cruiser (JP) スタークルーザー (JP) |
Arsys Software (JP) |
Arsys Software (JP) |
Sci-Fi |
PC88 GEN (Port) |
Action RPG[28] FPS/RPG[29] |
|
JP
|
1987 (NA)
|
Tower of Myraglen (NA) |
PBI Software |
PBI Software |
Fantasy |
IIGS |
|
|
US
|
1987 (JP)
|
Tōjin Makyō-den Hercules no Eikō (JP) 闘人魔境伝 ヘラクレスの栄光 (JP) |
Data East |
Data East |
Fantasy |
NES[1] |
JRPG[30] |
Series debuts. |
JP
|
1987 (NA)
|
Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness |
Origin |
Origin |
Fantasy |
DOS (Port) |
|
Series debuts. |
US
|
1987 (JP)
|
Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress (JP) ウルティマII (JP) |
Origin |
Pony Canyon |
Fantasy |
MSX2[4] |
Computer-style RPG[31] |
|
US
|
1987 (JP) 1988 (NA)
|
Ultima III: Exodus (NA) Ultima: Kyoufu no Exodus (JP) ウルティマ ~恐怖のエクソダス~ (JP) |
Origin |
Origin FCI Pony Canyon |
Fantasy |
NES[1] MSX2[4] |
Computer-style RPG[32] |
|
US
|
1987 (NA/JP)
|
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (NA) ウルティマIV (JP) |
Origin |
Origin Pony Canyon |
Fantasy |
ST (Port) MSX2[4] |
Computer-style RPG[33] |
The first major CRPG to move from "hack and slash" gameplay to a "virtuous" story-driven approach. |
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
Wizard's Crown |
SSI |
SSI |
Fantasy |
ST (Port) |
Tactical RPG |
|
US
|
1987 (JP) 1990 (NA)
|
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (JP/NA) |
Sir-Tech Software Sting Game |
Sir-Tech ASCII Nexoft |
Fantasy |
C64 (Port) NES[1] MSX2[4] |
Dungeon crawl |
Series debuts. |
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna |
Sir-Tech |
Sir-Tech |
Fantasy |
APPII |
Dungeon crawl |
|
US
|
1987 (NA)
|
Wizardry Trilogy |
Sir-Tech |
Sir-Tech |
Fantasy Sci-Fi |
APPII (Comp) C64 (Comp) |
|
Compilation of the first three Wizardry games. |
US
|
1987 (JP)
|
Woody Poko (JP) うっでいぽこ (JP) |
DB Soft |
DB Soft |
Fantasy |
NES[1] |
|
|
US
|
1987 (JP)
|
Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished (JP) イースI (JP) |
Nihon Falcom |
Nihon Falcom |
Fantasy |
MSX2[4] |
Action RPG[34] |
First game in the Ys series |
JP
|
1987 (JP)
|
Yūshi no Monshō: Deep Dungeon (JP) 勇士の紋章 ディープダンジョン (JP) |
HummingBird |
DOG |
Fantasy |
FDS[3] |
Dungeon crawl |
Second game in the Deep Dungeon series |
JP
|
1987 (JP) 1988 (US/PAL)
|
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (INT) ゼルダの伝説 (パート) 2 リンクの冒険 (JP) |
Nintendo |
Nintendo |
Fantasy |
FDS[3] NES[1] |
Action RPG[11] |
Sequel to action-adventure game The Legend of Zelda. |
JP
|
1987 (JP) 1990 (NA)
|
Zeliard (JP/NA) ゼリアード (JP) |
Game Arts |
Game Arts Sierra |
Fantasy |
DOS PC88 |
Action RPG / Platform hybrid[35] |
|
JP
|