Quest for Glory 1-5

About

Quest for Glory 1-5 is a series of five classic fantasy adventure/RPG games. The player can choose to be a warrior, a mage, or a thief, and explore a richly detailed world while solving puzzles, fighting monsters, and interacting with NPCs. Throughout the series, the player's choices and actions shape their character and affect the game's story and outcome. These games offer a unique and immersive experience, combining challenging gameplay with humor, drama, and a compelling narrative.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 399 reviews

story52 positive mentions

stability13 negative mentions

The Quest for Glory series offers a unique blend of RPG and adventure gameplay, allowing players to carry their character through all five games, enhancing replayability.
The writing is filled with humor and clever dialogue, making the games enjoyable and engaging, with memorable characters and storylines.
The games feature diverse settings inspired by various mythologies, providing a rich and immersive world for players to explore.

The graphics and interface are dated, which may deter new players who are not accustomed to older game mechanics.
Some games in the series, particularly QFG2 and QFG5, have been criticized for bugs and technical issues that can disrupt gameplay.
The combat system can be frustrating and feels clunky, especially in the earlier titles, which may lead to a less enjoyable experience for some players.

story
248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
78%
1%
The "Quest for Glory" series is celebrated for its engaging storytelling, humor, and character development, blending RPG elements with classic adventure gameplay. Each installment features a unique narrative that allows players to import their characters, enhancing the continuity and depth of the story across the five games. While the series has its ups and downs, particularly with the later titles, it remains a beloved classic that resonates with fans for its rich lore and memorable quests.
- “The storytelling of Quest for Glory is wonderful and entertaining, and in the end that is what we seek when we play games.”
- “The quest for glory series took the storytelling genre to a whole new level - character development and masterful storytelling, coupled with a great soundtrack.”
- “5's quest structure feels weaker than the previous games, which is a little disappointing.”
- “The story is basically on rails with even fewer sidequest options than QFG2.”
- “Alas, the world is a bit small, the game can be completed quickly, and the storylines for the different classes don't diverge much.”
graphics
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
71%
6%
The graphics of the Quest for Glory series are a mixed bag, with earlier titles featuring charming pixel art that evokes nostalgia, while later entries struggle with dated visuals and poorly executed 3D attempts. Many players appreciate the artistic style and atmosphere, particularly in titles like QFG4, but acknowledge that the graphics have not aged well compared to modern standards. Overall, while the graphics may deter some new players, fans of retro gaming often find them endearing and integral to the series' charm.
- “I was emotionally transported to the land of Tarna with its beautiful music, magical graphics, and awesome story.”
- “The graphics, the music, the adventure!”
- “The graphics are very good for when they were released, and while time may have aged the games, they aged very gracefully in my opinion.”
- “Yes, the graphics are dated, even the VGA's and the latest (QFC-V) one.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks for any of the games.”
- “The graphics are downright painful if you don't enjoy the pixel-art aesthetic; Quest for Glory 2 needs to be played with a walkthrough (nobody has time for the maze-city navigation anymore!), and games like Skyrim can arguably do what this does but better.”
humor
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this game series is widely praised for its cleverness, charm, and ability to blend light-heartedness with engaging storytelling. Players appreciate the mix of goofy jokes, pop culture references, and whimsical scenarios that enhance the overall experience, making it a standout in the adventure genre. The humor not only entertains but also complements the game's challenging puzzles and character development, creating a nostalgic and enjoyable atmosphere for fans.
- “Goofy humor, original takes on otherwise tired tropes and mechanics, settings that are inspired by different cultures and their mythologies, and engaging stories.”
- “The series features some of the best storytelling, witty humor, and gameplay Sierra has ever created.”
- “My favorite part in most Sierra adventures is their tongue-in-cheek humor, and these games have tons of those moments which I absolutely love, always referencing that there is a player controlling the character while also throwing in references from other Sierra titles every now and then.”
gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
73%
10%
The gameplay of the series is characterized by a blend of adventure and RPG elements, offering a mix of exploration, puzzles, and character progression that emphasizes storytelling and creativity over fast-paced action. While earlier titles are praised for their innovative mechanics and engaging narratives, later entries have faced criticism for deviating from the original gameplay style and introducing frustrating mechanics. Overall, the series is noted for its replay value and nostalgic charm, despite some outdated interfaces and gameplay complexities.
- “The series blends adventure game mechanics with RPG elements, offering a mix of exploration, puzzles, combat, and character progression.”
- “Blending classic adventure gameplay with a class system and progression akin to classic RPGs allows QFG to offer nearly unprecedented replay value, where game puzzles vary depending on the class chosen at the beginning of the playthrough.”
- “They will satisfy traditional RPG players with their mechanics and straightforward approach, as well as more casual gamers, due to their wonderfully simple, point-and-click design.”
- “Sadly, it also introduces the frustrating mechanic of any helmet and armor heavier than enchanted leather impacting some attributes and the magic skill when it was never present before.”
- “Biggest issue for this game is the waiting for certain events to happen and then trigger yet another mechanic.”
- “Terrible 90's interface, lazy overworlds, and a general air of Sierra 'you could die at any moment' gameplay ruins some (usually) pretty graphics and an interesting blend of genres.”
music
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
52%
10%
The music in the series is widely praised for its emotional impact and nostalgic value, with many reviewers highlighting the memorable soundtracks that enhance the gaming experience. The transition from synthetic to live orchestration in the later games, particularly the fifth installment, is noted as a significant achievement, contributing to the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the beautiful graphics and engaging narratives, making it a cherished aspect of the games.
- “I was emotionally transported to the land of Tarna with its beautiful music, magical graphics, and awesome story.”
- “The pixel art and MIDI soundtracks evoke a sense of nostalgia, capturing a time when games relied more on imagination and ingenuity.”
- “The fifth game in the series has a live-recorded orchestrated soundtrack and was in fact the first video game to ever do so.”
- “The moment I saw it on Steam, I immediately heard the death music from the original game in my head and realized I had to get it again if only to enjoy playing it again.”
- “Despite graphics and game engines advancing so much in the past two decades, this game still holds its own on story, music, and humor.”
- “The soundtrack for these games is very atmospheric and filled with calming and memorable melodies.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The game offers exceptional replayability, allowing players to choose from different character classes—fighter, wizard, or thief—which significantly alters gameplay and puzzle-solving approaches. With multiple ways to complete tasks and a rich atmosphere, players can enjoy 2-3 times the replay value, making it a standout in the genre. Overall, the combination of class diversity and engaging challenges ensures that players will find plenty of reasons to revisit the game.
- “Each game allows players to choose between fighter, magic user, and thief classes, which changes how you approach challenges and adds replayability.”
- “Blending classic adventure gameplay with a class system and progression akin to classic RPGs allows QFG to offer nearly unprecedented replay value, where game puzzles vary depending on the class chosen at the beginning of the playthrough.”
- “Even better, they have a lot of replay value with different classes, the ability to multi-class (be several classes at once), and various ways to complete every task in each game depending on your class.”
- “It's a shame really, but the game is over 25 years old; I was just hoping they were playable.”
- “The story has some big differences depending on your character class, so there is replayability.”
- “Blending classic adventure gameplay with a class system and progression akin to classic RPGs allows QFG to offer nearly unprecedented (for a point-and-click game) replay value, where game puzzles vary depending on the class chosen at the beginning of the playthrough.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The stability of the Quest for Glory series is generally criticized, particularly for the earlier titles, with many users reporting significant bugs and glitches, especially in Quest for Glory 2 and 4. While fan-made patches have improved the experience for some games, issues persist, including freezing and crashes, making certain titles feel unfinished. Overall, players recommend using these patches or fan remakes to enhance stability and gameplay.
- “No glitches or game-breaking incidents (one crash thus far, which is amazing compared to back in the day).”
- “3 and 4 have very helpful and necessary fan patches from Ashlancer, and 5 has a patch called QFG5Patcher from Ubipred that help these run a bit more bug-free and friendly.”
- “Part 4 was a buggy mess when it was released, which was a shame since it easily has the most interesting theme out of all of the games.”
- “I cannot recommend this in its current form, because of how terribly buggy it is.”
- “It's full of glitches and problems, and overall feels unfinished.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews of the game's grinding aspect are mixed; while some players appreciate the ability to build and carry characters through the series, finding the grinding manageable and even enjoyable, others criticize it as tedious and unnecessary, particularly in comparison to more engaging gameplay elements like puzzle-solving. The grinding is often likened to that of classic RPGs, with some players feeling it detracts from the overall experience, especially when it becomes a chore rather than a fun mechanic.
- “Grinding is so incredibly tedious that it would ruin the game if it were more necessary to complete it.”
- “The game has the Morrowind/Skyrim style grinding: do something enough times, level up that skill, again, thought of in 1990.”
- “It's tedious, and is definitely the sore spot in the series, but every middle child has to be at least somewhat awkward, right?”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
Character development in the series is praised for its depth and relevance, showcasing a significant evolution from the first game. Reviewers highlight the intricate storytelling, cultural nuances, and the blend of gameplay mechanics that enhance character growth, making it a standout feature of the series. Overall, the combination of masterful storytelling and progressive character development elevates the gaming experience.
- “What you found throughout the series was amazing character development and even themes still relevant to society today.”
- “The incredible effort to try and stay true to the folklore but also the tiny details such as dialects, names and their meanings, and character development was phenomenal.”
- “The QFG series took the storytelling genre to a whole new level - character development and masterful storytelling, coupled with a great soundtrack.”
- “More character development than the first game and more pressure to solve problems in time; however, the timeline is generous and there is plenty of time to complete everything.”
- “QFG takes the very best of point-and-click (masterful storytelling, characters, clever puzzles) and early ARPGs (stat-based & free-form character development) then mashes them together into something amazing.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The atmosphere in the game series is widely praised for its engaging visual art style, humor, and immersive music, contributing to high replayability. However, some players found certain elements, like the "bones and corpses" theme in QFG4, off-putting, which affected their overall enjoyment. Despite this, the voiceovers and music continue to resonate positively with many players.
- “Lots of atmosphere, humor, and replayability.”
- “Amazing atmosphere and music throughout the entire series, and good replayability with different classes.”
- “The atmosphere, voice overs, and music still stand up today.”
- “I only played this one a bit and didn't care for the 'bones and corpses' atmosphere, so I never went back to it.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The optimization of the games is generally criticized for lacking support for modern display resolutions and not being updated for smooth performance on contemporary PCs. While some users report satisfactory performance during gameplay, the overall stability and endorsement of the Steam version remain questionable. Despite these issues, the engaging gameplay and voice acting are highlighted as redeeming qualities.
- “I am currently on part III and hope that everything continues to run smoothly as it has so far.”
- “Boot up each game quickly to make sure they run smoothly, and just dive in.”
- “The gameplay, however, still compelled me to review a game which I love dearly and believe deserves more attention.”
- “I cannot properly endorse the Steam version of this for performance or stability; the gameplay, however, still compelled me to review a game that I love dearly and believe deserves more attention.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game's beautiful music, magical graphics, and compelling storytelling, which culminates in a heartfelt finale. The balance of humor and emotional depth enhances the connection to memorable characters and locations, leading to moments of true heroism that resonate deeply with players.
- “I was emotionally transported to the land of Tarna with its beautiful music, magical graphics, and awesome story.”
- “This is the final conclusion in the series... I know, heartbreaking!”
- “Emotional connection to memorable locations and characters is slowly ramped up until the finale act of each game requires true heroism on the part of the characters.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling it exploits nostalgia rather than offering genuine value, suggesting it capitalizes on abandoned titles for profit.
- “This seems to have been put on Steam as a nostalgia gouge, or just a cash grab to try to profit from abandonware.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience.”
- “I can't believe how many microtransactions are crammed into this game; it ruins the overall enjoyment.”