Drakkhen

Drakkhen
Developer(s)Infogrames
Kemco-Seika (SNES)
Publisher(s)Infogrames
Platform(s)Amiga, Atari ST, DOS, SNES, PC-98, FM Towns Marty, Sharp X68000
Release1989, 1990, 1991
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Drakkhen is an early-3D role-playing video game, initially developed and published by Infogrames for the Amiga and Atari ST, and subsequently ported to several other platforms, including MS-DOS and Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It was a very early game in the North American SNES library, and as such, received almost universal coverage in previews of the then-upcoming SNES in gaming magazines of 1990 and early 1991.

Drakkhen was notable for being among the first role-playing games to feature a three-dimensional playing field and for being an early example of the real-time tactics genre. It did not employ a fully 3D game engine, instead implementing a hybrid approach using vectors and bitmapped character-scaling algorithms. Drakkhen features an animated day-night cycle, and the ability to wander freely about the game world, both rarities for a game of its era. The game spawned a sequel, Dragon View, for the SNES.