Play Pagan: Ultima VIII Online – MS-DOS Game

Game Overview

Ultima VIII: Pagan continues the saga of the Avatar, who is banished by the Guardian to the forsaken world of Pagan after the events of Ultima VII: Part Two – Serpent Isle. Stranded and alone, the Avatar must navigate this hostile realm, confront the four elemental Titans, and find a way back to Britannia. Unlike earlier Ultima titles, this installment shifts toward action-oriented gameplay, introducing platforming elements like jumping and climbing, as well as real-time combat that relies on player skill rather than companions or traditional leveling. Instead of experience points, the Avatar’s abilities grow through practice—strength improves with combat, for example—mirroring systems seen in games like Quest for Glory.

Magic plays a pivotal role, with four distinct schools tied to the elements, each requiring unique preparation and casting methods. While the game retains the series’ trademark interactivity—allowing players to manipulate objects in the world—it streamlines NPC dialogue and focuses more on exploration and combat. Pagan stands out for its departure from classic Ultima RPG mechanics, embracing a faster-paced, solo-adventure style that divided fans but remains a bold experiment in the series.
Each game uses different controls, most DOS games use the keyboard arrows. Some will use the mouse , "Alt" ,"Enter" and "Space bar".