Role-playing games have been part of home computing — and indeed mainframe computing — pretty much from the very beginning.

The fact that there’s considerable crossover between “nerds who like computers” and “nerds who enjoy playing Dungeons & Dragons” certainly helps, of course. But adapting a tabletop, social experience for solo home computer play carries its own challenges… and its own possibilities.

Gateway to Apshai is what happens when you blend the conventions of arcade games with those of tabletop roleplaying. And the result is an incredibly addictive, compelling game that I still love, love, love playing today.

Find a full archive of all the Atari A to Z videos on the official site.