Some of you may not be old enough to remember the last century, but back then, people (humans, not AI), cobbled together complex and compelling games that took players on grand adventures to another time. Now with Passageway of the Ancients, you too can traverse time and lost dimensions to explore the way the world gamed in the primitive but glorious decade of the 1990s.
Passageway Games, an indie game studio consisting of 4 creators in Abilene, Texas, have crafted a computer RPG dripping in nostalgia for a time when graphics cards that cost more than cars weren’t required and an always-on internet connection was unheard of.
“Releasing a game like Passageway of the Ancients in 2024 feels like going back in time – back to the days of 40+ hour campaigns with no microtransactions … just a straightforward, polished experience you can enjoy free of interruptions. We sincerely hope gamers give our little CRPG a chance. It’s packed full of everything we love about the classics: a feeling of adventure, plenty of danger, interesting characters, and challenging scenarios. It’s the game I’ve been dreaming about making for decades.”
– Jon Grierson (Creative & Technical Director, Passageway Games)
Set on the world of Aieryon, the galaxy’s only remaining magical planet, you and your party of adventurers get to explore the city of Ithgar to solve a horrific mystery, fighting monsters, gathering clues, and solving puzzles to set things right. Taking advantage of both turn-based and real-time combat, the game is more than a nostalgic throwback, throwing surprises at players at every turn.
Here’s just a few key features from the official press release:
- Engage in Turn-Based & Real-Time Combat: Use both turn-based and real-time elements – drawing on real medieval weapons and tactics.
- Unleash Your Dragonkindt Nature: Develop your character’s two personas simultaneously – a hidden “Dragonkindt,” and a public-facing race of your choosing.
- Sharpen Your Wits & Make Strategic Choices: Manage battle spoils, solve puzzles, adjust the frequency of special activities, choose interactions, and gather clues.
- Wield Powerful Magical Items: Carefully equip items affecting intelligence, will, and other character attributes.
- Customize Your Character: Choose your character’s alternate persona, appearance, and gender as Dwarf, Elf or Human.
Passageway of the Ancients launches today on Steam, available at an introductory price of $14.99. After October 30th, it goes up to its regular retail price of $19.99. The game is compatible with Windows and Linux (native port).