Moonstone: A Hard Days Knight

Few games on the Amiga stirred up such a commotion with their rawness as Moonstone: A Hard Days Knight from 1991. This fantasy action game from Mindscape knew no mercy — swords hacked off limbs, blood spurted across the screen, and defeated enemies ended up blown to pieces. As one of four knights, you set out across the land in search of the fabled moonstone, gathering experience, weapons, and magic items while battling giants and human rivals alike.

The game combines a simple turn-based map, across which you move between locations, with brutal real-time action combat where timing your slashes, blocks, and dodges is everything. Beyond the ordinary opponents lurk mighty bosses — giants who can crush the player with a single wrong move. And because the game can be played by up to four, an element of betrayal comes into play: allies easily become rivals when it comes to who ultimately walks off with the stone.

Moonstone became a cult classic precisely for its uncompromising nature and its unmistakable morbid atmosphere. For retro gamers it's a reminder of a time when the Amiga could be surprisingly brutal — gorgeously drawn, coldly merciless, and unforgettable.