Dungeon Crawler Evolution - EVERY 80's and 90's grid-based pseudo-3D RPG - compilation comparison

[@ClassicGameSessions]

By popular demand, the Evolution of EVERY 80's and 90's grid-based Dungeon Crawler - chronological compilation! 0:00 Maze War - 1973 1:00 Akalabeth - World of Doom - 1979 2:00 Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord - 1981 3:00 3D Monster Maze - 1981 4:00 Wizardry: Knight of Diamonds - The Second Scenario - 1982 5:00 Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin - 1983 6:00 Hell’s Temple - 1983 7:00 Illegus episode IV - 1983 8:00 Labyrinth Of Fear - 1983 9:00 Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn - The Third Scenario - 1983 10:00 L’Antre de la Peur - 1984 11:00 Maze - 1984 12:00 Tyrann - 1984 13:00 3D Munch - 1985 14:00 Dimensional Fighter Epsilon3 - 1985 15:00 Pyramid Of Peril - 1985 16:00 Tales of the Unknown, Volume I: The Bard’s Tale - 1985 17:00 Le fer d’Amnukor - 1986 18:00 Maze Wars+ - 1986 19:00 Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum - 1986 20:00 Sword of Glass - 1986 21:00 The Bard’s Tale II: The Destiny Knight - 1986 22:00 Carmine - 1987 23:00 Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei - 1987 24:00 Dungeon Master - 1987 25:00 Laplace no Ma - 1987 26:00 Scarab of Ra - 1987 27:00 Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna - 1987 28:00 Arcus - 1988 29:00 Death Bringer (a.k.a. Galdregons Domain) - 1988 30:00 Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World - 1988 31:00 Moraff’s Revenge - 1988 32:00 Pool Of Radiance - 1988 33:00 Slaygon - 1988 34:00 The Bard’s Tale III: Thief of Fate - 1988 35:00 The Mars Saga - 1988 36:00 Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom - 1988 37:00 Bloodwych - 1989 38:00 Citadel of Vras - 1989 39:00 Curse Of The Azure Bonds - 1989 40:00 Day of the Viper - 1989 41:00 Don’t Go Alone - 1989 42:00 Double Dungeons - 1989 43:00 Dragon Knight - 1989 44:00 Dragon Wars - 1989 45:00 Dungeon Magic: Sword of the Elements - 1989 46:00 Dungeon Maseter: Chaos Strikes Back - 1989 47:00 Keef the Thief: A Boy and His Lockpick - 1989 48:00 Mines of Titan [remake of Mars Saga] - 1989 49:00 The Dark Heart of Uukrul - 1989 50:00 Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday - 1990 51:00 Captive - 1990 52:00 Champions Of Krynn - 1990 53:00 Circuit’s Edge - 1990 54:00 Crystals of Arborea - 1990 55:00 Dark Designs I: Grelminar’s Staff - 1990 56:00 Dinosaur - 1990 57:00 Dragon Knight II - 1990 58:00 Elvira Mistress Of The Dark - 1990 59:00 Federation Quest 1 - B.S.S. Jane Seymour - 1990 1:00:00 Kagerou meikyuu - 1990 1:01:00 Legend of Faerghail - 1990 1:02:00 Lords Of Doom - 1990 1:03:00 Madou Monogatari 1-2-3 - 1990 1:04:00 Secret Of The Silver Blades - 1990 1:05:00 Swords and Serpents - 1990 1:06:00 Wizardry VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge - 1990 1:07:00 Xenomorph - 1990 1:08:00 Ancients I: Death Watch - 1991 1:09:00 Arcus III - 1991 1:10:00 Death Knights Of Krynn - 1991 1:11:00 Dungeon Harlem - 1991 1:12:00 Dungeons of Avalon - 1991 1:13:00 Elvira II: The Jaws of Cerberus - 1991 1:14:00 Eye Of The Beholder - 1991 1:15:00 Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon - 1991 1:16:00 Fate: Gates of Dawn - 1991 1:17:00 Gateway To The Savage Frontier - 1991 1:18:00 Knightmare - 1991 1:19:00 Korean Dungeon Boy - 1991 1:20:00 Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra - 1991 1:21:00 Moraff’s World - 1991 1:22:00 Pools Of Darkness - 1991 1:23:00 Shining in the Darkness - 1991 1:24:00 Spirit of Adventure - 1991 1:25:00 The Return of Medusa: Rings of Medusa II - 1991 1:26:00 Abandoned Places: A Time For Heroes - 1992 1:27:00 Amberstar - 1992 1:28:00 Arcana - 1992 1:29:00 Black Crypt - 1992 1:30:00 Buck Rogers: Matrix Cube - 1992 1:31:00 Daymare - 1992 1:32:00 Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun - 1992 1:33:00 Dungeons of Avalon II: The Island of Darkness - 1992 1:34:00 Elm Knight - 1992 1:35:00 Gayblade - 1992 1:36:00 Ishar: Legend of the Fortress - 1992 1:37:00 Lady Sword: Ryakudatsusareta 10-nin no Otome - 1992 1:38:00 Might and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen - 1992 1:39:00 Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny - 1992 1:40:00 Rooms Of The Abyss - 1992 1:41:00 The Dark Queen Of Krynn - 1992 1:42:00 The Shadow of Yserbius - 1992 1:43:00 Treasures Of The Savage Frontier - 1992 1:44:00 Waxworks - 1992 1:45:00 Wizardry I-II-III: Story of Llylgamyn - 1992 1:46:00 Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant - 1992 1:47:00 Abandoned Places 2 - 1993 1:48:00 Arcus I-II-III - 1993 1:49:00 Daymare 2 - 1993 1:50:00 Dungeon Hack - 1993 1:51:00 Dungeon Master II: The Legend Of Skullkeep - 1993 1:52:00 Dungeon Master: Theron’s Quest - 1993 1:53:00 Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor - 1993 1:54:00 Hired Guns - 1993 1:55:00 Ishar 2: Messengers of Doom - 1993 1:56:00 Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos - 1993 1:57:00 Liberation - Captive II - 1993 1:58:00 Madou Monogatari: ARS - 1993 1:59:00 Might and Magic V: Darkside of Xeen - 1993 2:00:00 Moraff’s Dungeons of the Unforgiven - 1993 2:01:00 Perihelion: The Prophecy - 1993 2:02:00 Psionics - 1993 2:03:00 The Fates of Twinion - 1993 2:04:00 The Legacy: Realm of Terror - 1993 2:05:00 Whale’s Voyage - 1993 2:06:00 Ancients II: Approaching Evil - 1994 2:07:00 Black Dawn - 1994 2:08:00 Crystal Dragon - 1994 2:09:00 Dungeons of Death - 1994 2:10:00 Ishar 3: The Seven Gates of Infinity - 1994 2:11:00 Istanbul Efsaneleri: Lale Savascilari - 1994 2:12:00 Madou Monogatari Michikusa Ibun - 1994 2:13:00 Might and Magic: World of Xeen - 1994 2:14:00 Realms of Arkania: Star Trail - 1994 2:15:00 Starfire - 1994 2:16:00 The Infernal Tome - 1994 2:17:00 Anvil Of Dawn - 1995 2:18:00 Black Dawn II - 1995 2:19:00 Black Dawn VI: Hellbound - 1995 2:20:00 Bloodfest - 1995 2:21:00 Cyberdrone - 1995 2:22:00 Jaktar: Der Elfenstein - 1995 2:23:00 Legions of Dawn - 1995 2:24:00 Madou Monogatari A: Doki Doki Vacation - 1995 2:25:00 Magic Island: The Secret Of Stones - 1995 2:26:00 Might and Magic: Swords of Xeen - 1995 2:27:00 Mordor: The Depths of Dejenol - 1995 2:28:00 NeverwinterNights (AOL) - 1995 2:29:00 Parasite - 1995 2:30:00 Stonekeep - 1995 2:31:00 The Ruins of Cawdor - 1995 2:32:00 Asmodeus: TajemnY kraj Ruthaniolu - 1996 2:33:00 Boom - 1996 2:34:00 Champions of Dawn - 1996 2:35:00 Dawn: A New Beginning Remix - 1996 2:36:00 Evil’s Doom - 1996 2:37:00 Kargon - 1996 2:38:00 Knights of the Grail (Rytiri Gralu) - 1996 2:39:00 Nemesis: The Wizardry Adventure - 1996 2:40:00 Parasite II - 1996 2:41:00 Revelations Persona - 1996 2:42:00 Shining the Holy Ark - 1996 2:43:00 Skarbnik - 1996 2:44:00 Thunderdawn - 1996 2:45:00 Ve Stinu Magie (Shadow Magic) - 1996 2:46:00 Yendorian Tales Book I: Chapter 2 - 1996 2:47:00 Revolt of Don’s Knights - 1997 2:48:00 Yendorian Tales: The Tyrants of Thaine - 1997 2:49:00 City Beneath the Surface - 1998 2:50:00 The Gates of Skeldal (Brany Skeldalu) - 1998 2:51:00 Wizardry: Llylgamyn Saga - 1998 2:52:00 Silvern Castle - 1999 2:53:00 Wizardry: New Age of Llylgamyn - 1999 2:54:00 Words Worth - 1999 Dungeon crawlers featured are based on definition by dungeoncrawlers-org. Please share other similar dungeon crawlers in the comments section below! Please consider supporting the channel by joining my Patreon or joining the channel as a member as your support goes a long way in helping create videos like this!

[@plume...]

Legend!

[@OldNerdPlayingOldPCGames]

This is literally surreal man. What you're doing is so underrated. Watching those mundane reactions about scammers who we all know are scammers (Logan Paul, MrBeast) having millions of views while pure gold is drowning in algorithm, makes me cry.

[@ClassicGameSessions]

@@OldNerdPlayingOldPCGames Thanks for the kind words, I'm glad to hear you like it! Really some of the best feedback I've had on the channel. The algorithm is a funny thing right - who knows, maybe one day it will be picked up by more viewers, but I just enjoy making the content and happy to hear when viewers are digging it!

[@OldNerdPlayingOldPCGames]

@@ClassicGameSessions You're very welcome, and yeah, it's possible that algo will pick up the video months after it's been posted.

[@segatouringcar3738]

Thx for this new upload!!! Great work

[@SilverstringsMusings]

I'm glad the c64 managed to sneak in one last game near the end with Boom.

[@purgedome2386]

Wow.. from the first 25.. I remember only playing 4 or 5 ish and most were the Wizardry line and Bard's Tale and maybe Might and Magic. After that SSI dominated my life back then. ;p

[@ElliotPlays]

Great upload and in depth evolution of the games. Thanks for sharing! 👍🏻

[@mikehole1100]

Not sure if I'm using the popular phrase correctly here, but I believe I'm finding this upload to be "low-key" awesome. :-) Thank you for your service!

[@ClassicGameSessions]

@@mikehole1100 Thank you! :)

[@hurkyl1560]

Tunnels of Doom is an old (1982) dungeon crawler for the TI-99/4A home computer.

[@oozzkansas1163]

shining the holy ark had the best music 🎶

[@pristinedetailing5171]

Thank you for the video. It is nice to see some games I have never heard of and would love to try.

[@gullpayne]

Excellent video here really enjoyed seeing how they change

[@Smylexxia]

Was hoping to see Legends of Valour on here somewhere...

[@pilouuuu]

Maze War looks amazing for 1973.

[@lukeyznaga7627]

thanks for sharing this. Let us never forget the joy and fun this brought us. We gamers and D And D people appreciate this. This is our journey, our story , or evolution. Life was a lot better when they invented this culture of games. we needed it!

[@ClassicGameSessions]

Well said!

[@presentperfectgaming]

Awesome work mate, can't wait to check this out. Just looking at the early part of the video, it's incredible to think how far we've come!

[@ClassicGameSessions]

@presentperfectgaming Thanks mate, hope you enjoy it! Indeed, it's pretty amazing to look at the early games and just how far they've evolved from then, yet how those early innovations influenced so many of the games of the genre from that time onward.

[@dunetiger]

This video's incredible. So much I've never heard of and so much seemingly lost to time. I dunno how you got most of the 80s-era footage; I guess an extensive collection and DOSBox?

[@jaysmith2858]

I had to make sure that Dungeon Master was on the list.

[@cfgsupport5564]

This looks awesome.

[@hikebikearchaeology1782]

how is the music from Bloodwych so genius......wasnt aware of that game - now I feel bad cause it took me so long to discover it

[@Misa_Susaki]

Man, stuff gets WEIRD after 1995.

[@witchgrovegames]

Most impressive! 🤩

[@cpthurme]

Wizardry New Age (1999) is a great game

[@tomtom34b]

Dragon flight (1990) didn´t make it on your list.

[@GabrielMaciel-tr9kl]

Good stuff

[@CelestialHunter-]

so is it safe to say the Wizardry is the real kickstarter for dungeon crawlers?

[@nekononiaow]

It's certainly one of the most successful early trendsetters. It is a shame however that it failed to improve much over the years. When DM arrived, Wizardry was left in the dust and completely failed to hop onto the bandwagon. Even the last game of the series on Saturn/Playstation have essentially the same repetitive gameplay mechanisms as earlier titles.

[@Pixygon]

Let's not forget there were dungeon crawlers like this as early as 1975 on PLATO terminals in universities. Although they wouldn't have been privy to the public. I believe early roguelikes had similar origins (although not dating back quite as far).

[@lukeyznaga7627]

thank god that I want to Gog Games and got some old fashioned "sandbox" and old RPG games and played the "memories'. Some of the older games were fun! simple, but fun quests and just...satisfying. the battles and the questing were great. Still, Skyrim is great and so was Elder Scrolls. but the Might and Magic series was great. In Might and Magic, it was always rewarding when you found a part of "ancient artifact" armor or weapon. It was quite the reward.