Heroes of the Lance NES box art

Nintendo Entertainment System · Action-Adventure / RPG

Heroes of the Lance

Deep cut

SystemNintendo Entertainment System
Released1991 (originally 1988)
GenreAction-Adventure, RPG
DeveloperStrategic Simulations
PublisherFCI
Players1 player
CommitmentWeekend project (Roughly 6–20 hours)
SeriesDungeons & Dragons
LegacyDeep cut · legacy score 4

Heroes of the Lance is an action-adventure game released in 1991 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, developed by Strategic Simulations and published by FCI. Depending on the region, you may also know it as Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance. This NES release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1988. It blends action-adventure and RPG elements.

It landed about 6 years into the NES's life. Other notable NES releases from 1991 include Pac-Man, Battletoads and Yoshi.

It is part of the Dungeons & Dragons series; on the NES you can also try Pool of Radiance, Dragons of Flame and DragonStrike. The series also appears on other systems with Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun (Genesis) and Eye of the Beholder (SNES).

Heroes of the Lance 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 weekend project (roughly 6–20 hours)
  • you've played the NES hits and want something less obvious

Maybe skip it if…

  • you want a game you can finish in one short session
  • you are looking for something to play with friends

What playing Heroes of the Lance is like

Action-adventures blend real-time combat with exploration, puzzles and item collection. You open up a larger world gradually as new tools let you reach places you couldn't before.

Tip for newcomers: Keep a mental (or paper) map of locked doors and unreachable ledges; most action-adventures expect you to come back once you find the right item.

Heroes of the Lance gameplay screenshot on NES
In-game screenshot (NES)

Heroes of the Lance walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Heroes of the Lance.

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Playing NES games today

NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.

Heroes of the Lance FAQ

When did Heroes of the Lance come out on the NES?

Heroes of the Lance was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991; the original game dates back to 1988.

Who made Heroes of the Lance?

It was developed by Strategic Simulations and published by FCI.

Is Heroes of the Lance multiplayer?

No. Heroes of the Lance is a single-player game.

How long does Heroes of the Lance take to play?

As an action-adventure game, Heroes of the Lance typically falls into the "Weekend project" category: roughly 6–20 hours. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Read more about Heroes of the Lance 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.

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