DragonStrike

Watched my big brothers play this in the early 90s and I was mesmerized by the breakthrough combination of flight simulator and high fantasy which I had never seen before. And oh... those beautifully drawn, colorful cards and manual! (which come in high-res PDFs in this version!) After 30+ years, I finally got to play it myself. The starting dragon's sluggish movement needs getting used to at first, but considering its age, the game plays pretty fine. Thank God for M+K control! Still, it's a game from 1990, so don't expect a fast-paced, arcade-y/action modern game like, say, Yoko Taro's Drakengard games. It's more strategic but can still be tough as nails; when you choose to get a better dragon mount you will also get more difficult missions. And there's no checkpoint system in the 5-10-minutes long missions (AFAIK), so curb your frustrations. Don't expect much variety in audio and music either, if at all. The VGA arts for the missions are lovely, but the music only plays at the start of a mission and doesn't loop, so take it as an opportunity to whip out that D&D/fantasy ost playlist running in the background! In all, highly recommended for old-timers looking for that rush of nostalgia and newer players gearing up for an old school experience.

This is surprisingly good and accessible from what little I played it kind of felt like a fantasy dragon based X-wing/tie fighter, but need to play further to see if it shares the depth of those. Super pleasantly surprised, wish there were more games like this... That are not crashgrab MMOs (sideways glance at all the damn 'play as the dragon' asset flip MMOs on steam)

Old-school AD&D Second Edition game. Decent for its time, and not a bad nostalgia run.

"The FIRST-EVER dragon combat simulator!" is probably a fun nostalgia trip for those who grew up with it, but it’s not exactly beginner friendly. The controls take some effort to wrangle, and tweaking their settings is almost mandatory to get the game to run and play smoothly. Still, once you adjust the inputs, learn the basics, and start weaving through dragon dogfights, it has a certain old school magic that’s hard to resist. While the Steam release is bare bones and may feel overpriced for what it offers, having this classic officially available is still better than letting it vanish into obscurity. Also, you can often times get this bundled with all the other classic D&D games on sale, which is what I did.

Better air-combat than Starfield

Best Game Ever!! I loved this game so much and never thought I'd play it again, so I made Paladin's Lance (check it out on Steam). I'm so glad to see this game back and that people loved it as much as I always did! Est Solarus Oth Mithas!

Hands down. With a gampad played the best dragon game in the past and in the present. May the Dragonlance rise again.

As fun as any other old flight sim, which for me is anything but entertaining Still not the worst one

I played this game when it first came out in 1990. At the time it was groundbreaking. Tried it out again 35 years later and obviously it's pretty primitive by today's standards, but still fun. There's a total of 20 campaign missions plus a free for all mode where you can design your own encounter. Each mission takes 1-5 minutes to complete, so in theory you could finish the whole game in 2 hours if you did everything perfectly. That will never happen though as much of the game is trying over and over to beat a mission. I think it took me about 9 hours to beat the game. FYI, if you stick to the Knight of Crown or Knight of the Sword path, you will not be able to get to the final missions. Instead it just narrates you doing them in the epilogue. You may also want to redo missions in which you or your dragon are badly injured as the amount of healing potions you get in game is fairly small and damage carries over.

DragonStrike is a fantasy combat simulation originally developed by Westwood Associates and Strategic Simulations, with its modern digital release brought back by SNEG. Set within the legendary Dragonlance universe, the game offers an unusual blend of fantasy storytelling and flight simulation mechanics that remains distinctive even decades after its original release. Instead of controlling aircraft in military scenarios, players ride powerful dragons into large-scale aerial warfare, creating an experience that feels remarkably ambitious for its era and still memorable today because of how boldly it combines genres. The game takes place in Krynn during the War of the Lance, a defining conflict within Dragonlance lore where powerful dragon armies threaten to consume the world. Players assume the role of a Solamnic Knight gradually rising through military ranks while participating in dangerous missions that place them directly in the center of a massive war. Rather than approaching fantasy through dungeon exploration or traditional role-playing systems, DragonStrike builds its entire identity around dragon-mounted combat and large-scale battles fought high above castles, mountains, and war-torn landscapes. One of the most impressive aspects of DragonStrike comes from its concept itself. Fantasy games involving dragons are common today, but few titles from its original era attempted to create a true flight combat experience built entirely around mounted dragon warfare. The game treats dragons as far more than transportation. They become weapons, strategic tools, and extensions of the player’s combat abilities. Gameplay revolves around completing combat missions against hostile dragon forces and other dangerous enemies spread across large battlefield environments. Players attack using claws, breath weapons, magical abilities, and specialized equipment earned through progression. Combat rewards careful positioning and battlefield awareness rather than reckless aggression. Understanding movement and learning how to approach different threats becomes essential for long-term success. The flight mechanics create much of the game’s appeal. Managing movement while engaging airborne enemies creates encounters that feel dramatically different from traditional fantasy combat systems. Battles unfold across open skies rather than confined environments, reinforcing the larger scale of warfare taking place throughout the campaign. The first-person perspective strengthens immersion by placing players directly onto the dragon rather than presenting combat from a detached viewpoint. Mission variety also helps maintain progression momentum. Objectives evolve over time while enemy threats become increasingly demanding. Larger targets such as castles and military installations introduce additional strategic considerations beyond simple aerial combat. Advancing through military ranks and gaining access to stronger dragons creates satisfying progression that rewards successful performance across multiple missions. Dragon selection further strengthens replay value. Different dragons bring unique capabilities into battle, influencing combat effectiveness and overall strategy. The system encourages experimentation while helping encounters remain engaging over longer play sessions. Small differences in dragon performance create meaningful adjustments in how players approach different challenges. One of DragonStrike’s greatest achievements lies in atmosphere. Despite obvious technological limitations associated with its original release period, the game captures the feeling of participating in fantasy warfare remarkably well. Flying across large landscapes while dragons clash overhead still carries a sense of scale and adventure that remains effective today. The world feels larger than many fantasy games of its time attempted to create. Visually, the game naturally reflects its historical origins. Players entering from modern action games will quickly notice simpler graphics, older interface design, and control systems built around an earlier generation of game development. Environmental detail remains limited by modern standards, and certain mechanics require patience before becoming comfortable. The controls may also create an adjustment period for newer players unfamiliar with retro simulations. DragonStrike expects players to learn systems gradually rather than relying on modern accessibility features or extensive tutorials. Missions occasionally require persistence while older design philosophies reveal themselves clearly throughout progression. However, much of the experience benefits from those older design sensibilities. DragonStrike avoids unnecessary complexity and focuses entirely on delivering its unusual concept with commitment. The result feels refreshingly different compared to modern fantasy games that often rely heavily on familiar structures and genre conventions. SNEG’s effort to preserve the title gives modern audiences access to a game that represents an experimental period in game design where unusual ideas frequently shaped memorable experiences. DragonStrike stands as both a fantasy adventure and a fascinating historical example of developers pushing technical limitations to create something ambitious. For players interested in retro gaming, Dragonlance lore, fantasy combat simulations, or gaming history itself, DragonStrike offers a distinctive experience that remains enjoyable because of its originality and willingness to attempt something few games have ever replicated successfully. Rating: 7/10