List of role-playing video games: 1990 to 1991

Last updated

This is a comprehensive index of commercial role-playing video games, sorted chronologically by year. Information regarding date of release, developer, publisher, operating system, subgenre and notability is provided where available. The table can be sorted by clicking on the small boxes next to the column headings. This list does not include MUDs or MMORPGs. It does include roguelikes, action RPGs and tactical RPGs.

Contents

Legend

Video game platforms
AMI Amiga
APPII Apple II
Arcade Arcade game
C64 Commodore 64
CROSS Cross-platform
DG32 Dragon 32
DOS MS-DOS
GB Game Boy
GEN Sega Genesis / Mega Drive
MAC Mac
MSX MSX
MSX2 MSX2
NEO Neo Geo
NES Nintendo Entertainment System / Famicom
PC60 PC-6000 series
PC88 PC-8800 series
PC98 PC-9800 series
PCE TurboGrafx-16 / PC Engine
SMS Master System
SNES Super NES / Super Famicom
ST Atari ST
X68K X68000
ZX ZX Spectrum
  
Types of releases
RereleaseThe game was re-released on the same platform with no or only minor changes.
PortThe game first appeared on a different platform and a port was made. The game is like the original, with few or no differences.
RemakeThe game is an enhanced remake of an original, released on the same or different platform, with changes to graphics, sound and/or gameplay.
CompilationA compilation, anthology or collection of several titles, usually (but not always) belonging to the same series.
LimitedA special release (often called "Limited" or "Collector's Edition") with bonus collector's material. Often provided to people who pre-order a game.
Genre notes
Action RPG Action role-playing game
Tactical RPG Tactical role-playing game
Roguelike Roguelike
Eroge Japanese game featuring erotic content
MMORPG Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
MUD MUD
Turn-based Turn-based game
Real-time Real-time game
  
FPS/RPG First-person shooter / RPG hybrid (role-playing shooter)
RTS/RPG Real-time strategy / RPG hybrid (real-time strategy RPG)
CRPG/WRPG Computer-style role-playing game
JRPG Japanese-style role-playing game
Dungeon crawl Dungeon crawl
Monster raising Pet-raising simulation
Card battle Collectible card game
Blobber First-person party-based RPG
Sandbox Open world RPG

List

Year Title Developer Publisher Setting Platform Subgenre Series/Notes COO
1990 (NA) AD&D Limited Edition Collector's Set SSI SSI FantasyDOS (Comp)Various Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Compilation of many early games, including several Gold Box games.US
1990 (JP) Akuma-kun: Makai no Wana  (JA)
悪魔くん・魔界の罠 (JA)
Bandai Bandai FantasyNES [1] JRPG [2] Based on the manga Akuma-kun JP
1990 (JP) Ayakashi no Shiro  (JA) Seta Seta FantasyGBJRPG dungeon crawlerJP
1990 (NA)
1991 (NA)
Bard's Tale III, The: Thief of Fate Interplay EA FantasyDOS (Port)
AMI (Port)
Dungeon crawl The Bard's Tale US
1990 (NA) The Bard's Tale Trilogy Interplay EA FantasyDOS (Comp)Dungeon crawl The Bard's Tale US
1990 (EU) BSS Jane Seymour Gremlin Gremlin Sci-FiAMI, STDungeon crawlUK
1990 (NA/UK) Champions of Krynn SSI SSI
U.S. Gold
FantasyAPPII
AMI
C64
DOS
Tactical RPG Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Dragonlance ; Utilizes the Gold Box engine.US
1990 (JP) Cosmic Fantasy: Bouken Shounen Yuu (JA) Telenet Japan Telenet Japan FantasyPCEJRPG [3] Based on the Original Video Animation Cosmic Fantasy JP
1990 (JP/NA) Crystalis  (EN)
God Slayer: Haruka Tenkū no Sonata (JA)
SNK Natsume FantasyNES [1] Action RPG / Action-AdventureJP
1990 (EU) Crystals of Arborea Silmarils Silmarils FantasyAMI, DOS, STCRPG Ishar FR
1990 (JP) Cyber Knight  (EN) Tonkin House Sci-FiPCEJRPG [4] Cyber Knight JP
1990 (NA)
1991 (NA)
DarkSpyre Event Horizon
Software Sorcery
Electronic Zoo FantasyDOS
AMI (Port)
Action RPGUS
1990 (JP) Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei 2  (JA) Atlus Namco FantasyNES [1] JRPG [5] Megami Tensei JP
1990 (JP) Dragon Knight  (EN) ELF Megatech FantasyMSX [6] ErogeDragon KnightJP
1990 (JP) Dragon Slayer  (EN) Nihon Falcom Square FantasyGB (Port)Action RPG Dragon Slayer JP
1990 (JP) Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes  (EN) Nihon Falcom Nihon Falcom
Hudson Soft
FantasyMSX2 [7] (Port)JRPG [8] Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes JP
1990 (EU) Dragonflight [9] Thalion Thalion FantasyAMI
ST
DE
1990 (NA/UK) Dragons of Flame U.S. Gold SSI
U.S. Gold
FantasyC64 (Port)
CPC (Port)
ZX (Port)
Action RPG Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Dragonlance US/UK
1990 (JP)
1992 (NA)
Dragon Warrior IV  (EN)
Dragon Quest IV: Michibikareshi Monotachi (JA)
Chunsoft Enix FantasyNES [1] JRPG [10] Dragon Quest JP
1990 (NA) DragonStrike Westwood SSI
U.S. Gold
FantasyAMI
C64
DOS
Action RPG (flight sim) Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Dragonlance US
1990 (JP) Emerald Dragon  (EN) Glodia Glodia FantasyMSX2 [7]
X68K (Port)
JRPG [11] JP
1990 (JP) Final Fantasy III  (EN) Square Square FantasyNES [1] JRPG [12] Final Fantasy JP
1990 (JP)
1991 (NA)
Final Fantasy Legend II  (EN)
Sa・Ga 2: 秘宝伝説 (JA)
Square Square FantasyGBJRPG [13] SaGa JP
1990 (JP) Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Tsurugi  (JA)
ファイアーエムブレム 暗黒竜と光の剣 (JA)
Intelligent Nintendo FantasyNES [1] Tactical RPG Fire Emblem JP
1990 (NA) Fountain of Dreams EA EA Post-apocalypticDOSWRPG Spiritual sequel to Wasteland US
1990 (JP)
1991 (JP)
Fray in Magical Adventure  (EN)
Fray: Shuugyou-hen (JA)
フレイ 修行編 (JA)
Micro Cabin Micro Cabin FantasyMSX [14]
MSX2 [14]
GG (Port)
Action RPG [15] Xak spin-offJP
1990 (JP) Ganbare Goemon Gaiden: Kieta Ougon Kiseru  (JA)
がんばれゴエモン外伝 きえた黄金キセル (JA)
Konami Konami FantasyNES [1] JRPG [16] Ganbare Goemon spin-offJP
1990 (NA)
1991 (NA)
Hard Nova Malibu
Abersoft
EA Sci-FiDOS
AMI (Port)
ST (Port)
WRPG Sentinel Worlds US
1990 (NA) Hero's Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero
Quest for Glory: So You Want to Be a Hero
Sierra Sierra FantasyAMI (Port)
ST (Port)
Adventure RPG Quest for Glory US
1990 (JP) Jajamaru Gekimaden: Maboroshi no Kinmajou  (JA) Jaleco NES [1] Action RPG [17] Ninja-Kid : Ninja Jajamaru-kun JP
1990 (NA)
1991 (NA)
Keys to Maramon, The Mindcraft
Knight
Mindscape
Mindcraft
FantasyDOS
AMI (Port)
C64 (Port)
Action RPG Magic Candle US
1990 (JP) Last Armageddon  (EN) Braingrey Mind Yutaka Post-apocalyptic FantasyNES [1]
DOS
PCE (Port)
JRPG [18] Last Armageddon JP
1990 (EU) Legend of Faerghail Electronic Design Hannover reLine FantasyAMI
DOS
ST
DE
1990 (US) Lord of the Rings, Vol. I, The Interplay Interplay FantasyDOSUS
1990 (JP) Madō Monogatari 1-2-3  (JP) Compile  (JP) Compile  (JP)FantasyMSXDungeon crawl Madō Monogatari JP
1990 (JP) Mōryō Senki MADARA  (JA) Konami Konami FantasyNESTactical RPGBased on the manga Madara JP
1990 (NA) Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World New World New World FantasyAMI (Port)WRPG Might and Magic US
1990 (JP) Momotarou Densetsu II  (JA) Hudson Soft Hudson Soft FantasyPCEJRPG [19] Momotarou Densetsu JP
1990 (JP) Momotarou Densetsu Turbo  (JA) Hudson Soft Hudson Soft FantasyPCEJRPG [20] Momotarou Densetsu JP
1990 (JP) Musashi no Bouken  (JA) Quest Corporation Sigma Entertainment FantasyNESJRPG [21] JP
1990 (NA) Phantasie: Bonus Edition SSI
Andromeda
Westwood
SSI
WizardWorks
Westwood
FantasyDOS (Comp)
AMI (Port)
Phantasie : Compilation of I , III and Questron II US
1990 (JP)
1991 (NA/EU)
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom  (EN) Sega Sega Sci-FiGENJRPG Phantasy Star JP
1990 (NA)
1991 (NA)
Pool of Radiance: Secret of the Silver Blades SSI
MicroMagic
SSI FantasyC64
DOS
AMI (Port)
MAC (Port)
Tactical RPG Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Forgotten Realms setting; Utilizes the Gold Box engineUS
1990 (NA) Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire Sierra Sierra FantasyAMI
DOS
MAC
Adventure RPG Quest for Glory US
1990 (JP) Sol Bianca  (EN) Masaya NCS Sci-fiPCEJRPG [22] Based on the OVA Sol Bianca JP
1990 (JP)
1991 (JP)
Sorcerian  (EN) Nihon Falcom
Tierheit
Sega
Takeru
FantasyGEN (Port)
MSX2 [7] (Port)
Platform / RPG hybrid. [23] Dragon Slayer : Sorcerian JP
1990 (NA) Space Rogue Origin Origin Sci-FiAMI (Port)
ST (Port)
Space sim/RPGUS
1990 (NA/EU) Starflight MicroMagic EA Sci-FiMAC (Port)
ST (Port)
Space RPG Starflight US
1990 (NA) Swords and Serpents  (EN) Interplay Acclaim FantasyNESDungeon crawlerUS
1990 (NA) Tunnels & Trolls: Crusaders of Khazan Liz Danforth New World FantasyDOSWRPG Tunnels & Trolls US
1990 (JP) Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness  (EN) Richard Garriott California Pacific FantasyAPPII (Remake)
C64
PC98 (Port)
Ultima I-style RPG Ultima US
1990 (??) Ultima: Quest of the Avatar  (EN)
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (EN)
Origin
FCI
Origin
Pony Canyon
FantasyNES (Port)
SMS (Port)
Ultima US
1990 (NA)
1991 (NA)
Ultima VI: The False Prophet Origin Origin FantasyDOS
C64 (Port)
ST (Port)
WRPG Ultima US
1990 (JP)
1991 (NA)
Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds  (EN) Game ASCII FantasyNES (Port)Dungeon crawl Wizardry US/JP
1990 (JP) Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn  (EN) Sir-Tech ASCII FantasyNES
MSX2 [7] (Port)
Dungeon crawl. Wizardry .JP
1990 (NA)
1991 (NA)
Wizardry VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge Sir-Tech Sir-Tech FantasyAMI
DOS
MAC (Port)
Dungeon crawl Wizardry US
1990 (NA/JP) Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire  (EN) Origin Origin FantasyDOS (Orig)
PC98 (Port)
SNES (Port)
WRPG Ultima : Worlds of Ultima ; features the Ultima VI engineUS
1990 (JP) Xak II: The Rising of the Red Moon  (EN)
サークII (JA)
Microcabin Microcabin FantasyMSX2 [7]
PC88
PC98
X68K
Action RPG [15] Xak JP
1990 (JP) Xuan-Yuan Sword DOMO Studio Softstar Entertainment FantasyDOS, WINAction RPG Xuan-Yuan Sword TW
1990 (??) Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished - The Final Chapter  (EN) Nihon Falcom FantasyPCE (Port)
NES (Port)
Action RPG Ys JP
1991 (JP) 2nd Super Robot Wars  (EN) Banpresto Banpresto Sci-FiNESTactical RPG Super Robot Wars JP
1991 (JP/NA)
1990 (NA)
Advanced Dungeons and Dragon: Curse of the Azure Bonds  (EN) SSI
MicroMagic
SSI
Pony Canyon
FantasyAMI (Port)
MAC (Port)
ST (Port)
PC98 (Port)
Tactical RPG Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Forgotten Realms setting; used the Gold Box engineUS
1991 (JP/NA) Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Heroes of the Lance  (EN) U.S. Gold Pony Canyon FantasyMSX2 [7] NES [1] (Port)Action RPG Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonlance franchiseUS/UK
1991 (JP)
1992 (NA)
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Hillsfar  (EN) SSI Pony Canyon
FCI
FantasyNES [1] (Port)Action RPG Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Forgotten Realms settingUS
1991 (JP) Aquales  (EN)
アクアレス (JA)
ExactExactDystopian FutureX68KAction RPG Run and gun video game, from same team who worked on Naious JP
1990 (NA/UK)
1991 (JP)
1992 (NA)
Pool of Radiance SSI
Marionette
Ubisoft
SSI
U.S. Gold
FCI
Pony Canyon
FantasyAMI (Port)
NES [1] (Port)
Tactical RPG Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Forgotten Realms setting; used the Gold Box engineUS
1991 (JP/NA) Arcus Odyssey  (EN) Wolf Team Renovation Products FantasyX68K
GEN
SFC
Action RPG Arcus JP
1991 (JP/NA/PAL) Ax Battler: A Legend of Golden Axe  (EN) Aspect Sega FantasyGGAction RPG Golden Axe JP
1991 (JP) Bahamut Senki  (JA) Sega Sega FantasyGENTactical RPGJP
1991 (JP/NA) Bard's Tale, The  (EN) Interplay FCI
Pony Canyon
FantasyNES (Port)Dungeon crawl The Bard's Tale US
1991 (JP) Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight  (EN) Interplay FCI
Pony Canyon
FantasyPC98 [24] (Port)Dungeon crawl The Bard's Tale US
1991 (NA) The Bard's Tale Construction Set Interplay Interplay FantasyDOSDesign suite The Bard's Tale engineUS
1991 (JP) Brandish  (EN) Nihon Falcom Nihon Falcom FantasyPC98Action RPG Brandish JP
1990 (NA)
1991 (NA)
Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday  (EN) SSI SSI Sci-FiAMI
C64
DOS
GEN
Tactical RPGBased on the Buck Rogers comics; used the Gold Box engineUS
1991 (JP) Chaos World  (EN) Natsume Natsume FantasyNES [1] Tactical RPGJP
1991 (JP) Cosmic Fantasy 2 Bouken Shounen Van (JA) Shin-Nihon Laser Soft Company Telenet Japan, Working Designs Fantasy/Sci-FiPCEJRPG [25] Based on the OVA Cosmic Fantasy JP
1991 (JP/NA) Crossed Swords  (EN) ADK SNK FantasyNEO [26] Action RPGJP
1991 (JP)
1992 (NA)
Crystal Warriors  (EN) Sega Sega FantasyGGTactical RPG Crystal Warriors JP
1991 (NA/UK) Dragonlance: Death Knights of Krynn SSI SSI
U.S. Gold
FantasyAMI
C64
DOS
Tactical RPG Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Dragonlance ; Utilizes the Gold Box engine.US
1991 (JP) Dragon Knight II  (EN)
ドラゴンナイト2 (JA)
ELF ELF FantasyMSX
DOS
JRPG
Eroge.
Dragon Knight JP
1991 (JP)
1992 (NA)
Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes  (EN) Nihon Falcom Nihon Falcom
Hudson Soft
FantasyPCD (Port)JRPG [8] Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes JP
1991 (NA) Drakkhen  (EN)Draconian (Data East)
Kemco-Seika
Infogrames FantasySNES (Port)Adventure WRPG Drakkhen FR
1991 (JP)
1992 (NA)
1993 (EU)
Dungeon Master  (EN) FTL FTL FantasySNES (Port)Dungeon crawl Dungeon Master US
1991 (JP) Exile  (EN)
XZR II: Toki No Hazama (JA)
Telenet Japan
Working Designs
Renovation
Historical fantasySci-FiGEN (Remake)
PCE (Remake)
Action RPG Exile JP
1991 (NA/UK) Eye of the Beholder Westwood SSI
U.S. Gold
FantasyAMI
DOS
Dungeon crawl Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Forgotten Realms setting; Eye of the Beholder US
1991 (NA) Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon Westwood SSI FantasyDOSDungeon crawl Eye of the Beholder US
1991 (NA) Faery Tale Adventure, The  (EN) MicroIllusions EA FantasyGEN (Port)Action RPG The Faery Tale Adventure US
1991 (JP) Famicom Jump II: Saikyō no Shichinin  (JA) Chunsoft Bandai Sci-FiNES [1] Action RPG Famicom Jump : Based on the anime and manga, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure JP
1991 (DE) Fate: Gates of Dawn reLine reLine FantasyAMI
ST
DE
1991 (JP/NA) Final Fantasy IV  (EN) Square Square FantasySNESJRPG [12] Final Fantasy JP
1991 (JP/NA)
1993 (EU)
Final Fantasy Adventure  (EN)
Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden (JA)
Mystic Quest (EN)
Square Square FantasyGBAction RPG Mana JP
1991 (JP)
1993 (NA)
Final Fantasy Legend III  (EN)
Sa•Ga 3: 時空の覇者 (JA)
Square Square FantasyGBJRPG [13] SaGa JP
1991 (NA) Gateway to the Savage Frontier Beyond SSI FantasyAMI
C64
DOS
Tactical RPG Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Forgotten Realms setting; Utilizes the Gold Box engineUS
1991 (??) GD Leen  (EN) Jorudan SETA Sci-fiSNES (Port)JRPG [27] Based on the OVA Gdleen JP
1991 (NA/PAL) Golden Axe Warrior  (EN) Sega Sega FantasySMSAction RPG Golden Axe JP
1991 (JP) Inindo: Way of the Ninja  (EN)
Inindo: Datou Nobunaga (JA)
伊忍道打倒信長 (JA)
Koei Koei FantasyMSX2JRPG [28] Spin-off of Nobunaga's Ambition JP
1991 (JP)
1992 (NA)
1993 (EU)
Legend of the Mystical Ninja, The  (EN)
Ganbare Goemon: Yukihime Kyuushutsu Emaki (JA)
がんばれゴエモン ゆき姫救出絵巻 (JA)
Konami Konami FantasySNESAction RPG Ganbare Goemon JP
1991 (JP)
1992 (NA)
1993 (EU)
Lagoon  (EN) ZOOM Kemco FantasySNESAction RPGJP
1991 (JP) Lagrange Point  (EN) Konami Konami Sci-FiNES [1] JRPG [29] JP
1991 (NA) Magic Candle II, The: The Four and Forty Mindcraft EA FantasyDOSWRPG The Magic Candle US
1991 (NA) Magician Eurocom Taxan FantasyNESAction RPGGB
1991 (NA) Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams Origin Origin SteampunkDOSWRPG Ultima : Worlds of Ultima ; using Ultima 6 engineUS
1991 (JP) Mateki Densetsu Astralius  (JA) Atlus: Multimedia Intelligence Transfer IGS Corp FantasyPCEJRPG [30] JP
1991 (??) Metal Max  (EN) Createch Data East Sci-FiNESVehicular combat, JRPG [31] Metal Max JP
1991 (NA) Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra New World New World FantasyDOSWRPG Might and Magic US
1991 (EU) Moonstone: A Hard Days Knight Rob Anderson Mindscape FantasyAMI, DOSAction RPGCA
1991 (JP) Niji no Silkroad  (JA) NHK Victor Musical Industries Historical fantasyNESJRPG [32] JP
1991 (NA) Obitus Scenario Psygnosis FantasyAMI
DOS
ST
Action RPGUK
1991 (JP) Otaku no Seiza: An Adventure in the Otaku Galaxy  (JA)
おたくの星座 (JA)
Advance Communications M&M Sci-FiNESJRPGJP
1991 (NA) Planet's Edge New World New World Sci-FiDOSSpace RPGUS
1991 (NA) Pools of Darkness SSI SSI FantasyDOSTactical RPG Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Forgotten Realms setting; Utilizes the Gold Box engineUS
1991 (JP) Radia Senki: Reimeihen  (JA) Tecmo Tecmo FantasyNESAction RPGJP
1991 (??) Rings of Power  (EN) Naughty Dog EA FantasyGENWRPGUS
1991 (NA/EU) Shadow Sorcerer U.S. Gold SSI FantasyAMI
DOS
ST
Action RPG Advanced Dungeons & Dragons : Dragonlance US/UK
1991 (JP/NA/PAL) Shining in the Darkness  (EN) Climax
Sonic!
Sega FantasyGENDungeon crawl Shining JP
1991 (JP) Sorcerian Add-on Sengoku  (EN) Takeru Takeru FantasyMSX2 [7] (Port)Platform / RPG hybrid [23] Dragon Slayer : Sorcerian JP
1991 (NA/DE) Spirit of Adventure Attic Starbyte FantasyAMI
C64
DOS
ST
Dungeon crawlDE
1991 (NA) Starflight 2: Trade Routes of the Cloud Nebula MicroMagic EA Sci-FiAMI (Port)
MAC (Port)
Space RPG Starflight US
1991 (JP) Super Robot Wars  (EN) Banpresto Banpresto Sci-FiGBTactical RPG Super Robot Wars JP
1991 (??) Sword of Hope  (EN) Seika Kemco FantasyGBAdventure RPG Sword of Hope JP
1991 (JP) Tenchi o Kurau II: Shokatsu Koumei Den  (JA) Capcom Capcom FantasyNESJRPG Destiny of an Emperor JP
1990 (NA)
1991 (??)
Ultima: Warriors of Destiny  (EN)
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (EN)
Origin Origin
FCI
Pony Canyon
FantasyAMI (Port)
NES (Port)
Ultima US
1991 (JP/NA) Warsong  (EN)
Langrisser (EN)
ラングリッサー (JA)
CareerSoft NCS
Treco
FantasyGENTactical RPG Warsong JP
1991 (JP) Xak: The Tower of Gazzel  (EN)
Xak - ガゼルの塔 - (JA)
Microcabin Microcabin FantasyMSX2 [7]
PC88
PC98
Action RPG [15] Xak JP
1991 (??) Ys III: Wanderers from Ys  (EN) Nihon Falcom FantasyNES
SNES
GEN
PCE (Port)
Action RPG (Platformer) Ys JP

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