Best Fantasy games from the 1980s

Best Fantasy games from the 1980s [Discovery Queue]

Discovery Queue

Games like Maniac Mansion, NetHack, and Shadowgate, ranked by the GamesGraph community.
Last updated: October 15, 2026

1

1

Maniac Mansion

1987October 1987 by Lucasfilm Games

Point-and-click, Adventure, Fantasy

Point-and-click, Adventure, Fantasy

6.48 Good- 140 ratings
2

2

NetHack

1987July 1987

RPG, Fantasy, Isometric

RPG, Fantasy, Isometric

6.23 Good-- <100 ratings
3

3

Shadowgate

1987July 1987 by ICOM Simulations

Point-and-click, Puzzle, Adventure

Point-and-click, Puzzle, Adventure

5.90 Okay++ <100 ratings
4

4

Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny

1988March 1988 by Origin Systems

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

5.69 Okay+ <100 ratings
5

5

Archon

1983November 1983 by Free Fall Associates

Strategy, Tactical, Fantasy

Strategy, Tactical, Fantasy

5.68 Okay+ <100 ratings
6

6

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Pool of Radiance

1988October 1988 by Strategic Simulations

RPG, Strategy, Turn-Based

RPG, Strategy, Turn-Based

5.67 Okay <100 ratings
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7

7

Treasure Island Dizzy

1988December 1988 by The Oliver Twins

Platform, Puzzle, Adventure

Platform, Puzzle, Adventure

5.63 Okay <100 ratings
8

8

Curse of the Azure Bonds

1989December 1989 by SSI (Strategic Simulations, Inc.)

RPG, Turn-Based, Adventure

RPG, Turn-Based, Adventure

5.63 Okay <100 ratings
9

9

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure

1989July 1989 by Lucasfilm Games

Point-and-click, Puzzle, Adventure

Point-and-click, Puzzle, Adventure

5.60 Okay <100 ratings
10

10

Rogue

1980December 1980 by Artificial Intelligence Design

RPG, Strategy, Adventure

RPG, Strategy, Adventure

5.59 Okay <100 ratings
11

11

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2

1987December 1987 by Taito

Platform, Puzzle, Arcade

Platform, Puzzle, Arcade

5.55 Okay <100 ratings
12

12

Where Time Stood Still

1987December 1987 by Denton Designs

Simulator, Strategy, Adventure

Simulator, Strategy, Adventure

5.54 Okay <100 ratings
13

13

Phantasy Star II

1989March 1989 by Sega R&D 2

RPG, Fantasy, Science fiction

RPG, Fantasy, Science fiction

5.51 Okay <100 ratings
14

14

Rygar

1986May 1986 by Tecmo

Platform, Arcade, Fantasy

Platform, Arcade, Fantasy

5.46 Okay <100 ratings
15

15

Sorcerer

1984January 1984 by Infocom

Adventure, Fantasy, Text

Adventure, Fantasy, Text

5.44 Okay <100 ratings
16

16

The Hobbit: A Software Adventure

1982November 1982 by Beam Software

Adventure, Fantasy, First person

Adventure, Fantasy, First person

5.44 Okay- <100 ratings
17

17

Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes

1989December 1989 by Nihon Falcom

RPG, Fantasy, First person

RPG, Fantasy, First person

5.44 Okay- <100 ratings
18

18

Wishbringer

1985May 1985 by Infocom

Adventure, Fantasy, Text

Adventure, Fantasy, Text

5.43 Okay- <100 ratings
19

19

Golden Axe

1989January 1989 by Team Shinobi

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Fantasy

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Fantasy

5.41 Okay- 225 ratings
20

20

TwinBee

1986January 1986 by Konami

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

5.40 Okay- <100 ratings
21

21

Nobunaga's Ambition

1986December 1986 by Koei

RPG, Simulator, Strategy

RPG, Simulator, Strategy

5.37 Okay- <100 ratings
22

22

Populous

1989June 1989 by Bullfrog Productions

Real Time Strategy, RPG, Simulator

Real Time Strategy, RPG, Simulator

5.37 Okay- <100 ratings
23

23

Drakkhen

1989December 1989 by Infogrames

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

5.37 Okay- <100 ratings
24

24

Time Pilot

1982November 1982 by Konami

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

5.36 Okay- <100 ratings
25

25

Spellbreaker

1985September 1985 by Infocom

Adventure, Fantasy, Text

Adventure, Fantasy, Text

5.35 Okay- <100 ratings
26

26

Rance: Hikari wo Motomete

1989June 1989 by Alicesoft

Point-and-click, RPG, Adventure

Point-and-click, RPG, Adventure

5.34 Okay- <100 ratings
27

27

Knightmare

1986January 1986 by Konami

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

5.33 Okay- <100 ratings
28

28

Dragon Wars

1989December 1989 by Interplay Productions

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

5.32 Okay- <100 ratings
29

29

Enchanter

1983September 1983 by Infocom

Adventure, Fantasy, Text

Adventure, Fantasy, Text

5.32 Okay- <100 ratings
30

30

Gain Ground

1988November 1988 by Sega Enterprises, Ltd.

Shooter, Real Time Strategy, Strategy

Shooter, Real Time Strategy, Strategy

5.31 Okay- <100 ratings
31

31

Bubble Ghost

1987December 1987 by ERE Informatique

Puzzle, Strategy, Arcade

Puzzle, Strategy, Arcade

5.31 Okay- <100 ratings
32

32

Might and Magic: Book One - The Secret of the Inner Sanctum

1986June 1986 by New World Computing

RPG, Fantasy, First person

RPG, Fantasy, First person

5.30 Okay- <100 ratings
33

33

Temple of Apshai Trilogy

1985November 1985 by Westwood Associates

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

5.30 Okay- <100 ratings
34

34

Dark Castle

1986December 1986 by Silicon Beach Software

Platform, Puzzle, Adventure

Platform, Puzzle, Adventure

5.29 Okay- <100 ratings
35

35

Targhan

1989December 1989 by Silmarils

Fighting, Platform, Adventure

Fighting, Platform, Adventure

5.29 Okay- <100 ratings
36

36

Bandit Kings of Ancient China

1989December 1989 by Koei

Strategy, Turn-Based, Fantasy

Strategy, Turn-Based, Fantasy

5.28 Okay- <100 ratings
37

37

Bloodwych

1989December 1989

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

5.28 Okay- <100 ratings
38

38

The Fellowship of the Ring: A Software Adventure

1985December 1985 by Beam Software

Adventure, Fantasy, First person

Adventure, Fantasy, First person

5.27 Okay- <100 ratings
39

39

Dragon's Lair

1983June 1983 by Advanced Microcomputer Systems

Adventure, Arcade, Fantasy

Adventure, Arcade, Fantasy

5.26 Okay- <100 ratings
40

40

Zork III: The Dungeon Master

1982September 1982 by Infocom

Adventure, Fantasy, Text

Adventure, Fantasy, Text

5.24 Okay- <100 ratings
41

41

Wizardry: Knight of Diamonds - The Second Scenario

1982May 1982 by Sir-tech Software

RPG, Fantasy, First person

RPG, Fantasy, First person

5.24 Okay- <100 ratings
42

42

Sword of Vermilion

1989December 1989 by Sega AM2

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

5.21 Okay-- <100 ratings
43

43

King's Quest III: To Heir is Human

1986October 1986 by Sierra On-Line

Point-and-click, Puzzle, Adventure

Point-and-click, Puzzle, Adventure

5.20 Okay-- <100 ratings
44

44

Phantasie

1985December 1985 by SSI (Strategic Simulations, Inc.)

RPG, Fantasy, Isometric

RPG, Fantasy, Isometric

5.20 Okay-- <100 ratings
45

45

Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World

1988December 1988 by New World Computing

RPG, Turn-Based, Adventure

RPG, Turn-Based, Adventure

5.20 Okay-- <100 ratings
46

46

Sword of Sodan

1989December 1989 by Discovery Software International

Hack and Slash, Fantasy, Side view

Hack and Slash, Fantasy, Side view

5.19 Okay-- <100 ratings
47

47

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Dragons of Flame

1989December 1989 by U.S. Gold

RPG, Adventure, Arcade

RPG, Adventure, Arcade

5.19 Okay-- <100 ratings
48

48

Battle Chess

1988October 1988 by Interplay

Strategy, Turn-Based, Board Game

Strategy, Turn-Based, Board Game

5.16 Okay-- <100 ratings
49

49

Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair

1988November 1988 by Westone

Shooter, Platform, Arcade

Shooter, Platform, Arcade

5.16 Okay-- <100 ratings
50

50

Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle

1989February 1989 by Sega Enterprises, Ltd.

Platform, Adventure, Fantasy

Platform, Adventure, Fantasy

5.14 Okay-- <100 ratings
51

51

Golden Axe

1989December 1989 by Team Shinobi

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Fantasy

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Fantasy

5.13 Okay-- <100 ratings
52

52

Gauntlet

1985October 1985 by Atari Games

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Fantasy

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Fantasy

5.11 Okay-- <100 ratings
53

53

King's Quest: Quest for the Crown

1984May 1984 by Sierra On-Line

Puzzle, Adventure, Fantasy

Puzzle, Adventure, Fantasy

5.10 Okay-- <100 ratings
54

54

Defender of the Crown

1986November 1986 by Master Designer Software, Inc.

Strategy, Adventure, Fantasy

Strategy, Adventure, Fantasy

5.07 Okay-- <100 ratings
55

55

Atlantis no Nazo

1986April 1986 by SUNSOFT

Platform, Adventure, Fantasy

Platform, Adventure, Fantasy

5.05 Okay-- <100 ratings
56

56

TwinBee

1985March 1985 by Konami

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

5.02 Okay-- <100 ratings
57

57

Karnov

1987January 1987 by Data East

Shooter, Music, Platform

Shooter, Music, Platform

5.00 Okay-- <100 ratings
58

58

Crystal Castles

1983July 1983 by Atari

Puzzle, Arcade, Fantasy

Puzzle, Arcade, Fantasy

4.90 Mediocre++ <100 ratings
59

59

8 Eyes

1988September 1988 by Thinking Rabbit

Platform, Adventure, Fantasy

Platform, Adventure, Fantasy

4.83 Mediocre++ <100 ratings
60

60

Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz

1981November 1981 by Infocom

Adventure, Fantasy, Text

Adventure, Fantasy, Text

4.71 Mediocre+ <100 ratings
61

61

King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne

1985June 1985 by Sierra On-Line

Point-and-click, Puzzle, Adventure

Point-and-click, Puzzle, Adventure

4.70 Mediocre+ <100 ratings
62

62

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance

1988December 1988 by U.S. Gold

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

RPG, Adventure, Fantasy

4.66 Mediocre+ <100 ratings
63

63

Ultima III: Exodus

1983August 1983 by Origin Systems

RPG, Fantasy, First person

RPG, Fantasy, First person

4.63 Mediocre+ <100 ratings
64

64

Altered Beast

1988October 1988 by Team Shinobi

Hack and Slash, Fantasy, Side view

Hack and Slash, Fantasy, Side view

3.82 Weak++ <100 ratings