Below the Root

Developer: Dale Disharoon, Inc.

Publisher: Windham Classics Corporation

Dec 31, 1984

Visual

pixel
side scroll

Structure

interconnected map
Semi-Linear

Combat

no combat
stamina system
timer

Features

multiple characters
no map

Themes

fantasy

Sub-Genre

puzzle heavy
proto-Metroidvania

Summary

Below the Root is an adventure game released in 1984 by Windham Classics, a division of Spinnaker Software. It is titled after Below the Root, the first of the Green Sky Trilogy of novels, written by Zilpha Keatley Snyder and published between 1975 and 1977. It is an early example of what later became known as the Metroidvania genre.

Last updated August 12, 2026

Where to play

- Windows
Retro / Etc.
- Commodore 64

Resources

Links

IGDB

Maps

VGMaps

Other

MyAbandonware

Romancia: Dragon Slayer Jr.

Developer: Nihon Falcom

Publisher: Nihon Falcom, Tokyo Shoseki Co., Ltd.

1986

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- pixel
- side scroll
- timer
- fantasy
- puzzle heavy
- Semi-Linear
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- remake
- exploration
- 8-Bit
- action
- medieval
- discrete levels
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse

Developer: Konami

Publisher: Konami, Palcom, Playtronic

1990

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- pixel
- side scroll
- timer
- fantasy
- multiple characters
- Semi-Linear
- no map
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- 8-Bit
- boss gated
- action
- contact damage
- Ranged Combat
- equipment
- gothic
- medieval
- multiple endings
- discrete levels
Castlequest

Developer / Publisher: ASCII Corporation

1985

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- pixel
- side scroll
- fantasy
- puzzle heavy
- Semi-Linear
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- Has Romhack
- exploration
- item gated
- 8-Bit
- medieval
Zillion

Developer: Sega

Publisher: Sega, Tec Toy

1987

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- pixel
- side scroll
- multiple characters
- puzzle heavy
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- Has Romhack
- exploration
- non linear
- 8-Bit
- equipment
- Sci-Fi
A Purrtato Tail: By the Light of the Elderstar

Developer: Drunk Robot Games, RedVonix

Publisher: Drunk Robot Games

To be announced

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- side scroll
- no combat
- fantasy
- multiple characters
- puzzle heavy
- Semi-Linear
- Differences
- exploration
- hand drawn
- cat
Montezuma's Revenge featuring Panama Joe

Developer: Parker Brothers

Publisher: BCI Software, Parker Brothers, Sinclair Research

1984

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- pixel
- side scroll
- puzzle heavy
- Semi-Linear
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- exploration
- item gated
- 8-Bit
- action
- contact damage
- equipment
Vampire Killer

Developer / Publisher: Konami

1986

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- pixel
- side scroll
- timer
- fantasy
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- exploration
- action
- gothic
- horror
Spiderbot

Developer: Addictive Games Ltd

Publisher: Addictive Games Ltd, Epyx

1988

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- pixel
- side scroll
- puzzle heavy
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- ability gated
- exploration
- action
- Sci-Fi
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue

Developer / Publisher: Konami

1993

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- pixel
- side scroll
- multiple characters
- Semi-Linear
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- ability gated
- exploration
- item gated
- 8-Bit
- boss gated
- action
Rad Warrior

Developer: Palace Software

Publisher: Epyx, Erbe Software, Palace Software

1988

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- pixel
- side scroll
- puzzle heavy
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- exploration
- item gated
- action
- post apocalyptic
The Adventures of Captain Comic

Developer / Publisher: Michael Denio

1988

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- pixel
- side scroll
- puzzle heavy
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- exploration
- item gated
- non linear
- action
- Sci-Fi
QuackShot Starring Donald Duck

Developer: Ltd., Sega

Publisher: Ltd., Sega, Tec Toy

1991

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- pixel
- side scroll
- puzzle heavy
- Semi-Linear
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- exploration
- item gated
- boss gated
- Has Overworld
- action

Below the Root

Summary

Where to play

Resources

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