Released in 1980, StarQuest: Rescue at Rigel takes Epyx’s signature dungeon-crawling engine to deep space, reimagining the formula as a high-stakes sci-fi infiltration. Playing as Sudden Smith, players must navigate a six-level alien facility carved into an asteroid orbiting Rigel, freeing 10 human prisoners and escaping within 60 minutes. The game uses the same turn-based system as Temple of Apshai, but adds urgency through a real-time clock and a more linear objective. Armed with limited gear, Smith must avoid or defeat hostile Tollahs, venomous thornets, armed robots, and other alien threats. As the mission unfolds, stronger weapons can be discovered to aid survival. Rather than per-room narrative, Rigel categorizes areas (e.g., Sanctums, Storerooms), with descriptions provided in the manual. This streamlined sci-fi adaptation of the Dunjonquest engine introduced time-pressure gameplay and laid the groundwork for its follow-up, StarQuest: Star Warrior. For its era, Rescue at Rigel offered an unusually cinematic blend of action and tactics.

Along with StarQuest: Star Warrior, we think there is a lot of potential with these classic titles, and many different ways to approach reviving them.  There’s a long writeup on the Star Warrior page, and between the two titles, there’s a great opportunity for a dual-pack revival.   Have a read of the manual with its rich backstory. Page 3 of the manual is particularly touching, with its Dedication.  To Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, Hawk Carse, Buzz Corey, Lucas Trask, Lazarus Long, Kimball Kinnison, Logan the Sandman, Captain Sir Dominic Flandry, Mr. Spock & James T. Kirk, Bad News Quillan & Trigger Argee, Richard Seaton, M. Reynolds Crane, Blackie DuQuesne and, of course, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia Organa.  May they live again in our games — and forever in our hearts.  We’re very interested in finding a way to meaningfully revive these titles, so please reach out to us with your ideas.