Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse

Al-Qadim: The Genie’s Curse, released in 1994 by Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI), is an action-adventure RPG set in the exotic, Arabian Nights-inspired world of Dungeons & Dragons’ Al-Qadim campaign setting. Players assume the role of a young corsair from a noble family who must clear his family’s name and uncover the secrets behind a powerful and vengeful genie.

Unlike SSI’s traditional turn-based Gold Box RPGs, Al-Qadim focuses on real-time combat, exploration, and storytelling. Players travel across deserts, islands, and ancient ruins, battling monsters, solving puzzles, and interacting with richly written characters. The game blends light role-playing mechanics with accessible gameplay and an enchanting atmosphere of Middle Eastern fantasy.

Praised for its distinctive setting, colorful VGA graphics, and engaging narrative, Al-Qadim: The Genie’s Curse stood out as a refreshing departure from Western fantasy tropes. Its fusion of adventure and RPG elements made it one of SSI’s most charming and memorable titles of the 1990s.