Based on Anne McCaffrey’s beloved book series, Dragonriders of Pern (1983) is a hybrid strategy and action game that combines political negotiation with aerial combat. One to four players take on the role of Weyrleaders charged with defending the planet Pern from the deadly Thread—alien spores that periodically rain down from space and ravage the land. The game unfolds in two main phases: diplomacy and Thread-fighting. In the strategic phase, players negotiate alliances with Lord Holders and Craftsmasters to build influence. Convince leaders through marriage proposals, invite them to dragon hatchings, or—if persuasion fails—challenge them to duels. Major political events like conclaves can reset negotiations across the board. Victory points are earned by building coalitions and successfully navigating Pern’s feudal landscape. At the end of each turn (representing a full year), players engage in action-based aerial combat. Riding atop dragons, players must chase down and incinerate falling Thread before it reaches the ground. The sequence can be enabled, disabled, or adjusted in difficulty during setup. Gameplay continues until a predetermined number of turns have passed, a player reaches the victory point threshold, or too many Holds succumb to Thread infestation. With its mix of high-stakes diplomacy and reflex-based combat, Dragonriders of Pern offers a faithful and innovative adaptation of its source material, making it one of Epyx’s most ambitious licensed titles.

We believe this was the first video game adaptation of the characters and world from Anne McCaffrey.  There were other releases from other studios subsequent to our version, so if you have any interest in reviving the adaptation of the Dragonrides of Pern fantasy series, you’d have to reach out to Anne McCaffrey’s estate.