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.
Dry Gulch (1980)
Krozair (1980)
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)
Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness (1981)
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981)
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)
SunDog: Frozen Legacy (1984)
ドラゴンスレイヤー (Dragon Slayer) (1984)
Caverns of Zoarre (1984)
Crypt (1985)
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985)
The Bard's Tale (1985)
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)
Dungeon Master (1987)
Final Fantasy (1987)
Wasteland (1988)
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (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)
Space Rogue (1989)
Chaos Strikes Back (1989)
Hillsfar (1989)
Curse of the Azure Bonds (1989)
Dragon Wars (1989)
B.A.T. (Bureau of Astral Troubleshooters) (1989)