Dungeon Master

Dungeon Master (1987)

by FTL Games, JVC Musical Industries, Psygnosis, Victor Musical Industries
Genres:Role-playing (RPG)
Themes:Action, Fantasy
Game modes:Single player
Story:Dungeon Master established several new standards for role playing and computer games in general. Dungeon Master was a realtime game instead of the traditional turn-based approach that was prevalent until then. Instead of using text-based commands to interact with the environment, players directly manipulated objects and the environment by clicking the mouse in the enlarged first-person view. Abstract Dungeons and Dragons style experience points and levels were eschewed in favor of a system where the characters' skills were improved directly via using them. It also introduced some novel control methods including the spell casting system, which involved learning sequences of runes which represented the form and function of a spell's effect. For example, a fireball spell was created by mixing the fire symbol with the wing symbol. This kind of attention to detail and focus on the user interface was typical of the game and helped create an often captivating sense of craft and ingenuity. Other factors in immersiveness were the then-revolutionary use of sound effects to indicate when a creature was nearby, and (primitive) dynamic lighting.Show more
user avatarAdded by @Kakulus
Vote to bring this game to GOG and help preserve it.
5 931
Trailers and screenshots
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot
Stories about this game (14)
What’s your memory of Dungeon Master?Share your favorite moments and see what others remember about this game.
user avatar@placeholder

Make sure to follow our Guidelines when adding new Stories.

If not sure what to write:
  • What made this game unforgettable?
  • Who did you play this game with?
  • What made it fun or challenging?
  • Why do you want this game on GOG?
This was the game that caused me to trade in my semi new Amiga 1000 for the Amiga 500 because it had 1meg of ram that was required to run Dungeon Master. Eye of the Beholder came out years later, as well as Black Crypt, but for the original real time RPG fantasy time battles Dungeon Master and Chaos Strikes back is the one everyone should get!
user avatar@Dr.Bouser avatar@Dr.Bo
January 30, 2025
Dungeon Master war das erste Dungeon Crawler Rollenspiel das ich auf dem Amiga gespielt habe. Super Atmosphäre auch wenn es völlig ohne Soundtrack auskam. Knackige Kampfpassagen und Rätsel haben mich Wochenlang beschäftigt. Ein sehr gut durchdachtes Abenteuer in einer Fantasiewelt voller Geheimnisse und Monster. Das System der Zaubersprüche ist einzigartig, man musste Runen in einer bestimmten Reihenfolge "aufsagen" um den entsprechenden Zauberspruch zu wirken. Das Spiel hat einem nicht an die Hand genommen und das war auch gut so, denn so entstand auch eine Entdeckerlust und man war hochmotiviert wenn man ein Rätsel gelöst oder ein Geheimnis entdeckt hat. Es gab nur wenige Spiele die später mit diesem einzigartigen Klassiker mithalten konnten und das war Chaos Strikes Back der zweite Teil von Dungeon Master und die Eye of the Beholder Reihe. Dungeon Master ist für mich der Urvater aller Echtzeit Dungeon Crawler Spiele und ein MUSS auf GOG!
user avatar@RegionFreeuser avatar@RegionFree
February 10, 2025
Does not get enough recognition for how much it influenced 3D dungeon crawlers that came after it. A good difficulty curve, challenging puzzles and capable of some real surprises. The opening level is almost the genre's version of World 1-1 in Super Mario Bros as it gives you a taste for the game's mechanics as you assemble your party. When showing this off to friends on my Atari ST, the moment they killed a mummy using cheese as a projectile quickly won them over. 🤣
user avatar@zairisuser avatar@zairis
January 30, 2025
This was the first game my parents ever bough for me, and I remember loving the box art. I was amazed at the in game graphics too, however, I also remember being too scared of the monsters to actuall complete it back then xD. I did like picking my party, juggling their eqipment though, and having our neigbours older son explain to me what I should be doing, as I knew almost zero English back then.
user avatar@Apophis69user avatar@Apophis69
February 01, 2025
I have played this original Amiga and PC, DMjava, Return to chaos and Legend of Grimrocks Back to the Dungeon -mod. I remember training my characters to masters because Chaos strikes back was so difficult.
user avatar@jammie85user avatar@jammie85
February 06, 2025
This game, and its sequel, is one that's always meant a lot to me. It came out the same year as I was born, but I discovered it when I was young, and was obsessed ever since. It is a genuinely impressive piece of passionate artistry and risk that you just don't see triple A companies putting out anymore. It's a dark, but sympathetic look . (Making it far more than just a run-of-the-mill 'dark and edgy' fairy tale-there is genuine love and hope in this game). The art direction are absolutely beautiful and creatively unhinged, and the gameplay still manages to hold up decently well. I love this game with all my heart, and have always wanted to see it become more accessible to everyone else so that they can love it too.
user avatar@Trarothuser avatar@Traroth
January 31, 2025
J'ai acheté ce jeu à sa sortie sur Atari ST. Je me rappelle les longues heures passées à arpenter les couloirs du donjon, en craignant un monstre à chaque coin. On était une bande de copains rassemblés autour de l'ordinateur, et chacun jouait à son tour, c'était vraiment de bons moments.
user avatar@Oldgrizzuser avatar@Oldgrizz
February 16, 2025
When I first played Dungeon Master it was on a Commodore Amiga. The graphics were outstanding, not like the PC graphics. On my first play through I walked around a corner and ran into a mummy. The mummy said boo and I almost jumped out of my chair. The dungeon was very well laid out, lots of challenging puzzle's. Hidden buttons in the walls, timed pits to jump over. This was my first memorable RPG game I played. I started playing Dungeon Master 2 but never finished it, shame. I think these DM games set the standard that all the other need to live up to.
user avatar@Sabre7741user avatar@Sabre7741
February 17, 2025
wow this was one from the past and chaos strikes back wow its a dungeon crawly at its finest and id truly love to see it again. this time with out all the floppy's lol and it was a beloved piece of art from the past.
This was the game that got me into RPGs, it looked great and the sound effects were excellent (I bet everyone jumped when a mummy would appear behind you and scream!). The combat was fun and sometimes hectic and I still have a copy of my spells list hidden somewhere!
Those games also need your vote!
Shining Force: Resurrection Of The Dark Dragon
Shining Force: Resurrection Of The Dark DragonA remake of the original Shining Force that was released in 1992 on the Sega Genesis. "THE CLASSIC STRATEGY RPG IS BACK! The mysterious traveler Darksol has worked his way into the King's graces to further his plans of resurrecting an ancient evil, the Dark Dragon. You play the role of Max, a young warrior who remembers nothing of his past. When Guardiana is attacked, you are given an army to lead, & must unravel the mystery behind the Legacy of the Gods, lest the world perish."
Fantasy
Fantasy
593
1
Shining Force Neo
Shining Force NeoMax completes his Force military training and returns to his village to meet his family and to find news of his missing brother. Later, the village is attacked by monsters later suspected as remnants of the Legion as well as the appearance of a mysterious figure that seems to know of his brother. This reasons compel Max to seek out the Legion threat, hoping in the process to also find his missing brother.
Action
Action
417
Shining Force Gaiden
Shining Force GaidenShining Force Gaiden is a tactical role-playing game.
Fantasy
Fantasy
487
Tales of Berseria
Tales of BerseriaIn Tales Of Berseria players embark on a journey as they assume the role of Velvet, a young woman whose once gentle nature has been replaced and overcome with a festering anger and hatred after a traumatic experience three years prior to the events within Tales Of Berseria imbued her left hand with a special ability. Along her journey, Velvet will meet a whole cast of characters, including a young boy named Laphicet. If Velvet is the embodiment of "darkness," then Laphicet is created in the image of "light" and will be an important ally to Velvet.
Open world
Action
Fantasy
Open world
Action
Fantasy
706
2
Demon's Souls
Demon's SoulsA full remake of Demon's Souls (2009) featuring improved graphics and animations, sound and lighting tweaks and a reimagining of many of the visual, musical and mechanical aspects of the original game.
Action
Fantasy
Horror
Action
Fantasy
Horror
1 416
3
Lost Odyssey
Lost OdysseyLost Odyssey is set in a world in which a "Magic-Industrial Revolution" is taking place. While magic energy existed in all living creatures beforehand, it suddenly became far more powerful thirty years before the beginning of the game. Because of this, it has affected society greatly, with devices called "Magic Engines" harnessing this power for lighting, automobiles, communication, and robots, among other uses. While previously only a select few could wield magic, many magicians gained the ability. However, such progress has also caused two nations to develop new and more powerful weapons of mass destruction. The kingdom of Gohtza and the Republic of Uhra (which recently converted from a monarchy). Uhra is building Grand Staff, a gigantic magic engine, while the heavily industrialized Gohtza actively pursues magic research of their own. A third nation, the Free Ocean State of Numara, remains isolated and neutral, though it is falling into disarray due to a general attempting to stage a coup d'etat. Uhra, at war with Khent, a nation of beastmen, sends its forces to the Highlands of Wohl for a decisive battle at the start of the game.
Open world
Open world
2 306
27
Clock Tower
Clock TowerClock Tower, known as Clock Tower 2 in Japan, is a PlayStation point-and-click survival horror game and a sequel to Clock Tower: The First Fear. One year after the events of Clock Tower: The First Fear, in late 1996, Jennifer Simpson has been adopted by Helen Maxwell, the assistant of a renowned psychiatrist, Samuel Barton, and is currently undergoing treatment at a university research building in Oslo, Norway, to help her cope with her traumatic experiences in the Clock Tower case and possibly shed some light on the mystery that was the Scissorman.
Action
Horror
Action
Horror
1 425
3
Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within
Clock Tower II: The Struggle WithinClock Tower II: The Struggle Within, known as Clock Tower: Ghost Head in Japan, is a PlayStation point-and-click survival horror game and the third installment in the Clock Tower series. It was developed and published by Human Entertainment on March 12, 1998 in Japan and later published by Agetec on October 31, 1999 in North America. It was released as a PlayStation Classic on the Japanese PlayStation Network for PlayStation 3 on May 9, 2012. The game is a spin-off story with little to no connection to the story of the Barrows/Burroughs family or Scissorman, nor was Hifumi Kono involved with it. It does not take place in Europe as many of the others do; it takes place in Osaka, Japan. In the North American version, the setting was changed to Salinas, California, and the characters were given Westernized names. However, untranslated Japanese can be seen in the hospital entrance and even in the intro, there are Japanese-styled buildings, including a Shinto shrine. The game also contains various Japanese-styled rooms and samurai armor.
Action
Horror
Action
Horror
1 085
1
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth
Persona Q2: New Cinema LabyrinthThe dream meeting of Persona 3, 4, 5! Welcome to the movie world (Labyrinth). The latest RPG in the Persona series! A new storyline in Persona Q, this time focusing on P5. The most number of party members in the Persona series with a total of 28 people! A dream RPG where P3, P4, and P5 characters meet to unravel the mystery begins!
Fantasy
Fantasy
1 266
1
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
Persona Q: Shadow of the LabyrinthPersona Q is a crossover video game, containing characters from both Persona 3 and Persona 4 in a game based on Etrian Odyssey, with its perspective, play-style, and systems. Persona Q's gameplay focuses further on being a dungeon crawler. Players choose to play from the perspective of either the Persona 3 protagonist or the Persona 4 protagonist, with each side featuring slight differences in the main story. The player's choices will also alter the flow of the game.
Fantasy
Fantasy
1 302