Xuan-Yuan Sword

About

Xuan-Yuan Sword is a classic RPG with turn-based strategy elements developed by Softstar Entertainment in 1990. Built for DOS, it uses 16-bit VGA visuals and features a party system with round-based combat, full-screen sprite animations, and a cast of monsters. Players control a novice swordsman gaining experience through battles to unlock new areas and push the story forward. The interface borrows from Dragon Quest’s style, blending inventory management with tactical grid-based fights. The world is shaped by a conflict between humans and creatures crafted by the goddess Nüwa, with the player tasked to finish a war that left both sides battered. The game’s animated spell effects and Chinese-styled AdLb music stood out in its time, helping it become a major hit in Taiwan’s computer game scene. Its story follows He Ran, a young swordsman venturing into a fractured world, with character names initially linked to A Chinese Ghost Story but later rewritten in sequels. Though its DOS-era design feels dated, the core mix of exploration and strategy remains engaging. With a cult following and historical significance as Softstar’s debut RPG, it’s a solid pick for retro fans of tactical fantasy.

Storyline

In the beginning of the world, the goddess Nüwa created two kinds of intelligent life: those of men, and those of monsters, who warred among each other all the time. The Sword was created by men in an attempt to end the everlasting war. Led by a single heroic figure, Xuan-yuan Swordsman (軒轅劍俠) who wielded the Sword, the war between humans and monsters ended with both sides suffering heavy casualties. Seventeen years later, the main character, He Ran (何然), a young swordsman left his mentor to set off on a journey into the chaotic world to carve his own path. The first game in the series, Xuan-Yuan Sword was also Softstar's first RPG product and was released in 1990. The time period the game is set in is ambiguous. The game features a Dragon Quest-like user interface. Players started the game as a novice adventurer with minimal fighting skills and can gain combat experience through battles to enable progression to other areas and advance the plot. The main characters were named after the characters from A Chinese Ghost Story in this game, but their names were retconned in the second game.