The birth of computer roleplaying games arrived shortly after the publication of Dungeons & Dragons in 1974. The first games were written for the PLATO platform but quickly spread to other platforms, multiplying and evolving over the years.
I don't want to get into a tedious discussion of what is and what is not an RPG. This list, as is it is, is generously inclusive and incomplete. My position is that CRPG-nature doesn't have some simple binary test, rather it's a collection of common traits and the balance of those traits shifts with each new game that's released.
In the great tradition of the early-web geocities sites, this webpage is under-construction. If you think I've missed out an important game release or have something wrong then please shoot me an email at dan@howtomakeanrpg.com.
labyrinth (1980)
House of Usher (1980)
Fracas (1980)
Hellfire Warrior (1980)
Star Warrior (1980)
Rescue at Rigel (1980)
Odyssey: The Compleat Apventure (1980)
Caverns of Mordia (1980)
地底探検 (Underground Exploration) (1982)
Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds (1982)
Hack (1982)
Sword of Fargoal (1982)
Demon Venture: Reign of the Red Dragon (1982)
Telengard (1982)
Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress (1982)
ドラゴン&プリンセス (Dragon and Princess) (1982)
Moria (1983)
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin (1983)
Ultima III: Exodus (1983)
ダンジョン (Dungeon) (1983)
SunDog: Frozen Legacy (1984)
Questron (1984)
ドラゴンスレイヤー (Dragon Slayer) (1984)
Caverns of Zoarre (1984)
夢幻の心臓 (Mugen no Shinzou) (1984)
Crypt (1985)
Phantasie (1985)
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985)
The Bard's Tale (1985)
Wizard's Crown (1986)
Larn (1986)
ドラゴンクエスト (Dragon Quest) (1986)
Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum (1986)
ドラゴンクエストII 悪霊の神々 (Dragon Quest 2) (1987)
デジタル・デビル物語 女神転生 (Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei) (1987)
The Faery Tale Adventure (1987)
NetHack (1987)
アラビアンドリーム シェラザード (The Magic of Scheherazade) (1987)
Dungeon Master (1987)
Final Fantasy (1987)
Wasteland (1988)
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (1988)
2400 A.D. (1988)
Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World (1988)
Pool of Radiance (1988)
Heroes of the Lance (1988)
Demon's Winter (1988)
BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception (1988)
ラストハルマゲドン (Last Armageddon) (1988)
Final Fantasy 2 (1988)
Space Rogue (1989)
Chaos Strikes Back (1989)
Hillsfar (1989)
MOTHER (1989)
ウィロー (Willow) (1989)
Curse of the Azure Bonds (1989)
Dragon Wars (1989)
B.A.T. (Bureau of Astral Troubleshooters) (1989)