Classic MS-DOS RPG Games

The MS-DOS era was a golden age for role-playing games. Computer RPGs on DOS ranged from grid-based dungeon crawlers like Wizardry and Might & Magic, to open-world epics like Ultima VII and the early Fallout games. Developers like Origin Systems, New World Computing and Interplay Productions pushed the boundaries of character systems, branching narratives and persistent worlds. Many foundational RPG conventions — experience points, party management, inventory systems — were refined and popularised on DOS machines in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Games in the RPG genre (by release years)

Eye of the Beholder

Eye of the Beholder – MS-DOS cover art
Eye of the Beholder is a legendary first-person dungeon crawler released for MS-DOS in 1991 by Westwood Associates and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc.. Set in the famous Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms, the game sends a party…
Genre: RPG
Release: 1991
Developer: Westwood Studios
Publisher: Strategic Simulations

HeroQuest

HeroQuest – MS-DOS cover art
HeroQuest (MS-DOS, 1991) is a classic fantasy role-playing game developed by Gremlin Interactive, inspired by the popular board game of the same name. It brings the tabletop dungeon-crawling experience to computers, allowing players to step into the…
Genre: RPG
Release: 1991
Developer: Gremlin Interactive
Publisher: -

The Adventures of Robin Hood

The Adventures of Robin Hood – MS-DOS cover art
The Adventures of Robin Hood, released in 1991 by Millennium Interactive, is an isometric action-adventure game that reimagines the classic English legend. Players take on the role of Robin Hood, recently outlawed after losing his lands to the…
Genre: RPG
Release: 1991
Developer: Millennium Interactive
Publisher: -

Dungeon Master

Dungeon Master – MS-DOS cover art
Dungeon Master, released in 1988 by FTL Games, is a groundbreaking dungeon-crawling RPG that set the standard for immersive, real-time gameplay in the genre. Players embark on a perilous quest to recover the Firestaff and defeat the evil Lord Chaos,…
Genre: RPG
Release: 1988
Developer: FTL Games
Publisher: -

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar – MS-DOS cover art
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar is a landmark fantasy role-playing game released by Origin Systems for MS-DOS in 1985. Set in the realm of Britannia, it moves beyond the traditional quest to defeat a single evil villain and instead challenges the…
Genre: RPG
Release: 1985
Developer: Origin Systems
Publisher: -

The Bard's Tale

The Bard's Tale – MS-DOS cover art
The Bard’s Tale (1985) for MS-DOS, developed and published by Interplay Productions, is a landmark fantasy role-playing game that helped define the golden age of computer RPGs. Set in the icy city of Skara Brae, the game casts players as a party of…
Genre: RPG
Release: 1985
Developer: Interplay Productions
Publisher: Electronic Arts