Commodore 64 · RPG
The Bard's Tale
| System | Commodore 64 |
|---|---|
| Genre | RPG |
| Developer | Interplay Entertainment |
| Publisher | Electronic Arts |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | The Bard's Tale |
| Legacy | Well-known · legacy score 4 |
Developed by Interplay Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, The Bard's Tale arrived on the Commodore 64 as a role-playing game.
Among the 79 C64 RPGs in our database, it ranks #14 by legacy score.
It is part of the The Bard's Tale series; on the C64 you can also try The Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight and The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate. The series also appears on other systems with The Bard's Tale (NES) and The Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight (NES). Interplay Entertainment also made Battle Chess, Wasteland and Neuromancer for the C64.
The Bard's Tale is a single-player game, so it's one to enjoy at your own pace.
Pick it if…
- you want to get lost in a long quest
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
Maybe skip it if…
- you want instant action rather than menus, story and grinding
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing The Bard's Tale is like
Role-playing games trade reflexes for strategy and story. You build a party, level up, manage equipment and travel across a large world, usually through menu-based battles.
Tip for newcomers: Retro RPGs can require some level grinding and rarely tell you exactly where to go next. Talk to every townsperson, save often and use a guide if you get stuck: there is no shame in it.
The Bard's Tale walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for The Bard's Tale.
If you like The Bard's Tale, the Matrix also picks…
The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate Deep cut
Final Fantasy VII Classic
Final Fantasy VIII Classic
Final Fantasy Classic
Final Fantasy IX Classic
Chrono Trigger Classic
Final Fantasy IV Classic Co-op
Playing C64 games today
C64 games loaded from cassette or floppy disk, and many reward patience and practice. The THEC64 reissues make original-style play easy on modern TVs, and Rec0m88 supports the C64 if you own your games.
The Bard's Tale FAQ
Who made The Bard's Tale?
It was developed by Interplay Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts.
Is The Bard's Tale multiplayer?
No. The Bard's Tale is a single-player game.
How long does The Bard's Tale take to play?
As a role-playing game, The Bard's Tale typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about The Bard's Tale on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.