Greetings,

I'm looking for the most raw and primitive rpgs you can think of and, if possible, in Akalabeth style: linear hack and slash action with a single character in charge. I realize many modern games would fall into this category but I'm looking specifically for older titles.

Thank you for your help.

While not linear, Ultima 1 and 2 would otherwise qualify.

Dragon Quest 1 would as well; the game isn't linear but your exploration is still limited by the strength of the monsters relative to your level. I prefer the original version (Famicom or NES) because enemies give significantly more XP in the remakes, significantly shortening the game.

There are other RPGs that feel raw but don't meet your criteria, like the original SaGa (Final Fantasy Legend).

(Worth noting: The *only* game listed in this post where experience points make you stronger is DQ1; U1 and U2 have XP based leveling, but you don't get anything from it, and SaGa 1's leveling systems are rather unusual (and nothing like later SaGa games, as your actions do not determine stat growth here).)

Thanks a lot! I'm done with Ultima 1 and I believe I'm getting closer to finish the 2nd. I had Dragon Quest 1 on my list but I missed Final Fantasy Legend so I'll give it a try for sure.

I did not know about Dungeons of Daggorath! It looks exactly what I was looking for. Many thanks!