The CRPG Book Project is a collaborative, non-profit effort to create a free & easily available ebook on the history of Computer Role-Playing Games.
DOWNLOAD THE LATEST VERSION HERE (v3.6b, DECEMBER 2022)
Our goal is to gather all the knowledge currently spread across countless websites, books, videos, podcasts, forums and minds in a single, accessible and visually pleasing tome. We share the Internet Archive’s belief that “access drives preservation”, so we want to demystify gaming history, offering a reliable and attractive resource for people seeking information – or just a fun game to play.
For any enquiries, feel free to contact our editor, Felipe Pepe, via Twitter or email.
History
The project began in 2014 after the RPG Codex published a Top 70 PC RPGs list, featuring small fan reviews on each game. The reception was overwhelming, leading to the idea of expanding the list into a book, covering the entire CRPG history.
The completed ebook was first released as a PDF in 2018, getting over 100,000 downloads. A deal was then made with Bitmap Books, which published a limited hardcover version of the book in 2019. All the author’s profits (£22.845 as of April 2022) were donated to Vocação, a Brazilian NGO that helps kids and teenagers from poor areas to get a better education and find employment.
In 2022, a new expanded edition was released, now with 164 extra pages, addressing issues with the previous release and expanding it to include games that were never released in English.
Features
- The expanded edition contains 684 pages, covering over 400 games from 1975 to 2019.
- Several articles on the history of the genre and some particular scenes, such as French, Korean and Chinese RPGs, MMORPGs, BBS games, browser games, RPG Maker games and fan-translations.
- Developer quotes, mod suggestions, trivia and tips on how to run games on modern hardware.
- Over 2,000 game screenshots, plus a cover art gallery.
- Written by 167 volunteers – fans, AAA developers, indies, journalists, modders and industry personalities such as Ian Frazier, Scorpia, Ferhegón, Richard Cobbett, Mandalore, Brian ‘Psychochild’ Green, Durante, George Weidman (SuperBunnyHop), Chris Avellone and Tim Cain, among others.
- Entirely non-profit, with another volunteer group currently making a Chinese translation.
Selected media articles
- Martin Woger – “The CRPG Book Review: The new standard”. Eurogamer.de.
- Kevin Murnane – “The CRPG Book is a magnificent love letter to the genre”. Forbes.
- Robin Kunimune – “EP. 34: THE CRPG BOOK”. The Video Game History Hour Podcast.
- Randall Colburn – “This gallery of 16,000 RPG screens is a monument to the genre”. AV Club.
Preview images
The CRPG Book Project 
“– Recruiting extraordinary gentlemen”
Bad phrasing. Include women too.
Btw, noticed the 200-page sample misspelled “John Romero” as “Jon Romero” at one point.
LikeLike
Thanks for the tips, I corrected them. 🙂
LikeLike
Once it’s done you’ve got to find a way to get this published in physical format.
This would be the coffee table tome to rule them all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds great!
I going to read the 300 page preview. I hope I can contribute soon.
LikeLike
You might want to mention your name somewhere here on this page… Not very professional IMO.
LikeLike
[…] Pepe, author of the CRPG Book Project, has shared this image from the book comparing Defender’s original Amiga version with eight of […]
LikeLike
[…] Pepe, author of the CRPG Book Project, has shared this image from the book comparing Defender’s original Amiga version with eight of […]
LikeLike
[…] Pepe, author of the CRPG Book Project, has shared this image from the book comparing Defender’s original Amiga version with eight of […]
LikeLike
[…] Pepe, author of the CRPG Book Project, has shared this image from the book comparing Defender’s original Amiga version with eight […]
LikeLike
[…] Pepe, author of the CRPG Book Project, has shared this picture from the guide evaluating Defender’s authentic Amiga model with eight of […]
LikeLike
[…] Pepe, author of the CRPG Book Project, has shared this image from the book comparing Defender's original Amiga version with eight of its […]
LikeLike
In the side-text for Diablo 3: “Among the initial complains about Diablo III” – this should read “initial complaints”
LikeLike
Thanks, will fix it. 🙂
LikeLike
Even though I like the “Non-Profit” sentiment I’d love to have a hardback copy of this. I’ll probably going to print it through one of the online retailers who specialise on that.
LikeLike
You should wait for the project to be finished, we’ll crowdfund a hardcover edition. 😉
Also, the preview is in low resolution, printing it would be weird.
LikeLike
I intended to wait for the final version before printing but I’ll gladly support a Kickstarter instead!
CRPG’s are an important part of my life and I cherish the many, many memories your book evokes.
LikeLike
Is there a mailing list I can sign up to, so I wont miss the book release?! 🙂
LikeLike
[…] CRPG Book. Embora esteja em produção já há alguns anos, só esta semana tomei conhecimento do projeto liderado pelo brasileiro Felipe Pepe e por isso gostaria de falar um pouco sobre […]
LikeLike
Bicho, DO CARALHO! Não sabia da existência desse projeto, vi através da postagem do The Enemy. Meus parabéns!
LikeLike
can i print it for my self and my friends ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I want to report this game: https://hol.abime.net/1239
LikeLike
“Hello,
Have you seen my email? Can you let me know if you’re interested?
I recently came across your websitecrpgbook.wordpress.com and was hoping to collaborate with your blog/website. We are excited to work with you.
I am particularly fascinated to make contributions to a guest posting on your web page. In case you are interested, kindly let me know how much you will charge to post a guest article with links leading to the sports betting site.
If you are not tolerating connections to the betting sites, we may be still interested, please mention a rate for regular sites too.
In case you have more websites to provide, please send a sites list along with prices.
Allow me to know the way it sounds
With Regards
“
LikeLike
could you add NOX and Lisa: the painful to that book?
LikeLike
also Knightmare for the AMIGA, there two games with that name, one of them is a hardcode dungeoncrawler with a 4 player party that can have goblins and ghouls in the party.
LikeLike