Summary
- Gauntlet revolutionized cooperative play and influenced future multiplayer and action RPGs.
- Wizardry set the standard for deep RPG mechanics and influenced Western and Japanese role-playing games.
- The Legend of Zelda redefined fantasy gaming with open-world exploration, non-linear design, and environmental storytelling.
The 1980s were a great decade to be a gamer. More and more consoles and video games entered the scene, and better graphics and more ambitious adventures allowed players to transport themselves into full-length experiences that would later become icons in the world of gaming. Some developers went down the modern line, others into the future, but a large portion of the video games released at the time were born from fantasy worlds full of dragons, knights, and adventure.
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Even within the fantasy genre, there are plenty of avenues for game makers to explore, whether it be darker, more gloomy worlds or bright and sunny settings that feel less intense than the deep dungeons lurking below. It was a time of building dynasties, with more than a few titles released at the time that have since become household names and continue to make their mark on the world nearly 50 years later.
8 Gauntlet
Dungeon Crawling Together
- Release Date: October 15, 1985
- Platform(s): Arcade, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Mac, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, MSX, Master System, NES, Genesis, ZX Spectrum, MS-DOS, PlayStation
- Developer(s): Atari Games (arcade), Tengen (NES)
- Genre(s): Hack and slash, dungeon crawl
As more consoles became available, arcades were starting to become a thing of the past, but that didn't mean they didn't still have some great hits that made a real impact in the gaming world. Gauntlet brought a fresh wave of excitement to arcades when it debuted, introducing players to a fast-paced, dungeon-crawling experience that emphasized cooperative play. Players could choose from four distinct characters, standard RPG classes like the warrior and wizard, each with unique strengths, as they battled hordes of enemies and scoured labyrinthine levels for treasure and survival.
Beyond its addictive gameplay loop, Gauntlet had a major influence on the development of multiplayer and action RPGs in the decades that followed. Its innovations in cooperative mechanics, persistent health management, and voice-over narration helped shape how developers approached fantasy and dungeon-based games. Even today, traces of Gauntlet’s design can be found in countless modern titles, cementing its place as one of the most impactful fantasy games of the 1980s.
7 Wizardry: Proving Grounds Of The Mad Overlord
The Perfect Party RPG
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
- Released
- September 15, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
With dungeon crawling on the rise, there are few better examples than Wizardry, introducing players to a true role-playing game that blended deep mechanics with a brutally challenging experience. Players assembled a party of adventurers and ventured into a massive, multi-level labyrinth filled with deadly traps, powerful monsters, and hidden treasures straight out of a DnD campaign. The turn-based combat and intricate character creation offered a level of depth that was virtually unheard of at the time, and was an amazing game for fans of fantasy and strategy alike.
The game's influence on the RPG genre cannot be overstated. Wizardry helped set the blueprint for countless Western and Japanese role-playing games, inspiring series like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest while establishing mechanics still seen in modern RPGs today. Its emphasis on tactical planning, exploration, and character progression made it a must-play for fantasy enthusiasts and a key milestone in gaming history that continues to resonate even in the modern era.
6 Ultima
Opening Up The World
Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness
- Released
- 1981-06
- ESRB
- n/a
- Developer(s)
- Origin Systems
The first in a long series of classics, Ultima set the stage for what would become one of the most influential fantasy RPG franchises in gaming history. Blending open-world exploration, character customization, and a mix of medieval fantasy with surprising sci-fi elements, the game offered players unprecedented freedom for its time and transported them into a world of wonder unlike any other. Players were tasked with defeating the evil wizard Mondain by gathering resources, upgrading equipment, and even venturing into space, a bold move that showcased the game's ambitious design and a blending of genres that was pretty groundbreaking at the time.
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Ultima not only pushed technical boundaries but also helped establish storytelling and world-building standards for fantasy games that followed, demonstrating that games could be more than just a simplistic experience. Its expansive world and nonlinear approach to progression were ahead of the game, inspiring generations of RPGs both on computers and consoles. For fans of fantasy gaming, Ultima remains a foundational title that helped define what the genre could and would achieve in the years to follow.
5 Ghosts 'N Goblins
A True Run-And-Gun
Ghosts 'n Goblins
- Released
- July 7, 1985
WHERE TO PLAY
Delivering one of the most memorable and punishingly difficult fantasy experiences of the 1980s, Ghosts 'N Goblins thrust players into a world of magic and mystery, taking on the role of the brave knight Arthur, battling through hordes of undead creatures, demons, and monstrous bosses to rescue a kidnapped princess. Its tight platforming, unforgiving enemy patterns, and iconic armor system are what made it stand out and presented a sizable challenge for even veteran gamers at the time, and even now.
Despite its brutal difficulty, Ghosts 'N Goblins became a massive hit and left a lasting legacy on the action-platformer genre, and its DNA can still be found throughout the gaming world several generations later. The dark fantasy setting, haunting soundtrack, and high-stakes gameplay inspired countless sequels, spin-offs, and spiritual successors, and it remains a benchmark for challenging fantasy games, remembered for its unforgiving design and its impact on shaping future action-fantasy titles.
4 Dragon Quest
Fighting For Honor And Glory
Dragon Quest
- Released
- May 27, 1986
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Chunsoft
- Publisher(s)
- Enix, Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo 3DS, Switch, PS4, SNES, Mobile
Dragon Quest introduced a streamlined and accessible version of the role-playing genre to a wider audience, setting the foundation for what would become one of the most beloved fantasy franchises of all time, with countless spin-offs and sequels that continue to see success in the modern day. Taking on the role of a mighty hero, the mission is to journey across a sprawling kingdom to defeat the evil Dragonlord and restore peace to the world. Featuring turn-based battles, charming monster designs, and an inviting overworld, Dragon Quest made the RPG experience approachable without sacrificing depth or challenge, and it is still a remarkable game to revisit to see where the genre started out and how far it has come.
The game's impact on the fantasy and RPG landscape is enormous, and the game helped popularize role-playing games not just in Japan but worldwide, inspiring countless imitators and setting a template that would influence titles like Final Fantasy and beyond. The emphasis on exploration and excellent character stories ensured that the fantasy genre would have a stable home on future consoles for years to come.
3 Final Fantasy
The Start Of The Saga
Final Fantasy (1987)
- Released
- December 18, 1987
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Publisher(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System, PC, PS1, PS4, PSP, WonderSwan, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Android, iOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Final Fantasy began as a last-ditch effort by its creators, but it ended up becoming one of the most important fantasy games ever made and has since become a top pick not only for fans of RPGs but for gamers of all kinds. Players controlled a party of four Warriors of Light, each assigned a classic RPG class, and set out to restore balance to a world ravaged by elemental chaos. Set in an expansive world full of deep dungeon exploration and an epic quest spanning multiple continents, the title built on what earlier RPGs had started and elevated the genre to new heights.
The success of Final Fantasy not only saved its developer but also launched a franchise that would redefine storytelling, world-building, and innovation in fantasy gaming. It may not have been the first in the genre or broken much new ground, but the combination of storytelling, character design, and exceptional world-building made the game so exceptional — and the reason the series has continued to excite and amaze fans over 15 mainline games later.
2 Castlevania
A Genre All On Its Own
Castlevania
- Released
- May 1, 1987
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Konami
- Publisher(s)
- Konami, Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Action, Platformer
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Entertainment System, PC, Switch, PS4
Castlevania plunged players into a gothic horror-fantasy world unlike anything else at the time that has since been turned into a full-blown genre in its own right. As Simon Belmont, armed with the legendary Vampire Killer whip, players fought their way through Dracula’s monster-infested castle, facing off against werewolves, mummies, and the Count himself, using strategic combat and satisfying platforming that made every level feel like a test of skill and endurance.
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Rather than offering open exploration like some other fantasy titles of the era, Castlevania focused on precision, timing, and mastering difficult enemy patterns, something very similar to the caliber and difficulty found in modern titles. Its influence stretches far beyond the 1980s, helping lay the groundwork for the later “Metroidvania” genre and inspiring decades of fantasy action games, both in the same universe and outside of it. Few titles captured the dark, atmospheric side of fantasy as well as Castlevania did, making it a true classic of the decade.
1 The Legend Of Zelda
A World Unlike Any Other
The Legend of Zelda
- Released
- February 21, 1986
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, 3DS, Wii, Nintendo Wii U
Swept into a sprawling overworld filled with secrets, dungeons, and hidden treasures, players were given a simple sword and the freedom to carve their own path. The Legend of Zelda didn't hold players' hands like any old game; instead, it encouraged curiosity, exploration, and perseverance in a way few games ever had before. Every new screen could offer a reward, a deadly trap, or a new clue, making discovery a core part of the experience, added to by the iconic sound effects and soundtrack that continues to delight players today.
This sense of open-ended adventure completely redefined what fantasy gaming could be. The Legend of Zelda became an instant classic, setting standards for non-linear design, environmental storytelling, and replayability that countless games have tried to replicate since, with only a few managing to accomplish it. Its legacy remains one of the strongest in gaming history, proving that a great fantasy world doesn't just tell a story, but it invites players to live it.
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