Party-based Computer Role-playing Games
In cRPG History, party-based cRPGs have been commonplace due to genre focus on the idea of adventuring as Fellowships. By party-based, I mean cRPGs that allow us to adventure with a party or squad, and cRPGs in which parties or squads are integral to tactics and other modes of gameplay.
While it is usually preferred, full party control is not required for cRPGs to qualify as party-based. Note that experts can solo party-based cRPGs (cf. IWD2 solo, BG2 Solo), but that doesn't mean they're not party-based at their core.
In mentioning Fellowship above, I am of course referencing the first book in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (FotR: 1954). Tolkien specifically referred to the goal of destroying the One Ring as a quest, and that is exactly what the Fellowship sets out to do at Elrond's behest.
Loosely speaking, the Fellowship is a party of adventurers consisting of Wizard, Ranger, Paladin (who Falls), Dwarven Fighter and Elven Archer, with Hobbits being basically synonymous with Rogues. In addition, the Fellowship sing songs like Bards to lift their spirits and often share Lore in context. When the Ring sets out from Rivendell and is taken through the wilderness and into Moria (a dungeon crawl), that segment of storytelling can evoke a template for the traditional party-based Dungeons & Dragons adventure.
List of the Best Party-based cRPGs
Ranked in order of their greatness, the best party-based cRPGs are as follows:
- Jagged Alliance 2 Windows PC Sir Tech 1999
- X-COM UFO Defense IBM PC MS-DOS Mythos Games 1994
- Jagged Alliance IBM PC MS-DOS MadLab 1995
- Baldur's Gate Windows PC BioWare 1998
- Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura Windows PC Troika 2001
- Icewind Dale Windows PC Black Isle Studios 2000
- Icewind Dale 2 Windows PC Black Isle Studios 2002
- Temple of Elemental Evil Windows PC Troika 2003
- Silent Storm Windows PC Nival Interactive 2003
- Dungeon Rats Windows PC Iron Tower Studios 2016
- Storm of Zehir Windows PC Obsidian 2008
- Planescape: Torment Windows PC Black Isle Studios 1999
- Master of Magic IBM PC MS-DOS Simtex 1994
- Betrayal at Krondor IBM PC MS-DOS Dynamix 1993
- Dark Sun: Shattered Lands IBM PC MS-DOS SSI 1993
- Darklands IBM PC MS-DOS MPS Labs 1992
Other Party-based cRPGs
Alphabetical listing of other party-based cRPGs:
- Black Crypt Amiga 1992 Raven Software
- Bloodwych Amiga 1989 Anthony Taglione
- BloodNet IBM PC MS-DOS 1993 MicroProse
- Buck Rogers PC Games IBM PC MS-DOS 1990 & 1992 SSI
- Captive Amiga Tony Crowther 1990
- Chaos Strikes Back Atari ST FTL 1989
- DragonLance PC Games IBM PC MS-DOS 1990-92 SSI
- Drakkhen IBM PC MS-DOS 1989 Infogrames
- Dungeon Master Atari ST FTL 1987
- Eye of the Beholder IBM PC MS-DOS 1991 Westwood Associates
- Fate Gates of Dawn Amiga 1991 reLINE Software Olaf Patzenhauer
- Hired Guns IBM PC MS-DOS 1993 Visual Sciences
- Ishar: Legend of the Fortress IBM PC MS-DOS 1992 Silmarils
- Ishar 2: Messengers of Doom IBM PC MS-DOS 1993 Silmarils
- Ishar 3: Seven Gates of Infinity IBM PC MS-DOS 1994 Silmarils
- Lands of Lore IBM PC MS-DOS 1993 Westwood Studios
- Laser Squad IBM PC MS-DOS Mythos Games 1992
- Legend of Faerghail Olaf Barthel 1990
- Liberation Amiga Tony Crowther 1993
- Mount and Blade Warband Taleworlds 2008
- Perihelion: The Prophecy Amiga 1993 Morbid Visions Gyula Szentirmay
- Pool of Radiance IBM PC MS-DOS 1988 Strategic Simulations
- Ravenloft PC Games IBM PC MS-DOS 1994-95 DreamForge Intertainment
- Space Hulk IBM PC MS-DOS 1993 Electronic Arts Nick Wilson
- Spelljammer IBM PC MS-DOS 1992 Cybertech Systems
- Syndicate IBM PC MS-DOS 1993 Bullfrog Productions Sean Cooper
- Warlords IBM PC MS-DOS 1989 Strategic Studies Group Steve Fawkner
- Warlords 2 IBM PC MS-DOS 1993 Strategic Studies Group Steve Fawkner
Companion Reactivity in Party Based cRPGs
By "companion-based interaction and cRPG reactivity", I mean companions reacting to our decisions, other NPCs, the story and the gameworld, and vice versa. MotB and PS:T are most notable in this respect because in addition they impact our stats, itemization and quest resolutions in non-trivial ways.
MotB and PS:T companions are part of the story, the world and its lore. While that might sound cool, I think the concept is overrated and over-baked; it's a slippery slope to the cRPG devolving into a relationship sim, which I despise. I much prefer the middle-ground of Baldur's Gate, Jagged Alliance 2 and Arcanum. cRPGs are about adventuring, not standing around talking with companions about history, philosophy and their personal and political issues.
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