Rygar

Developer: Tecmo

Publisher: Nintendo, Tecmo

Apr 17, 1987

Visual

8-Bit
pixel
side scroll
top down

Structure

ability gated
exploration
interconnected map
item gated
utility gated
boss gated
Has Hub
Semi-Linear

Combat

action

Features

leveling
no map

Themes

fantasy

Sub-Genre

proto-Metroidvania

Summary

An open-world action-adventure game for the Nintendo Entertainment System that features a barbarian warrior with a distinctive "diskarmor" weapon. It is distinct from the original 1986 Arcade game Rygar, which saw numerous home console ports.

Last updated August 12, 2026

Where to play

Nintendo
- NES

Resources

Links

IGDB

Maps

NESMaps.com

Metroid

Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo, Playtronic

1987

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- utility gated
- 8-Bit
- pixel
- side scroll
- boss gated
- action
- no map
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- Has Romhack
- non linear
- contact damage
- Ranged Combat
- gothic
- multiple endings
- Sci-Fi
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Radical Rescue

Developer / Publisher: Konami

1993

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- 8-Bit
- pixel
- side scroll
- boss gated
- action
- Semi-Linear
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- multiple characters
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo, Playtronic

1987

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- 8-Bit
- pixel
- side scroll
- boss gated
- fantasy
- leveling
- top down
- Semi-Linear
- no map
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- Has Romhack
- Has Overworld
- equipment
- RPG
- Zelda-like
Wonder Boy in Monster World

Developer: Escape, Westone

Publisher: Sega

1991

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- interconnected map
- pixel
- side scroll
- boss gated
- Has Hub
- action
- fantasy
- leveling
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- Has Romhack
- non linear
- equipment
- RPG
Cosmo Police Galivan

Developer: Nichibutsu

Publisher: Imagine Software, Nichibutsu

1985

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- interconnected map
- item gated
- 8-Bit
- pixel
- side scroll
- boss gated
- leveling
- Semi-Linear
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- equipment
- Sci-Fi
- RPG
The Battle of Olympus

Developer: Infinity

Publisher: Brøderbund Software, Imagineer, Nintendo

1988

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- 8-Bit
- pixel
- side scroll
- boss gated
- Has Hub
- action
- Semi-Linear
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- Has Romhack
- Has Overworld
- equipment
Metroid II: Return of Samus

Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo, Playtronic

1991

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- 8-Bit
- pixel
- side scroll
- action
- Semi-Linear
- no map
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- Has Romhack
- contact damage
- Ranged Combat
- isolation
- multiple endings
- Sci-Fi
Tritorn II: Road of Darkness

Developer / Publisher: XAIN Soft

1988

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- utility gated
- pixel
- side scroll
- Has Hub
- fantasy
- leveling
- Semi-Linear
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- class system
- equipment
- medieval
- RPG
- discrete levels
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap

Developer / Publisher: Sega

1989

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- pixel
- side scroll
- boss gated
- Has Hub
- action
- fantasy
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- Has Romhack
- non linear
- equipment
- multiple characters
- RPG
Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns

Developer: Activision

Publisher: Activision, Tandy

1984

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- 8-Bit
- pixel
- side scroll
- action
- Semi-Linear
- proto-Metroidvania
Heart Lock: A Cozy Intro To Spellcraft

Developer / Publisher: Lunar Penguin Media LLC

2021

82%

Positive

17 reviews

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- utility gated
- side scroll
- Has Hub
- fantasy
- no map
- Differences
- non linear
- relaxed
The Scheme

Developer: Onion Software

1988

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- item gated
- 8-Bit
- pixel
- side scroll
- action
- fantasy
- leveling
- proto-Metroidvania
- Differences
- non linear
- Sci-Fi
- RPG

Rygar

Summary

Where to play

Resources

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