Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar is a 1985 RPG developed by Origin Systems and designed by Richard Garriott. Breaking from the save-the-world formula, its goal is not to defeat a villain but to become the Avatar, a moral exemplar embodying eight virtues such as honesty, compassion, honour, and valour, which the player raises through their actions.
Players explore the vast land of Britannia from a top-down view, assembling a party, solving the recurring tarot-like questions posed at the start, and having their choices, from answering NPCs honestly to sparing fleeing enemies and giving to beggars, judged against these virtues. Reaching Avatarhood required mastering all eight before descending into the Stygian Abyss, making self-improvement rather than conquest the central mechanic, a design that was revolutionary and gave the game lasting critical acclaim.
Ultima IV is often cited as one of the most important RPGs ever made for its narrative and thematic ambition. It has been re-released for free and through retro collections, remaining accessible to curious players today.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
The Quest Indie
€ 9,99A hand-painted first-person RPG in the old-school mould, with a big world and no hand-holding.
The Quest runs on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. Not available on Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Unsupported.
Moonring Indie
FreeA free retro RPG from a Fable co-creator, openly built on Ultima's tile world, virtues and exploration.
Moonring runs on PC, Mac. Not available on Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Cthulhu Saves the World Indie
€ 2,99An indie old-school RPG that lovingly channels the tone and systems of classic 8-bit CRPGs.
Cthulhu Saves the World runs on PC, Mac. Not available on Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (GOG)
FreeThe original virtue-based RPG released free on GOG for modern systems.
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (GOG) runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Steam Deck.
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