Retro cRPG Passageway of the Ancients bringing back the 90s in 2024

Classic PC RPG fans might want to keep an eye on this one, as Passageway of the Ancients brings back retro-roleplaying in early ’24.

Magic missile

Developed by a three man studio, Passageway Games, Passageway of the Ancients is one seriously retro RPG. If you played role-players on the PC any time in the late 80s or especially the 90s, the first trailer is likely to strike a few chords for you. It definitely did for us.

“Passageway of the Ancients is a priceless opportunity: Two guys in their 70s get to fulfill a lifelong dream with a studio name that says it all: passageway. Beyond the intricacies of magic and medieval combat, games are all about storytelling. We intend to deliver a high-quality, exciting isometric RPG with a classic fantasy feel drawing from Tolkien and Moorecock – with roots in ‘90s RPGs and all the creature comforts of modern PC games. If you’re into that sort of thing, you’ll love Passageway of the Ancients.”

Jon Grierson (Creative & Technical Director, Passageway Games)

Taking place in a high-fantasy world, Passageway of the Ancients is set on the last magical planet in the universe, in the city of Ithgar. It’s there that, as dwarf, elf, or human, players will attempt to uncover the truth behind their parents’ murders.

Actually though, there’s a bit more to that choice of fantasy race, that plays a big part in the narrative. Passageway of the Ancients’ main character is actually a member of a persecuted race called Dragonkindt, which shakes out to mean they’re shapeshifters. And in an innovative twist, players will effectively have to manage both their true form and the face they show to society.

In Passageway of the Ancients, you’ll need to not only survive ever deadlier skirmishes but also manage your party, develop and customize your character, pick locks, and solve Runic puzzles. The game’s innovative battle system employs both strategy and real-time combat – taking inspiration from historical weapons and tactics. Furthermore, the player has dual personas – a hidden “Dragonkindt,” and a public-facing race of their choosing (Dwarf, Elf, Human) – which must be leveled up at the same time.

Passageway Games press release

Passageway of the Ancients will feature a cavalcade of items to make use of, as well as the aforementioned two personas per character, and plenty of “complex” decisions. It’s still a ways off, but you can look forward to this adventure dawning on the PC some time in quarter 1 of 2024.