Conan: The Cimmerian

Last updated: January 11, 2026

Overview

Conan: The Cimmerian is an action-adventure game with RPG elements developed by Synergistic Software and published by Virgin Games in 1991 for MS-DOS and Amiga platforms¹. Based on Robert E. Howard’s legendary barbarian character first introduced in pulp magazines in 1932, the game traces Conan’s journey from his humble origins as a blacksmith through a brutal quest for vengeance against the evil wizard Thoth Amon². The game was created by people who clearly loved the original legends, presenting Conan as a creature of flesh and blood rather than just another collection of testosterone-tinted pixels³.

The game represents the fourth title utilizing Synergistic Software’s World Builder engine, which had been modified from their earlier work on War in Middle Earth (1989) and continued through Spirit of Excalibur and Vengeance of Excalibur⁴. For this installment, the engine received significant improvements: the interface became more transparent, and the game world expanded into a larger 3-D environment⁵. Players experience Conan’s world through three distinct gameplay perspectives, blending exploration, conversation, and real-time combat into a cohesive Hyborian Age adventure¹.

Contemporary reviewers praised the game’s faithfulness to Howard’s source material while acknowledging its limitations. As one critic noted, “There aren’t many fantasy heroes who stir the imagination as readily as Conan. Virgin Games gives us a chance to experience a little of what it must be like to be Robert E. Howard’s infamous warrior king”³. The game has since achieved cult status among Conan enthusiasts, with some fans declaring it “the definitive Conan adventure”⁶.

Game Info

Developer: Synergistic Software¹ Designer: Robert C. Clardy, Michael D. Branham, Robert Nendel⁷ Publisher: Virgin Games¹ Engine: World Builder⁸ Platforms: MS-DOS, Amiga¹ Release Year: 1991 Series: Conan the Barbarian Protagonist: Conan Sierra Lineage: Third Party

Story Summary

Conan the Cimmerian was living happily as a blacksmith with his wife in the village of Irskuld, located in the harsh northern land of Cimmeria, until one fateful day changed everything¹. A group of horsemen raided his village without warning, slaughtering the inhabitants. Conan was knocked unconscious during the attack, awakening only to find his wife and his friends butchered in the aftermath of the massacre⁹. This devastating loss transforms the simple blacksmith into a vengeful warrior driven by rage and sorrow.

Conan discovers that the architect of the slaughter was a wizard named Thoth Amon, a high priest of the Cult of Set¹. The evil sorcerer orchestrated the attack for his own dark purposes, leaving Conan cursed and bound to pursue the mage to break the spell¹⁰. This curse adds a supernatural element to Conan’s already burning desire for revenge, creating a protagonist who is driven by both personal vengeance and desperate necessity.

Sword in hand and vengeance aflame, Conan now travels south from Cimmeria into the land of Hyborea, making his way to the city of Shadizar¹. This ancient city serves as the starting point for his journey of vengeance, where players must navigate dangerous streets, seek information from fortune tellers and wise sages, and gather the resources needed to hunt down Thoth Amon¹¹. The game’s introduction sets the stage dramatically: “Go, then, and take Conan on his quest for vengeance”¹².

The narrative unfolds across multiple chapters as Conan pursues his quarry through various Hyborian locations. As one reviewer observed, “Conan only pursues the mage, as he is cursed, and must destroy him to break the curse. After all, Conan was never a righteous hero”¹⁰. This morally complex motivation gives the story depth beyond simple revenge fantasy, acknowledging the antihero nature of Howard’s original character.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Conan: The Cimmerian employs a hybrid interface supporting mouse, joystick, and keyboard input methods¹¹. The game presents itself through three distinct gameplay screens that players transition between depending on their current activity¹. The interface was designed to be more transparent than Synergistic’s previous World Builder titles, allowing players to focus on the action and exploration rather than wrestling with complex menus⁵.

The game offers players significant freedom to explore compared to similar titles of the era. As one contemporary player noted, “Conan makes me feel like I have a lot more freedom to explore”². Navigation through the game world feels organic, with players able to travel between identifiable towns and locations on the overland map, then dive into more detailed exploration within individual areas.

Structure and Progression

The game is structured around three primary gameplay areas that players move between throughout their adventure¹:

• Overland Map: This strategic view allows Conan to travel between identifiable towns and other locations across the Hyborian landscape. Movement is restricted to marked paths and locations, providing a sense of the world’s geography while keeping the adventure focused⁹.

• Town Map: When Conan enters settlements, the perspective shifts to a horizontal third-person view. Here players can explore streets, enter buildings, interact with NPCs, and purchase equipment. The city of Shadizar in particular offers numerous opportunities for conversation and trade¹.

• Combat Screen: When Conan enters buildings or engages in combat, the view switches to a vertical third-person perspective. This screen handles all real-time fighting encounters as well as interior exploration⁹.

The game manual, narrated by the wizard Akado seated by a campfire, acknowledges that the storyteller may occasionally get events confused but promises to back up and retell any part of the story he gets wrong¹¹. This charming framing device provides context for the adventure while adding a touch of humor to the presentation.

Puzzles and Mechanics

Combat in Conan: The Cimmerian is handled through real-time one-on-one encounters. Players have access to three distinct sword fighting styles: Overhand (chop), Side Swipe (swing), and Thrust¹¹. Interestingly, Conan begins the game knowing only the basic swing attack, and players must learn or acquire the other techniques as they progress¹³. Combat options are limited to forward movement, backward movement, and attacking, with no defensive blocking moves available for either combatant¹⁴.

The inventory system allows Conan to carry up to 20 items plus gold¹¹. Currency in the game takes the form of Bezants, which can be spent at various merchants throughout the Hyborian world. One player discovered a particularly exploitable glitch where one shop sold rope for 8 bezants while another bought it for 10, allowing for easy profit¹⁵. Equipment upgrades, including better swords, can be purchased as players accumulate wealth, adding an RPG element to the action-adventure core¹⁶.

The game features an auto-save system and employs manual lookup copy protection, requiring players to reference the physical documentation to proceed¹¹. Players are strongly encouraged to talk to everyone possible in Shadizar, as NPCs provide crucial information for the quest. Fortune tellers and wise sages are noted as particularly helpful sources of advice¹¹.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Computer Gaming World featured a review by Charles Ardai in February 1992, which offered mixed praise for the game’s approach to character development. Ardai wrote: “At least, unlike most games of this ilk, Virgin has taken a stab at making Conan a creature of flesh and blood, rather than just another bunch of testosterone-tinted pixels. By letting players participate in the birth of their hero, an added layer of interest, if not actual depth, takes shape. Nietzsche it ain’t, but Howard it is!”³

White Wolf magazine’s February 1992 issue (Issue #30) carried a review by Jim Trunzo, who awarded the game 4 out of 5 stars. Trunzo wrote enthusiastically: “There aren’t many fantasy heroes who stir the imagination as readily as Conan. Virgin Games gives us a chance to experience a little of what it must be like to be Robert E. Howard’s infamous warrior king”³.

Compute! Magazine Issue 141 from June 1992 included an evaluation of Conan the Cimmerian, though the specific content of that review is not available in the current archive materials¹⁷. The German gaming press also covered the title, with ASM magazine giving it 6 points according to user recollections¹⁸.

The CRPG Addict blog offered a detailed retrospective, noting that “Conan was clearly created by people who loved the original legends” but also observing that “Combat has never been a strength of this engine, and here it is relatively pathetic.” The reviewer predicted: “This will be a fun 12-hour game. It will be an infuriating 40-hour game”².

Modern Assessment

Kenneth Eaton of Elder-Geek.com wrote a retrospective declaring: “This game was—and still is in my opinion—the definitive Conan adventure.” He recalled that “back in 1991 when the game was made it was jaw-dropping. It certainly dropped mine,” while acknowledging that “The combat in this game is very dull and repetitive”⁶.

The Games Nostalgia team provided a balanced assessment: “The graphics are fantastic, really hi quality pixel art” but noted “The only downside is the controls, poorly programmed and sluggish. It’s a pity because this game could have been a masterpiece with some fluid controls.” Their conclusion: “Conan is a game worth trying despite some flaws, especially if you are a fan of the iconic barbarian”¹⁹.

Peter D of Dungeon Fantastic blogspot offered perspective as both a 1990s player and modern revisitor: “It’s more like an adventure game than a CRPG, but it’s enough of the latter to keep me interested”¹⁵.

Aggregate Scores:

• MobyGames: 7.2/10 (Critics: 75% based on 8 ratings; Players: 3.5/5 based on 15 ratings)⁷
• OldGames.sk: 72%²⁰
• Games Nostalgia: 75/100 (based on 8 editorial reviews)¹⁹
• Abandonware DOS: 4.18/5.00 (73 votes)⁴
• MyAbandonware: 4.75/5 (56 votes)⁵
• Giant Bomb Users: 4.0/5 stars²¹
• Free Game Empire: 7/10¹⁴

Development

Origins

Synergistic Software, founded in 1978 in Seattle by Robert C. Clardy and Ann Dickens Clardy, had established themselves as specialists in fantasy adventure games and porting work during the IBM PC DOS era¹⁴. The studio’s relationship with fantasy literature was well-established, with Robert Clardy’s earlier works exploring similar mythological territory².

The decision to adapt Robert E. Howard’s Conan character represented a natural fit for the developer’s expertise. Howard’s barbarian hero had been captivating readers since 1932, and the Hyborian Age setting offered rich material for an action-adventure game². Virgin Games secured the license and partnered with Synergistic to bring the iconic character to computer screens.

Production

Development utilized Synergistic’s proprietary World Builder engine, which had powered their previous titles War in Middle Earth (1989), Spirit of Excalibur, and Vengeance of Excalibur². The engine lineage can be traced even further back through Lords of Midnight, establishing a robust foundation for the fantasy adventure genre¹⁸.

For Conan: The Cimmerian, the World Builder engine received significant enhancements. The interface was redesigned to be more transparent and user-friendly, while the game world expanded into a larger, more detailed 3-D environment⁵. However, the strategic elements that characterized earlier World Builder titles were scaled back in favor of stronger adventure and RPG mechanics, with heavy emphasis on combat sequences⁵.

Development Credits:⁷

• Director: Robert C. Clardy
• Lead Programming: Michael D. Branham, Robert Nendel
• Associate Programming: Alan B. Clark, John P. Conley
• Lead Artist: Jonathan Sposato
• Associate Artists: Christopher Barker, Scott Wallin, Jerry Speed, Dennis Clevenger, Linda Westerfield, Michael Ormsby, Jeremy Jones, Miik Nichols, Katherine Barker, Derek Clardy
• Music Composition: Christopher Barker
• PC Music Drivers: Michael D. Branham
• PC Sound/Voice Work: Robert Nendel, Michael D. Branham
• Quality Assurance (Synergistic): Ann Dickens Clardy
• Data Preparation: Michael Ormsby
• Documentation: Michael D. Branham, KKW Inc.
• Production Executive: Stephen Clarke-Willson
• Product Manager: Catherine Anne Bartz-Todd
• Associate Product Manager: David A. Luehmann
• Quality Assurance (Virgin): Lyle J. Hall, Seth Mendelsohn, Jeff Wagoner, Top Star Computer Service
• Manual Production: Lisa Marcinko
• Cover Illustration: Boris Vallejo
• Cover Design: Words & Pictures; London
• Hintbook Writer: Catherine Anne Bartz-Todd
• Hintbook Editor: Lisa Marcinko

The game credits include 38 people with 49 credits (30 professional roles, 8 thanks), with a special thanks noting “all the other fine virgins at Virgin Games”⁷.

Technical Achievements

The VGA graphics represented a significant achievement for 1991, offering colorful visuals that impressed contemporary players. One fan recalled playing the game as “one of the first games I played on AT in 256 VGA colors”²². The Amiga version utilized all 32 colors (5-bit) available on that platform, distinguishing it from many Atari ST ports that used fewer colors¹⁹.

The game supported multiple graphics modes to accommodate various hardware configurations, including EGA, VGA, MCGA, and Tandy display standards⁸. Audio support included options for various sound cards, enhancing the atmospheric presentation of the Hyborian world.

Technical Specifications

Floppy Version:⁶

• Media: Eight 5.25” floppies or six 3.5” floppies
• Graphics Modes: EGA, VGA, MCGA, Tandy⁸
• Minimum CPU: 10 MHz⁸
• Minimum RAM: 640k⁸
• Minimum OS: DOS 3.1⁸
• Copy Protection: Manual lookup (Riddle of Steel)⁸
• File Size: Approximately 3 MB⁵

CD-ROM Version:²³

• Media: CD-ROM
• Audio: Full voice acting, enhanced soundtrack from CD-track
• Copy Protection: Disc check⁸
• File Size: 508 MB (Enhanced Edition ISO)⁵
• Notes: Voice acting is partial, not complete throughout⁸

The CD-ROM version, released in 1992, represented a significant upgrade over the floppy release. As the Internet Archive notes: “This was originally released on floppies, but this version here is a CD-ROM version, which includes voices, and a more advanced soundtrack. These sounds are made from the CD-track featured in the disk image”²³.

Technical Issues

Several compatibility issues have been reported for modern systems. The game “will not run properly with in XP or Vista without a DOS emulator such as DOSbox”⁶. Users of the Enhanced Edition have reported difficulty getting voice and sound effects to work properly in DOSBox, and CD audio issues persist on Mac Boxer emulation⁵.

The floppy version offers only Adlib and Roland sound options, with no Soundblaster support in some releases⁵. For the CD-ROM version, users must mount the .CUE file as drive D: or the CD-track audio will not play²³.

Gameplay issues noted by reviewers include door interactions that were “very picky and required several attempts from different positions”¹¹. German reviewers criticized the game balance, noting the first chapter runs too long while the second chapter lasts only about 3 minutes. Chapter 4 was particularly frustrating due to numerous unmarked holes causing the player to fall repeatedly, and inventory limitations led to pixel-perfect clicking requirements¹⁸.

Version History

Version	Date	Platform	Notes
1.0	1991	DOS	Initial floppy release (3.5” and 5.25”)24
1.0	1991	Amiga	Amiga version release1
1.0	1991	DOS (UK)	UK release via Virgin Games, Ltd.24
1.0	1991	DOS (Germany)	German release24
CD-ROM	1992	DOS	Enhanced version with voices and CD audio23

The Amiga version (version 1.1) remains available for download at approximately 9 MB⁵. The German Amiga version reportedly was never released in that market¹⁸.

Easter Eggs and Trivia

• Cover Art Tribute: The cover illustration by Boris Vallejo, like some scenes in the Conan films, was created as a tribute to the legendary fantasy artist Frank Frazetta⁷.
• Crom Reference: The game features Conan’s iconic invocation of his god: “CROM, GIVE ME THE POWER!!!”¹³
• Magic Skepticism: Conan expresses his characteristic distrust of sorcery with the line: “What good is the sword against magic?”¹³
• Engine Lineage: The game’s engine traces its lineage through Lords of Midnight → War in Middle-Earth → Spirit of Excalibur → Conan¹⁸
• Hard Drive Innovation: The game featured hard drive installation as an option, which was considered a relatively new feature for computers at that time⁶

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

While specific sales figures are not available, Conan: The Cimmerian achieved sufficient success to warrant an enhanced CD-ROM release in 1992²³. The game’s longevity is demonstrated by its continued availability through abandonware channels and its persistent community of fans who consider it a classic representation of Howard’s character⁶.

The game has since become classified as abandonware, no longer commercially available through traditional retail channels¹². However, community interest remains strong, with users on GOG.com’s wishlist page advocating for an official re-release: “A colorful and engaging action-adventure classic well deserving its place on GOG”²².

Collections

Conan: The Cimmerian was not included in any known compilation releases during its commercial lifetime. The game remains available primarily through abandonware preservation efforts and community archives.

Fan Projects

The game is preserved across multiple abandonware sites including MyAbandonware, Internet Archive, and Abandonware DOS⁴⁵²³. The MyAbandonware site offers browser-based emulation, though this feature is noted as “still experimental, the game may not work properly”²⁵.

Related Publications

• Game Manual: Narrated by the wizard Akado, providing gameplay instructions and Hyborian world lore¹¹
• Official Hintbook: Written by Catherine Anne Bartz-Todd, edited by Lisa Marcinko⁷

Critical Perspective

Conan: The Cimmerian occupies an interesting position in adventure gaming history as one of the more faithful adaptations of Robert E. Howard’s literary creation. While numerous Conan games have been produced over the decades, this 1991 title stands out for its attempt to capture not just the action but the atmosphere and moral complexity of Howard’s original stories. The game acknowledges Conan as an antihero driven by personal vengeance and supernatural compulsion rather than noble ideals¹⁰.

The World Builder engine, despite its combat limitations, provided a framework that allowed for genuine exploration and player agency—qualities noted by contemporary reviewers who appreciated the freedom to investigate the Hyborian world². The game’s blend of action-adventure and RPG elements predated the modern trend of genre-mixing that would become commonplace in later decades.

Within the broader Conan gaming franchise, this title represents a more intimate, story-driven approach compared to later entries like the 2007 action game or the survival-focused Conan Exiles⁸. Its emphasis on narrative and world-building over pure combat makes it a distinctive entry in both the Conan franchise and the catalog of early 1990s adventure games.

Downloads

Download / Preservation

• Internet Archive – Conan: The Cimmerian (1992 CD-ROM)²³
• Internet Archive – Enhanced Edition⁹
• MyAbandonware⁵
• Abandonware DOS⁴

Manuals & Extras

• Game Manual (Text)¹¹

Browser Play

• ClassicReload²⁶
• Play Classic Games²⁷

Series Continuity

Conan: The Cimmerian is part of the broader Conan the Barbarian video game franchise, which spans multiple decades and platforms. The game draws directly from Robert E. Howard’s original stories rather than the films or comics, positioning Conan at an early point in his career as a simple blacksmith transformed by tragedy into a legendary warrior⁸.

The Conan gaming franchise includes:

• Conan the Barbarian (earlier title)

• Conan: The Cimmerian (1991) – this game

• Conan (2004)

• Age of Conan: Unchained (2008)

• Conan Exiles (2018)

• Conan Unconquered (2019)

• Conan Chop Chop (2022)

• Previous: Conan the Barbarian

• Next: Conan (2004)

References

Footnotes

1. MobyGames – Conan: The Cimmerian – release dates, platforms, gameplay description, publisher/developer information ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹²

2. CRPG Addict – Game 253: Conan the Cimmerian (1991) – engine history, Robert E. Howard origins, gameplay analysis, review quotes ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

3. Wikipedia – Conan: The Cimmerian – Computer Gaming World and White Wolf magazine reviews with quotes ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

4. Abandonware DOS – Conan: The Cimmerian – user ratings, engine name, designer credit, description ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

5. MyAbandonware – Conan: The Cimmerian – version information, file sizes, technical issues, engine description ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹²

6. Elder-Geek.com – Conan the Cimmerian Review – retrospective review quotes, technical specifications, compatibility notes ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

7. MobyGames – Conan: The Cimmerian Credits – complete development credits, composer, cover artist ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

8. PCGamingWiki – Conan: The Cimmerian – technical specifications, video modes, series chronology, version differences ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹

9. Internet Archive – Conan the Cimmerian Enhanced Edition – gameplay description sourced from MobyGames ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

10. MasterMegid Review – story interpretation, curse motivation ↩ ↩² ↩³

11. Abandonware DOS – Game Manual – gameplay instructions, combat styles, inventory limits, narrative framing ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

12. Consolidated Research Data – game introduction quote, abandonware status ↩ ↩²

13. Old-Games.com – Conan the Cimmerian – combat styles, character quotes, save system ↩ ↩² ↩³

14. Free Game Empire – Conan The Cimmerian – game structure, combat description, developer history ↩ ↩² ↩³

15. Dungeon Fantastic – Conan Cimmerian Video Game – personal gameplay experience, economy glitch, genre assessment ↩ ↩²

16. Kultboy.com – Conan Discussion (German) – equipment upgrades quote ↩

17. Internet Archive – Compute! Magazine June 1992 – review listing ↩

18. Kultboy.com – Forum Discussion – engine lineage, German release info, gameplay criticism, ASM rating ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

19. Games Nostalgia – Conan the Cimmerian – modern review, graphics praise, controls criticism, Amiga color depth ↩ ↩² ↩³

20. OldGames.sk – Conan: The Cimmerian – aggregate rating ↩

21. Giant Bomb – Conan the Cimmerian – user ratings, gameplay description ↩

22. GOG.com Wishlist – Conan the Cimmerian – user comments, VGA memories, CD version request ↩ ↩²

23. Internet Archive – Conan the Cimmerian (1992) – CD-ROM version details, voice acting, DOSBox mounting instructions ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

24. MobyGames – Conan: The Cimmerian Releases – regional release information, media formats ↩ ↩² ↩³

25. MyAbandonware – Play Conan Online – browser emulation availability ↩

26. ClassicReload – Conan the Cimmerian – gameplay description, story summary ↩

27. Play Classic Games – Conan the Cimmerian – browser play availability ↩