Summary
The 1980s were a great decade to be a gamer. More andmore consoles and video gamesentered 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.
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.
8Gauntlet
Dungeon Crawling Together
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.Gauntletbrought 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,Gauntlethad a major influence on thedevelopment of multiplayer and action RPGsin 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 ofGauntlet’sdesign can be found in countless modern titles, cementing its place as one of the most impactful fantasy games of the 1980s.
With dungeon crawling on the rise, there are few better examples thanWizardry, 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 aDnDcampaign. 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 forfans of fantasy and strategyalike.
The game’s influence on the RPG genre cannot be overstated.Wizardryhelped set the blueprint for countless Western and Japanese role-playing games, inspiring series likeFinal FantasyandDragon Questwhile 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.
The first in a long series of classics,Ultimaset 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.
Ultimanot 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,Ultimaremains a foundational title that helped define what the genre could and would achieve in the years to follow.
Delivering one of the most memorable and punishingly difficult fantasy experiences of the 1980s,Ghosts ‘N Goblinsthrust 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 Goblinsbecame a massive hit and left alasting 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.
Dragon Questintroduced a streamlined and accessible version of the role-playing genre to a wider audience, setting the foundation for what would becomeone 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 Questmade 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 likeFinal Fantasyand 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.
Final Fantasybegan 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 ofFinal Fantasynot only saved its developer but also launched a franchise that would redefine storytelling, world-building, andinnovation 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.
Castlevaniaplunged 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.
Rather than offering open exploration like some other fantasy titles of the era,Castlevaniafocused 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 asCastlevaniadid, making it a true classic of the decade.
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 Zeldadidn’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 Zeldabecame 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.
