List of role-playing video games: 1988 to 1989
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a comprehensive index of commercial role-playing video games (RPGs), sorted chronologically by year. Information regarding release platform, release type, RPG subgenre, game setting, developers, publishers, and country of origin is provided where available. The table can be sorted by clicking on the small boxes next to the column headings.
This list includes all RPG subgenres, including MMORPGs, Action RPGs and Tactical RPGs. This list does not include MUDs and Roguelikes by default, unless they have an additional RPG subgenre. For standalone lists on these subgenres, see List of MUDs and List of roguelikes
Legend
| AMI | Amiga | APPII | Apple II | APPGS | Term not found |
| ATRST | Atari ST, Atari Falcon | C64 | Commodore 64 | CPC | Amstrad CPC |
| DOS | PC DOS / MS-DOS, Windows 3.X | FMT | FM Towns | GB | Game Boy |
| GEN | Genesis / Mega Drive | MAC | Classic Mac OS, 2001 and before | MSX | MSX |
| MSX2 | MSX2 | NES | Nintendo Entertainment System / Famicom | PC88 | PC-8800 series |
| PC98 | PC-9800 series | PCD | TurboGrafx-CD / PC Engine CD-ROM² | PCE | TurboGrafx-16 / PC Engine |
| SMS | Master System | T1000 | Tandy 1000 | X68K | X68000 |
| ZX | ZX Spectrum |
| Compilation | A compilation, anthology or collection of several titles, usually (but not always) belonging to the same series |
|---|---|
| Early access | A game launched in early access is unfinished and thus might contain bugs and glitches or have some of the content missing |
| Episodic | An episodic video game that is released in batches over a period of time |
| Expansion | A large-scale DLC to an already existing game that adds new story, areas and additions and/or changes to the game's mechanics |
| Full release | A full release of a game that launched in early access first |
| Limited | A special release (often called "Limited" or "Collector's Edition") with bonus collector's material. Often provided to people who pre-order a game |
| Port | The game first appeared on a different platform and a port was made. The game is like the original, with few or no differences |
| Remake | The game is an enhanced remake of an original, made using a new engine and/or assets and thus containing completely new sound, graphics and possibly changes to the story and/or gameplay |
| Remaster | The game is a remaster of an original, released on the same or different platform, with (usually minor) changes to graphics, sound and/or gameplay |
| Rerelease | The game was re-released on the same platform with no or only minor changes |
| Action RPG | Action role-playing game | Dungeon crawl | Dungeon crawl | JRPG | Japanese-style role-playing game |
| MMORPG | Massively multiplayer online RPG | Monster tamer | Monster-taming game | MUD | Multi-user dungeon |
| Real-time | Real-time game | Roguelike | Roguelike, Roguelite | Sandbox | Sandbox game |
| Soulslike | Soulslike | Tactical RPG | Tactical role-playing game | Turn-based | Turn-based game |
List
| Year | Title | Developer | Publisher | Setting | Platform | Subgenre | Series/Notes | COO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 (NA) | 2400 A.D. | Origin | Origin | Sci-Fi | DOS (Port) | US | ||
| 1988 (NA/UK) 1991 (UK) |
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Heroes of the Lance Dragonlance: Heroes of the Lance | U.S. Gold Adventure Soft | SSI U.S. Gold | Fantasy | AMI, CPC, ATRST, ZX | Action RPG/Platformer | Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Dragonlance franchise | US |
| 1988 (NA/UK) | Alternate Reality: The City | Datasoft | Datasoft Grandslam | Sci-Fi | AMI (Port), DOS (Port) | WRPG | Alternate Reality: The City | US |
| 1988 (NA/UK) | Bards Tale, The | Interplay | EA | Fantasy | CPC (Port), ZX (Port) | WRPG | The Bards Tale | US |
| 1988 (NA) | Bard's Tale II, The: The Destiny Knight | Interplay | EA | Fantasy | AMI (Port), APPGS (Port), DOS (Port) | WRPG | The Bard's Tale | US |
| 1988 (NA) | Bard's Tale III, The: Thief of Fate | Interplay | EA | Fantasy | APPII, C64 | WRPG | The Bard's Tale | US |
| 1988 (NA) | BattleTech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception | Westwood | Infocom | Sci-Fi | APPII, AMI, C64, DOS, ATRST | Tactical RPG | Based on the BattleTech franchise by FASA. | US |
| 1988 (JP) | Deep Dungeon: Madō Senki (JP) ディープダンジョン 魔洞戦記 (JP) | Scaptrust | Scaptrust | Fantasy | MSX (Port)[1] | Dungeon crawl | Deep Dungeon | JP |
| 1988 (JP) | Deep Dungeon III: Yūshi heno Tabi (JP) ディープダンジョンIII 勇士への旅 (JP) | HummingBird | Square | Fantasy | NES[2] | Dungeon crawl | Deep Dungeon | JP |
| 1988 (NA) | Demon's Winter | SSI Novotrade | SSI | Fantasy | APPII, C64, DOS, ATRST | Tactical RPG | Shard of Spring | US |
| 1988 (JP) | Dragon Ball: Daimaou Fukkatsu (JP) ドラゴンボール大魔王復活 (JP) | TOSE | Bandai | Fantasy | NES[2] | Board game/RPG hybrid[3] | Based on the manga Dragon Ball | JP |
| 1988 (JP) | Dragon Quest II Akuryo no Kamigami (JP) ドラゴンクエストII 悪霊の神々 (JP) | Enix | Enix | Fantasy | MSX[1] (Port) | JRPG[4] | Dragon Quest | JP |
| 1988 (JP) | Dragon Slayer IV: Drasle Family (JP) ドラゴンスレイヤーIVドラスレファミリー (JP) | Nihon Falcom | Nihon Falcom | Fantasy | MSX2[1] | Dungeon crawl Platformer[5] | Dragon Slayer | JP |
| 1988 (JP) 1992 (NA) |
Dragon Warrior III (NA) Dragon Quest III Soshite Densetsu e... (JP) ドラゴンクエストIII そして伝説へ... (JP) | Chunsoft | Enix | Fantasy | NES[2] | JRPG[4] | Dragon Quest | JP |
| 1988 (NA/UK) | Dungeon Master | FTL | FTL | Fantasy | AMI (Port) | Dungeon crawler | Dungeon Master | US |
| 1988 (NA) | Eternal Dagger, The | SSI | SSI | Fantasy | C64 (Port) | Tactical RPG | Wizard's Crown | US |
| 1988 (JP) | Final Fantasy II (JP) ファイナルファンタジーII (JP) | Square | Square | Fantasy | NES[2] | JRPG[6] | Final Fantasy | JP |
| 1988 (JP) | Gandhara (JP) ガンダーラ仏陀の聖戦 (JP) | Enix | Enix | Fantasy | MSX2[1] | Action RPG | JP | |
| 1988 (JP/NA/PAL) | Golvellius: Valley of Doom (NA/PAL) Shin Maou Golvellius (JP) 真・魔王ゴルベリアス (JP) | Compile | Compile | Fantasy | MSX2,[1] SMS[7] | Action RPG[8] | Golvellius | JP |
| 1988 (JP) | Jaseiken Necromancer (JP) 邪聖剣ネクロマンサー (JP) | Hudson Soft | Hudson Soft | Fantasy | PCE[9] | JRPG[10] | JP | |
| 1988 (JP) | Kaijuu Monogatari (JP) 貝獣物語 (JP) | Birthday | Namco | Fantasy | NES[2] | JRPG/WRPG hybrid[11] | Kaijuu Monogatari | JP |
| 1988 (JP) | King of Kings (JP) キング オブ キングス (JP) | Namcot | Namcot | Fantasy | NES[2] | Tactical RPG/Wargame | JP | |
| 1988 (JP) | Last Armageddon (JP) ラストハルマゲドン (JP) | Braingrey Mind | Braingrey Mind | Fantasy | MSX2[1] | JRPG[12] | JP | |
| 1988 (JP) | Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum (JP) マイトアンドマジック (JP) | New World | New World | Fantasy | MSX2[1] | WRPG | Might and Magic | US |
| 1988 (NA) | Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World | New World | New World | Fantasy | APPII, DOS | WRPG | Might and Magic | US |
| 1988 (JP) | Phantasie: Jelnoa's Chapter (JP) ファンタジージェルノアの章 (JP) | SSI | Bothtec | Fantasy | MSX2[1] (Port) | WRPG | Phantasie | US |
| 1988 (JP) | Phantasie II: Story of Ferronrah (JP) ファンタジーIIフェロンラの章 (JP) | SSI | Bothtec | Fantasy | MSX2[1] (Port) | WRPG | Phantasie | US |
| 1988 (NA) | Phantasie III: Wrath of Nikademus | Westwood | SSI | Fantasy | DOS (Port) | WRPG | Phantasie | US |
| 1988 (NA) 1990 (UK) |
Pool of Radiance | SSI | SSI U.S. Gold | Fantasy | C64, DOS, ATRST | Tactical RPG | AD&D: Forgotten Realms campaign setting. First game in the Gold Box series. | US |
| 1988 (JP) | Psychic War: Cosmic Soldier 2 (JP) サイキックウォー (JP) | Kogado | Kogado | Sci-Fi | MSX,[1] MSX2[1] | JRPG[13] | Cosmic Soldier | JP |
| 1988 (NA) | Questron II | Westwood | SSI | Fantasy | AMI, APPII, APPGS, C64, DOS, ATRST | Questron | US | |
| 1988 (JP) | Saint Seiya: Ougon Densetsu Kanketsu Hen (JP) 聖闘士星矢 黄金伝説 完結編 (JP) | TOSE | Shinsei | Fantasy (Mythic) | NES[2] | RPG / Fighting game hybrid[14] | Saint Seiya: Ougon Densetsu | JP |
| 1988 (NA) | Sentinel Worlds I: Future Magic | Spaceport Malibu | EA | Sci-Fi | DOS | WRPG | US | |
| 1988 (JP) | Star Cruiser | Arsys Software | Arsys Software | Sci-Fi | PC88 | Action RPG FPS/RPG JRPG | JP | |
| 1988 (JP) | Super Black Onyx (JP) スーパーブラックオニキス (JP) | Bullet-Proof | Bullet-Proof | Fantasy | NES[2] | Dungeon crawl[15][16] | The Black Onyx | JP |
| 1988 (WW) | Times of Lore | Origin Systems | Origin Systems | Fantasy | AMI, APPII, C64, DOS, NES, ZX | Action RPG | US | |
| 1988 (JP) | Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness (JP) ウルティマI (JP) | Origin | Pony Canyon | Fantasy | MSX2[1] | WRPG[17] | Ultima | US |
| 1988 (NA) | Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar | Origin | Origin | Fantasy | AMI (Port) | WRPG[18] | Ultima | US |
| 1988 (NA) | Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny | Origin | Origin | Fantasy | APPII, C64 (Port), DOS (Port) | WRPG | Ultima | US |
| 1988 (NA) | Wasteland | EA | EA | Post-apocalyptic | APPII, C64, DOS | WRPG | Wasteland; Spiritual predecessor of Fallout. | US |
| 1988 (NA) | Wizard Wars | Out of the Blue | Paragon Software | Fantasy | DOS | WRPG | US | |
| 1988 (NA) | Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds | Sir-Tech | Sir-Tech | Fantasy | C64 (Port) | Dungeon crawl | Wizardry | US |
| 1988 (NA) | Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna | Sir-Tech | Sir-Tech | Fantasy | DOS (Port) | Dungeon crawl | Wizardry | US |
| 1988 (NA) | Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom | Sir-Tech | Sir-Tech | Fantasy | APPII, C64 | Dungeon crawl | Wizardry | US |
| 1988 (JP) | XZR (JP) エグザイル (JP) | Telenet Japan | Telenet Japan | Fantasy (historical) | MSX[1] | Action RPG | Exile | JP |
| 1988 (JP) | XZR II (JP) エグザイルII (JP) | Telenet Japan | Telenet Japan | Fantasy (historical) | MSX2[1] | Action RPG[19] | Exile | JP |
| 1988 (JP/NA/PAL) | Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished (INT) イースI (JP) | Nihon Falcom | Victor Music Industries | Fantasy | PCE, SMS,[7] NES,[2] PC88, PC98 | Action RPG JRPG[20] | Ys | JP |
| 1988 (JP) | Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished - The Final Chapter (JP) イースII (JP) | Falcom | Falcom | Fantasy | MSX2[1] | Action RPG JRPG | Ys | JP |
| 1988 (JP) | Yūshi no Monshō: Deep Dungeon (JP) 勇士の紋章 ディープダンジョン (JP) | Scaptrust | Scaptrust | Fantasy | MSX (Port)[1] | Dungeon crawl | Deep Dungeon | JP |
| 1989 (NA) | Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Heroes of the Lance | U.S. Gold | SSI | Fantasy | C64 (Port), DOS (Port) | Action RPG/Platformer | Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Based on the Dragonlance franchise | US |
| 1989 (NA) | Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Hillsfar | Westwood | SSI | Fantasy | AMI, C64, DOS, ATRST | Action RPG | Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Forgotten Realms campaign setting | US |
| 1989 (JP) | Arcus II: Silent Symphony (JP) アークスII (JP) | Wolfteam (JP) | Wolfteam (JP) | Fantasy | MSX2[1] | JRPG[21] | Arcus | JP |
| 1989 (NA) | Bards Tale, The | Interplay | EA | Fantasy | MAC (Port) | WRPG | The Bards Tale | US |
| 1989 (NA) | Centauri Alliance | Michael Cranford | Broderbund | Sci-fi | APPII, C64[22] | WRPG | US | |
| 1989 (NA) 1986 (JP) |
Curse of Babylon Babylon (J) | XTALSOFT | Kyodai Broderbund | Fantasy | C64 | Action RPG | JP | |
| 1989 (NA/UK) | Curse of the Azure Bonds | SSI | SSI U.S. Gold | Fantasy | APPII, C64, DOS | Tactical RPG | AD&D: Forgotten Realms campaign setting. Gold Box series. | US |
| 1989 (NA/UK) | Death Bringer | Pandora | Spotlight (Cinemaware) | Fantasy | AMI, C64, DOS, ATRST | Dungeon crawl | UK | |
| 1989 (NA) | Demon's Winter | Novotrade | SSI | Fantasy | AMI (Port) | Tactical RPG | Shard of Spring | US |
| 1989 (JP) 1990 (NA) |
Destiny of an Emperor (NA) Tenchi o Kurau (JP) 天地を喰らう (JP) | Capcom (NA/JP) | Capcom (NA/JP) | Fantasy | NES[2] | JRPG | JP | |
| 1989 (JP) 1990 (NA) |
Double Dungeons (NA/JP) ダブルダンジョン (JP) | NCS (JP) | NCS (JP) | Fantasy | PCE[9] | Dungeon crawl[23] | JP | |
| 1989 (JP) | Dragon Ball 3: Gokuuden (JP) ドラゴンボール3 悟空伝 (JP) | TOSE (JP) | Bandai (JP) | NES[2] | Board game/RPG | Based on the manga Dragon Ball | JP | |
| 1989 (JP) | Dragon Knight ドラゴンナイト | ELF | ELF | Fantasy | DOS | JRPG Eroge | Dragon Knight | JP |
| 1989 (JP) | Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes (JP) ドラゴンスレイヤー英雄伝説 (JP) | Nihon Falcom (JP) | Nihon Falcom (JP) | Fantasy | PC88, PC98, X68K | JRPG[24] | Dragon Slayer The Legend of Heroes | JP |
| 1989 (NA) | Dragon Wars | Interplay | Activision | Fantasy | AMI, APPII, APPGS, C64, T1000, DOS | WRPG | Spiritual successor to The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate.[25] | US |
| 1989 (NA/UK) | Dragons of Flame | U.S. Gold | SSI U.S. Gold | Fantasy | AMI, DOS, ATRST | Action RPG | AD&D: Dragonlance franchise | US |
| 1989 (NA/EU) | Drakkhen | Infogrames | Data East Infogrames | Fantasy | AMI, DOS, ATRST | WRPG/Adventure game hybrid | Drakkhen | FR |
| 1989 (JP/NA) | Dungeon Explorer (NA/JP) ダンジョンエクスプローラー (JP) | Atlus Co. | Hudson Soft NEC | Fantasy | PCE[9] | Action RPG[26] | JP | |
| 1989 (JP) 1990 (NA) |
Dungeon Magic: Sword of the Elements (NA) Dungeon & Magic: Swords of Element (JP) ダンジョン&マジック ソード オブ エレメント (JP) | Natsume | Natsume Taito | Fantasy | NES[2] | Dungeon crawl[27] | JP | |
| 1989 (NA) 1992 (EU) |
Dungeon Master | FTL | FTL | Fantasy | APPGS, DOS (Port) | Dungeon crawl Action RPG[28] | Dungeon Master | US |
| 1989 (NA/JP) | Dungeon Master: Chaos Strikes Back | FTL | FTL | Fantasy | AMI, ATRST, FMT, PC98, X68K | Dungeon crawl Action RPG[28] | Dungeon Master | US |
| 1989 (JP) | Emerald Dragon (JP) エメラルドドラゴン (JP) | Glodia (JP) | Bashou House (JP) | Fantasy | PC88 | JRPG[29] | JP | |
| 1989 (JP) | Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden (JP) ファミコンジャンプ 英雄列伝 (JP) | TOSE (JP) | Bandai (JP) | Sci-Fi | NES[2] | Action RPG[30] | Based on the anime and manga, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure | JP |
| 1989 (JP) 1990 (NA) |
Faria: A World of Mystery and Danger (NA) Faria: Fuuin no Tsurugi (JP) ファリア 封印の剣 (JP) | Game Arts Hi-Score | Nexoft | Fantasy | NES[2] | Action RPG[31][30] | JP | |
| 1989 (JP) | Final Fantasy (JP) ファイナルファンタジー (JP) | Square (JP) | Microcabin (JP) | Fantasy | MSX2 (Port)[1] | JRPG[6] | Final Fantasy | JP |
| 1989 (JP) 1990 (NA) |
Final Fantasy Legend, The (NA) Makai Toushi Sa•Ga (JP) 魔界塔士 Sa・Ga (JP) | Square (NA/JP) | Square (NA/JP) | Fantasy | GB | JRPG[32] | SaGa | JP |
| 1989 (JP) | Hercules no Eikō II: Titan no Metsubō (JP) ヘラクレスの栄光II タイタンの滅亡 (JP) | Data East (JP) | Data East (JP) | Fantasy | NES[2] | JRPG[33] | Hercules no Eikō | JP |
| 1989 (NA) | Hero's Quest: So You Want to Be a Hero Quest for Glory: So You Want to Be a Hero | Sierra | Sierra | Fantasy | DOS | WRPG/Adventure game hybrid | Quest for Glory | US |
| 1989 (JP) | Hydlide 3: Yami Kara no Houmonsha (JP) ハイドライド 3 (JP) | T&E (JP) | Namco (JP) | Fantasy | NES[2] | Action RPG[30] | Hydlide | JP |
| 1989 (JP) | Jajamaru Ninpou Chou (JP) じゃじゃ丸忍法帳 (JP) | NMK (JP) | Jaleco (JP) | NES[2] | JRPG[34] | Ninja Jajamaru-kun | JP | |
| 1989 (EU) | Kayden Garth | Mentrox Goldline | EAS Software | Sci-Fi | C64, ATRST | WRPG | DE? | |
| 1989 (NA) | Knights of Legend | Todd Porter | Origin | Fantasy | APPII, C64, DOS | WRPG | US | |
| 1989 (JP) | Laplace no Ma (JP) Laplace's Evil Spirit (JP) ラプラスの魔 (JP) | HummingBird (JP) | HummingBird (JP) | Survival horror | MSX2[1] | Laplace no Ma | JP | |
| 1989 (JP) | La Salle Ishii no Child's Quest (JP) ラサール石井のチャイルズクエスト (JP) | Namco (JP) | Namco (JP) | Music/Comedy | NES[2] | JRPG | JP | |
| 1989 (JP) 1992 (NA) |
Legend of the Ghost Lion (NA) White Lion Densetsu: Pyramid no Kanata ni (JP) ホワイトライオン伝説 (JP) | Kemco | Kemco | Fantasy | NES[2] | JRPG[35] | JP | |
| 1989 (NA) | Legends of the Lost Realm: The Gathering of Heroes (NA) | Avalon Hill Microcomputer Games Division | Avalon Hill | Fantasy | MAC | WRPG[36] | Legends of the Lost Realm | US |
| 1989 (NA) | Legends of the Lost Realm II: Wilderlands (NA) | Avalon Hill Microcomputer Games Division | Avalon Hill | Fantasy | MAC | WRPG[37] | Legends of the Lost Realm | US |
| 1989 (JP) 1990 (NA) 1991 (PAL) |
Little Ninja Brothers Super Chinese 2: Dragon Kid スーパーチャイニーズ2 ドラゴンキッド | Culture Brain | Culture Brain | Fantasy | NES[2] | Action-RPG[38] | Super Chinese | JP |
| 1989 (NA) | Magic Candle, The | Mindcraft | Mindcraft | Fantasy | APPII, C64, DOS | The Magic Candle | CA | |
| 1989 (JP) | Master of Monsters マスターオブモンスターズ | SystemSoft | SystemSoft | Fantasy | MSX[39] | Tactical RPG | Master of Monsters | JP |
| 1989 (JP) | Master of Monsters Map Collection マスターオブモンスターズマップコレクション | SystemSoft | SystemSoft | Fantasy | MSX[39] | Tactical RPG | Resource pack for Master of Monsters. | JP |
| 1989 (NA/JP) | Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World マイトアンドマジックブック2 | New World | StarCraft New World | Fantasy | MSX2,[1] C64 | WRPG | Might and Magic | US |
| 1989 (JP) | Mother | Ape Nintendo | Nintendo | Modern | NES[2] | JRPG[40] | Mother | JP |
| 1989 (JP) | Phantasie III: Wrath of Nikademus ファンタジーIIIニカデモスの怒り | SSI | Bothtec | Fantasy | MSX2[1] | WRPG | Phantasie | US |
| 1989 (JP) | Phantasy Star II ファンタシースター II 還らざる時の終わりに | Sega-AM7 | Sega | Sci-Fi | GEN | JRPG | Phantasy Star | JP |
| 1989 (NA) 1989 (JP) |
Pool of Radiance | SSI | SSI Pony Canyons (JP port)[41] | Fantasy | APPII (Port), MAC (Port)
PC88 (Port) |
Tactical RPG | AD&D: Forgotten Realms campaign setting. First game in the Gold Box series. | US
JP (PC88) |
| 1989 (JP) | SD Snatcher SDスナッチャー | Konami | Konami | Sci-Fi | MSX2[1] | JRPG[42] | Snatcher | JP |
| 1989 (NA) | Sentinel Worlds I: Future Magic | Novotrade | EA | Sci-Fi | C64 (Port) | US | ||
| 1989 (JP) | Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead 死霊戦線 | Victor Music Industries | Fantasy Survival horror | PCE[9] | Action RPG | Shiryou Sensen: War of the Dead | JP | |
| 1989 (NA) | Space Rogue | Origin | Origin | Sci-Fi | C64, DOS, MAC, APPII | Combination space sim and WRPG | US | |
| 1989 (JP) | Square no Tom Sawyer スクウェアのトムソーヤ | Square | Square | NES[2] | [43] | JP | ||
| 1989 (NA) | Starflight | Binary Systems MicroMagic | EA | Sci-Fi | AMI (Port), C64 (Port) | Combination space sim and WRPG | Starflight | US |
| 1989 (NA) | Starflight 2: Trade Routes of the Cloud Nebula | Binary Systems | EA | Sci-Fi | DOS | Combination space sim and WRPG | Starflight | US |
| 1989 (JP) 1990 (NA) 1991 (EU) |
Super Hydlide スーパーハイドライド | T&E | Seismic | Fantasy | GEN | Action RPG[30] | Hydlide | JP |
| 1989 (JP) | Sweet Home スウィートホーム | Capcom | Capcom | Fantasy Survival horror[44] | NES[2] | JRPG | Spiritual precursor to Resident Evil | JP |
| 1989 (JP) 1991 (NA/PAL) |
Sword Of Hope, The Selection: Erabareshi Mono セレクション 選ばれし者 | Kemco | Kemco Seika Corp. | Fantasy | GB | Action RPG | JP | |
| 1989 (JP) 1990 (NA) |
Sword of Vermilion Vermilion ヴァーミリオン | Sega-AM2 | Sega | Fantasy | GEN | Action-RPG | JP | |
| 1989 (NA) | Swords of Twilight | Free Fall Associates | Electronic Arts, Inc. | Fantasy | AMI | Action-RPG | US | |
| 1989 (JP) | Tao 究極の世紀末ロープレ 道 | Vap | Vap | Fantasy | NES[2] | JP | ||
| 1989 (JP) | Tengai Makyō: Ziria 天外魔境 ZIRIA | Red Ent. | Hudson Soft | Fantasy | PCD[9] | JRPG[45] | Tengai Makyou | JP |
| 1989 (JP) | Tenkaichi Bushi Keru Nagūru ケルナグール | Game Studio | Namco | NES[2] | Fighting/RPG hybrid | JP | ||
| 1989 (JP) | Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar Ultima: Seisha he no Michi ウルティマ 聖者への道 | Origin | Pony Canyon | Fantasy | NES (Port)[2] | WRPG[18] | Ultima | US |
| 1989 (NA) | Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny | Origin | Origin | Fantasy | ATRST (Port) | WRPG | Ultima | US |
| 1989 (NA) | Ultima Trilogy | Origin | Origin | Fantasy | APPII (Comp), C64 (Comp), DOS (Comp) | WRPG | Ultima compilation | US |
| 1989 (NA) | WiBArM | Arsys Software | Broderbund | Sci-Fi | DOS (Port) | Action RPG Run-and-gun JRPG | JP | |
| 1989 (JP/NA) 1993 (PAL) |
Willow ウィロー | Capcom | Capcom | Fantasy | NES[2] | Action RPG | US/JP | |
| 1989 (JP) | Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds ウィザードリィ2 | Sir-Tech Software | ASCII | Fantasy | MSX2 (Port)[1] | Dungeon crawl | Wizardry | US |
| 1989 (NA/JP) | Wizardry II: Llylgamyn no Isan ウィザードリィII リルガミンの遺産[46] | Sir-Tech Software | ASCII Sir-Tech | Fantasy | NES (Port),[2] C64 (Port) | Dungeon crawl | Wizardry | US |
| 1989 (JP) | Xak: The Art of Visual Stage サーク | Microcabin | Microcabin | Fantasy | MSX2,[1] PC88, PC98, X68K | Action RPG[47] | Xak | JP |
| 1989 (NA) | Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished | Nihon Falcom Unlimited | Kyodai Broderbund | Fantasy | APPGS (Port), DOS (Port) | Action RPG JRPG | Ys | JP |
| 1989 (JP) 1990 (NA) |
Ys I & II イースI・II | Nihon Falcom Hudson Soft | Hudson Soft | Fantasy | PCD[9](Comp) | Action RPG[20] | Ys | JP |
| 1989 (JP) | Ys III: Wanderers from Ys イースIII -ワンダラーズフロムイース- | Nihon Falcom | Nihon Falcom | Fantasy | PC88, PC98, X68K, MSX2[1] | Action RPG Platformer[20] | Ys | JP |