Abandoned Places: A Time for Heroes vs The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate

Abandoned Places: A Time for Heroes is a 1992 fantasy RPG where you control four heroes on a mission to stop the evil arch‑mage Bronagh and save the world of Kalynthia. The game blends a 2D top‑down overworld with 3D real‑time dungeon crawling reminiscent of Dungeon Master, offering a sandbox feel and plenty of side activities beyond the main quest. The interface lets you travel to towns by clicking symbols for services like healing or hints, while combat is point‑and‑click: select a weapon or spell, then click the monster, with cooldown timers after each use. This mix of exploration, party management, and real‑time action creates a deep, nostalgic adventure for solo players.

After defeating Mangar, heroes receive a dire warning: the Mad God Tarjan has razed Skara Brae. They must rally refugees and embark on a quest across fractured realms to halt his wrath. This third installment expands the Bard’s Tale universe with new classes, time‑warped worlds, and an auto‑mapping system. The game retains its first‑person, pseudo‑3D exploration of towns, dungeons, and wilderness, now enriched with Geomancer and Chronomancer classes, multiple themed realms, and classic turn‑based combat for a nostalgic yet fresh RPG experience.

• Rich open‑world exploration
• Blend of 2D and 3D perspectives
• Simple yet engaging point‑and‑click combat
• Deep party customization

• Rich class variety with two new spellcasters
• Innovative time‑warp realms provide diverse settings
• Auto‑mapping eases navigation of complex dungeons
• Classic retro charm appeals to nostalgia

• Dated graphics may not appeal to modern eyes
• Limited UI feedback during cooldowns
• No multiplayer or co‑op options

• Dated graphics by modern standards
• Limited user interface compared to contemporary RPGs
• Steep learning curve for players unfamiliar with old‑school mechanics