Play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - Dragon Strike Online

Dragon Strike came out on the NES in 1990, developed by Westwood Associates. It was part of that wave of games trying to bring a tabletop feel to the console, a time when developers were experimenting with how to fit complex rules onto a cartridge. You don't see many first-person dragon flight simulators, even from that era.

You control a dragon rider from a cockpit view, flying through valleys and canyons to complete missions. Your main goal is to destroy enemy castles and strongholds by breathing fire on them. The core mechanics involve navigating screen by screen, using your sword for close attacks against other flying creatures and your bow for ground targets. The game moves at a deliberate pace, and the difficulty comes from managing your limited fire breath and precise aiming. It feels like a very specific, slightly clunky power fantasy that never quite gets off the ground.