Games like Darkened Denizens: A Grimdark Monster Compendium for OSR RPGs
Looking for games like Darkened Denizens: A Grimdark Monster Compendium for OSR RPGs? Here are top role playing recommendations with a fantasy and dark fantasy focus, selected from player-similarity data — start with Darkened Treasures: A Tome of 170+ Grimdark Magic Items for TTRPGs, Castle Oldskull Module 1: The Classic Dungeon Design Guide I or Castle Oldskull Module 10: Oldskull Dungeon Bestiary.
Unearth a trove of power that comes with a price. Darkened Treasures is an essential supplement for Game Masters and players who crave magic items steeped in mystery, peril, and gothic dread. This meticulously crafted collection is designed for dark fantasy campaigns and systems like Shadowdark, Old-School Essentials, Mörk Borg, and Dungeons & Dragons. Inside this grimoire, you will discover: … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Darkened Treasures: A Tome of 170+ Grimdark Magic Items for TTRPGs.
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Hello everyone, Castle Oldskull is a well-regarded RPG supplement series, designed to sync with Gygaxian, old school, and Wizardly tabletop role-playing games. If you play tabletop, you’ll sync in quickly. If you’re a retro videogamer, you might see influences from Archon, The Bard’s Tale, Dragon’s Lair, Gauntlet, Mail Order Monsters, Phantasie, Telengard, Temple of Apshai, Tunnels of Doom, Ultima… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Castle Oldskull Module 1: The Classic Dungeon Design Guide I.
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Hello everyone, Castle Oldskull is a well-regarded RPG supplement series, designed to sync with Gygaxian, old school, and Wizardly tabletop role-playing games. If you play tabletop, you’ll sync in quickly. If you’re a retro videogamer, you might see influences from Archon, The Bard’s Tale, Dragon’s Lair, Gauntlet, Mail Order Monsters, Phantasie, Telengard, Temple of Apshai, Tunnels of Doom, Ultima… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Castle Oldskull Module 10: Oldskull Dungeon Bestiary.
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Hello everyone, Castle Oldskull is a well-regarded RPG supplement series, designed to sync with Gygaxian, old school, and Wizardly tabletop role-playing games. If you play tabletop, you’ll sync in quickly. If you’re a retro videogamer, you might see influences from Archon, The Bard’s Tale, Dragon’s Lair, Gauntlet, Mail Order Monsters, Phantasie, Telengard, Temple of Apshai, Tunnels of Doom, Ultima… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Castle Oldskull Module 9: Dungeon Delver Enhancer.
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Hello everyone, Castle Oldskull is a well-regarded RPG supplement series, designed to sync with Gygaxian, old school, and Wizardly tabletop role-playing games. If you play tabletop, you’ll sync in quickly. If you’re a retro videogamer, you might see influences from Archon, The Bard’s Tale, Dragon’s Lair, Gauntlet, Mail Order Monsters, Phantasie, Telengard, Temple of Apshai, Tunnels of Doom, Ultima… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Castle Oldskull Module 7: Oldskull Monster Generator.
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Hello everyone, Castle Oldskull is a well-regarded RPG supplement series, designed to sync with Gygaxian, old school, and Wizardly tabletop role-playing games. If you play tabletop, you’ll sync in quickly. If you’re a retro videogamer, you might see influences from Archon, The Bard’s Tale, Dragon’s Lair, Gauntlet, Mail Order Monsters, Phantasie, Telengard, Temple of Apshai, Tunnels of Doom, Ultima… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Castle Oldskull Module 11: City State Encounters.
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Inspiration: A Knight's Fury is a classic first-person dungeon crawler inspired by the old-school RPGs and dungeon adventures of the 80s and 90s. It is built for players who miss the feeling of stepping into a dark hallway, opening a door, finding treasure, and not knowing what waits around the next corner. The goal is to capture that nostalgic sense of danger and discovery, but in a faster, more… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to A Knight's Fury - The Vaults of Venom.
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Welcome to Diabolical Designs, your ultimate guide to unleashing the dark power of demons and devils in your 5E campaigns. This manual takes you deep into the fiery Hell and chaotic Abyssal Realms, providing the tools and inspiration you need to craft unforgettable stories of infernal intrigue, destruction, and forbidden power. What's Inside? The Lower Realms Unveiled: Journey through the H… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Diabolical Designs: Demons and Devils for 5E.
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Dive into the shadows of Victorian dark fantasy with the Nocturnal Horrors: A Bestiary of the Damned. This 44-page digital PDF features 40 unique creatures, each meticulously crafted with detailed stat blocks, rich lore, thematic abilities, and evocative descriptions. Whether you're a Dungeon Master, player, or storyteller, this compendium will bring a gothic and haunting flair to your next 5e adv… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Nocturnal Horrors: Bestiary of the Damned (Digital PDF).
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- 58%Game Brain Score58% User Score 9 reviews
Knights of Lazarus presents a puzzle, unsolvable the first time through. The crew must discover the best tactics to combat specialized enemies, roleplay through encounters, and choose whether to retreat or push their luck through the dungeon, The Ship Canterbury. Will your crew plan a heist? Or take the oath to join the Knights themselves? Whatever the choice the crew will discover the secrets of… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Knights of Lazarus.
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Hello everyone, Castle Oldskull is a well-regarded RPG supplement series, designed to sync with Gygaxian, old school, and Wizardly tabletop role-playing games. If you play tabletop, you’ll sync in quickly. If you’re a retro videogamer, you might see influences from Archon, The Bard’s Tale, Dragon’s Lair, Gauntlet, Mail Order Monsters, Phantasie, Telengard, Temple of Apshai, Tunnels of Doom, Ultima… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Castle Oldskull Module 5: Oldskull Adventure Generator.
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- 93%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, music93% User Score 212 reviews
Enter the Monsters' Den, a place of endless adventure, battle and reward! Lead your party of four heroes through each level of the ever-changing dungeon, fighting in turn-based battles and hunting for that elusive rare loot. The web-game classic comes to Steam! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Monsters' Den: Book of Dread.
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- 51%Game Brain Score51% User Score 2 reviews
(Note - the above download is a demo and not the full game) Introduction Code of the Savage is a tale of vengeance and survival. After escaping a slave ship, you have found yourself in chains and washed ashore on the island Kingdom of Daneth. You must find your way in a brutal and unforgiving world where nothing is black and white. Deep and disturbing quandaries underpin the driving force of th… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Code of The Savage RPG.
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Hello everyone, Castle Oldskull is a well-regarded RPG supplement series, designed to sync with Gygaxian, old school, and Wizardly tabletop role-playing games. If you play tabletop, you’ll sync in quickly. If you’re a retro videogamer, you might see influences from Archon, The Bard’s Tale, Dragon’s Lair, Gauntlet, Mail Order Monsters, Phantasie, Telengard, Temple of Apshai, Tunnels of Doom, Ultima… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Castle Oldskull Module 4: Game World Generator Deluxe Edition.
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- 89%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding89% User Score 137 reviews
Trapped in the Great Abyss!You are an old dreamer who, through unforeseen circumstances, has found himself trapped in the Great Abyss, the vast underworld beneath the Dreamlands. Use the resources at your disposal, weapons, armor, supplies, and any alliances you have with the locals, to explore and learn the secrets of the underworld, in order to make your way back to the upper Dreamlands, or bac… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Cyclopean: The Great Abyss.
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- 95%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, music95% User Score 176 reviews
Return to the first fantasy role-playing epic set in the legendary Dragonlance game world of Krynn. This immortal pack includes Champions of Krynn, Death Knights of Krynn and The Dark Queen of Krynn. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dungeons & Dragons: Krynn Series.
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- 79%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding79% User Score 515 reviews
A powerful sorcerer is on the cusp of dominating the land. A group of heroes bands together and seals him away inside a magical tome. Now as the sorcerer you must escape from this ancient prison and find a way to regain your magical powers using your wits and an array of summonable creatures to aid you. There may be more powerful forces at work as you navigate the dungeons and fight the heroes sen… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Paper Sorcerer.
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MY FIRST RPGInspired by classic 1980s and 90s JRPGs, this epic quest challenges you to save the world from a rising ancient darkness. Take control of Imi, a young elf mage, and recruit powerful allies across a world filled with wonder, danger, and a touch of 90s humor. FEATURES 36 Playable Heroes: Discover and recruit allies from all walks of life. No gold required—simply kindly ask them to joi… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Slayer Mage: My First RPG.
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- 97%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:story, stability97% User Score 73 reviews
A RETURN TO THE GOLDEN AGE ...... of first-person dungeon crawling. Lead a party of up to four into the haunted depths of Rekestt. Grid-based exploration in the tradition of Dungeon Master, Eye of the Beholder, and Might & Magic, paired with tactical turn-based combat where positioning, timing, and the terrain around you can mean the difference between glory and death. Between expeditions, re… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Dverghold.
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- 91%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, monetization91% User Score 5,624 reviews
TaleSpire is a beautiful way to play pen and paper RPGs online. Bring your stories to life and embark upon campaigns together with your friends, regardless of where you are in the world. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to TaleSpire.
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- 79%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:replayability, atmosphereMost mentioned negative aspects:story, gameplay79% User Score 76 reviews
The third installment in the classic dungeon-crawling RPG series comes to Steam, remastered and better than ever! Build your roster of heroes as you venture into procedurally-generated dungeons, fight monsters in turn-based battles, and find powerful new equipment. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Monsters' Den Chronicles.
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- 76%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, replayabilityMost mentioned negative aspects:music, story89% User Score 36 reviews
This Cthulhu Mythos RPG is a retro styled horror RPG containing modern elements. What terrors await you in the abandoned mansion...? Create the protagonist "YOU" to your liking. Select your companions and unravel the mystery of the mansion. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Cthulhu Mythos RPG -The Sleeping Girl of the Miasma Sea-.
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Journey back to the glory days of fantasy role-playing. The cave has claimed many… will it claim you? Cave of Darkness is a retro-style, pixel-based action RPG that blends classic dungeon crawling, character progression, and an evolving story. Inspired by early role-playing games, vintage fantasy films, and the spirit of adventure, this game invites you to descend into a cursed cavern — and retur… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Cave Of Darkness.
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Short adventures and persistent random encounters to shake up the streets of your city! Tiny Weird Adventures: Urban Edition is a collection of short Tier 1 adventures to be used in conjunction with the Fifth Edition of the most popular fantasy RPG of recent times, easily adaptable to your medieval fantasy game of choice. You will get 6 urban-themed adventures to enhance your game with stories o… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tiny Weird Adventures: Urban Edition.
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Xanadu A Weird-Fantasy Roleplaying Adventure for use with Old-School Essentials, for Character Levels 2–3. Welcome to the cult temple of Xanadu, an atmospheric temple-crawl for use with OSE, or similar old-school RPGs. A cult in the temple of Xanadu has opened a portal to another dimension. It was activated by adjusting the hands of three pendulum clocks in a particular sequence. Once the veil of… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Xanadu.
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Realm's End: The City of Keys - Campaign Setting Where Fortunes Are Made on the Turn of a Card and Guild Politics Matter More Than Royal Decree Built atop the cursed ruins of an ancient dwarven keep, Realm's End sprawls across Lonely Hill where the Lagithil River carved the stone in two. This is a city of equal decadence and squalor—a smoke-choked metropolis where the Duke is a puppet, … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to X1_Realm's End, the City of Keys.
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- 50%Game Brain Score50% User Score 1 reviews
Pulp Arcana is a game about slaying monsters, besieging castles, slinging spells, and realizing your favorite fantasy adventures. You have the tools to build the hero of your dreams and engage in tactical, kinetic action without sacrificing aesthetics or storytelling. This is 5e-compatible action fantasy that harmonizes rewarding combat mechanics with contemporary narrative. We believe tha… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Pulp Arcana: Core Rulebook + Starter Adventure.
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Hello everyone, Castle Oldskull is a well-regarded RPG supplement series, designed to sync with Gygaxian, old school, and Wizardly tabletop role-playing games. If you play tabletop, you’ll sync in quickly. If you’re a retro videogamer, you might see influences from Archon, The Bard’s Tale, Dragon’s Lair, Gauntlet, Mail Order Monsters, Phantasie, Telengard, Temple of Apshai, Tunnels of Doom, Ultima… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Castle Oldskull Module 15: Warriors.
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- 98%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding98% User Score 50 reviews
Meet the Letalis, fearless warriors forged for the arena, where every battle is fought for “Glory or Death". As the Manager, you must lead your fighters to greatness and claim the title of Caesar. Explore a world filled with secrets, challenges and forgotten legends. Features • Recruit over 1,000 unique Letalis. • Catch and Fuse Letalis to create powerful new variants. • Explore an immense … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Letalis.
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A turn-based RPG where every battle is a puzzle, and every choice carries weight. Guide Paul Kimbel, a troubled author trapped between life and death, through a haunting world built from his own imagination. No grinding—just pure strategy, exploration, and high-stakes combat. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Second Chances.
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- 60%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, humorMost mentioned negative aspects:graphics, gameplay100% User Score 11 reviews
Wayland is sent from the west to try and help the town of Vormon with their goblin problem. Before he knows it he is wrapped up in a much larger conflict. A powerful wizard called the Primagen is attempting to piece together ancient scrolls to summon a demon into the world. Join Wayland in his journey to stop the Primagen, before the world is doomed. Demon Scrolls is not attempting t… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Demon Scrolls.
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- 88%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphicsMost mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding88% User Score 2,034 reviews
Low Magic Age is a fantasy RPG that focused on turn-based party-based tactical combat. Field of View, Fog of War, Cover, Zone of Control, Charging and Flanking, various and abundant tactical elements are implemented in the game rules that evolved from Wizards of the Coast's Open Game License (OGL). Inherited from classic game rules: Evolved from historic pen-and-paper game rules, plus well design… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Low Magic Age.
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- 98%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:musicMost mentioned negative aspects:story, gameplay98% User Score 55 reviews
Ringlorn Saga is an adventure RPG inspired by the Japanese PC classics. Prince Gerhard the Brave embarks on a journey to the neighboring land to investigate the appearance of a magic barrier and his father's disappearance. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Ringlorn Saga.
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- 94%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability96% User Score 10,360 reviewsCritic Score 89%2 reviews
Wildermyth is a character-driven, procedurally-generated tactical RPG. Lead a band of unique heroes as they grow from a reluctant farmers into legendary fighters. Battle threats lurking in the Yondering Lands and discover secrets that the land has to offer. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Wildermyth.
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- 92%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability92% User Score 368 reviews
Engage in tactical grid-based combat in this classic-styled fantasy CRPG. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Caves of Lore.
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- 73%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:replayability, music73% User Score 238 reviews
This new adaptation of the Talisman board game focuses on solo play as you adventure through many epic quests using the full rule-set of the Revised 4th Edition. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Talisman: Origins.
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- 84%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability84% User Score 1,269 reviews
ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery) is one of the most successful roguelike games ever created, boasting a brilliant mix of story, RPG, exploration, and intensely strategic and flexible combat. The Steam version adds various Deluxe features like achievements, difficulty level customization and various play modes (e.g. a story mode allowing to save and restore games, a weekly challenge game, an explo… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to ADOM (Ancient Domains Of Mystery).
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- 90%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability90% User Score 2,148 reviews
Evil stirs beneath the Spine of the World. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Icewind Dale.
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- 93%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability95% User Score 5,758 reviewsCritic Score 88%3 reviews
Roadwarden is an illustrated text-based RPG that uses isometric pixel art and combines mechanics borrowed from RPGs, Visual Novels, adventure games and interactive fiction. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Roadwarden.
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- 94%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, storyMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability94% User Score 2,538 reviews
Monster-catching, dungeon-crawling RPG with a ridiculous amount of depth. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Siralim Ultimate.
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- 78%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:replayabilityMost mentioned negative aspects:story, gameplay86% User Score 42 reviews
The Curse of Feldar Vale is set on the world of Qaedon, a thousand years before the Great Cataclysm. Known as the Age of Chaos, humans, greenskins, and all manner of monsters fight to survive these troubled times. The once peaceful Vale is now beset with evil creatures and dark deeds as an ancient curse is unleashed on the land. Build a party of 4-6 characters to adventure across the vale to seek… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Curse of Feldar Vale.
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- 90%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplayMost mentioned negative aspects:graphics, music90% User Score 340 reviews
Deep in the twilight of the Black Forest, you and your companions crouch before the robber-knight's tower. Hans, the alchemist, places his mysterious potion by the door. Ebhard the friar implores Saint Dunstan to bless your weapons and armor. And you and Gretchen grip naked long swords, praying your plate mail won't squeak. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Darklands.
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- 62%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:story, musicMost mentioned negative aspects:stability, gameplay62% User Score 134 reviews
Gladiator, it is time to go underground! For the first time ever, you shall step beyond the arena sands and into the dark dungeons of the world.Swords and Sandals V Redux, the latest thrilling installment in the world's greatest gladiator game series, has arrived! A unique mix of turn based gladiatorial arena combat and roguelike dungeon crawling.This is by far the largest and greatest Swords and … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Swords and Sandals 5 Redux.
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- 88%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:graphics, storyMost mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, music88% User Score 152 reviews
A turn-based, party-oriented and isometric RPG from Heroic Fantasy Games based on Dungeons & Dragons. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Knights of the Chalice.
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- 94%Game Brain ScoreMost mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, storyMost mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization94% User Score 761 reviews
Capture over 700 different monsters in this retro-style, monster capture RPG! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Siralim 3.
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ASHES OF TORMENTIn this journey into the darkest corners of the mind, silence will be your greatest enemy... Ashes of Torment offers an experience where you will feel pure psychological horror and a heavy atmosphere to your core. In this nightmare—a product of a meticulous two-year solo development process under Frostfire Entertainment—you will face not only shadows but the whispers of your own m… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Ashes of Torment.
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Brutal combat. Open-world freedom. A world in mayhem. You awaken from a nightmare and Midgard is in chaos. Your simple way of life on your farm has been cut short and now you must fight to protect the ones you love, avenge the ones you lost and drive back the evil that plagues the lands of Midgard. Every decision matters. Every swing costs stamina. Every mistake hurts. Leveling, skill un… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tales of Eden: Midgard.
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Celebrating over 50 years of fantasy adventure role-playing in the Gygaxian and Arnesonian tradition, the OLDSKULL GRAND BESTIARY: IMPERIOUS OVERLORD’S CODEX unifies the ultimate fantasy game’s Advanced, Basic, and Expert monster systems into a single concordance, perfect for your Advanced, B/X, Original, Shadow, Old School, or Fifth Edition campaign. The Codex has been written for the clas… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to OLDSKULL GRAND BESTIARY - Imperious Overlord's Codex.
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In a World of Heroic Fantasy…In a heroic fantasy universe inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, take control of one of six prisoners with a troubled past and intertwined destinies. Each has their own reasons for being imprisoned, but all share a common goal: freedom. Their only chance at redemption? Delving into the depths of an ancient, mysterious, and perilous mine, famed for its hidden treasure… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Mine of despair.
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A sorcerer, a tyrant of a remote island, has vanished without a trace! Can you brave the dungeons and halls under his tower to break in and earn riches and fame? Explore an ancient iron age world and encounter beasts, creatures of Greek myth, denizens of the nine hells and aberrations from the voids between the stars as you adventure in this traditional roguelike game. With pixel art graphics an… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Eye of Khaos.
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