36 Years Later, 1 of the Greatest RPGs of All Time Almost Made a Comeback

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The video game world mourned the loss of Rebecca Heineman on November 17th. A true pioneer – one of the earliest game champions, independent developers, and studio creators – her impact was immediately felt by fans and those working in the industry worldwide.

Beyond his long history of commitment and creativity, Heineman was starting to bring back Dragon Wars, a fantastic game that didn’t get the recognition it deserved. Though fans won’t experience his vision for the game now, people are still getting a look at his plans and ideas for what could have been.

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Dragon Wars Was One of the Best RPGs of the 80s

Released in 1989, Dragon Wars was created by Heineman and published by Interplay Productions. Despite not selling very well, the game received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both critics and players. It was another successful fantasy role-playing game for Interplay, coming quickly after The Bard’s Tale 3: Thief of Fate the year before. In a way, the popularity of The Bard’s Tale 3 helped pave the way for players to discover Dragon Wars.

While working on The Bard’s Tale 3: Thief of Fate, the initial ideas for what would become Dragon Wars began to take shape. The development team brainstormed many new features and improvements to create an even better game. However, anticipating a potential split from publisher Electronic Arts, they decided to save these ideas for their future projects, whatever those might be.

When creating Dragon Wars, the developers drew inspiration from games like The Bard’s Tale, placing players in a similar fantasy setting. Players started with a team of four characters – they could choose from pre-made options, create their own, or even import characters from any of the Bard’s Tale games. As they played Dragon Wars, they could expand their team to a maximum of seven by recruiting new characters.

In the game Dragon Wars, players take on the role of a party leader searching for the mythical land of Dilmun. The journey is fraught with danger, not only from monsters, but also because the King Drake of Phoebus has outlawed all magic.

The setup in Dragon Wars immediately creates a strong sense of tension, beginning with the player character’s imprisonment in Purgatory and accusations of using magic. This compelling start is a key reason why the game remains enjoyable even now.

The Dragon Wars Remaster Would Have Been Incredible

After hearing about Heineman’s death, tech artist and art director Delaney King posted some images online of the remastered Dragon Wars game she was working on with Heineman. The images show character and weapon designs that keep the look of the original game, creating a really appealing and nostalgic feel.

According to King, the team aimed to update the game’s graphics and animations to a modern standard while preserving its original look and gameplay. They maintained the original shapes and sizes of elements but improved the textures to appear more realistic. Rebecca was developing the game engine, using the artwork as a central guide.

It seems unlikely that Heineman’s work on the Dragon Wars remake will be completed, which is disappointing. Dedicated fans would have loved to play this classic, underrated game again, and it would have been a great way to introduce a new generation to a genre that’s become rare in today’s gaming world.

Rebecca Heineman Changed Gaming Forever

Even though we’ve lost a true pioneer in the gaming world and a brilliant game, it’s comforting to know that Heineman was passionately creating experiences that would bring joy to countless players. More importantly, her unwavering commitment reminds us that many of the games we love today exist because of people like her who relentlessly pursued excellence in game development.

Rebecca Heineman was a key developer at Boone Corporation and later co-founded Interplay Entertainment with Brian Fargo, Troy Worrell, Jay Patel, and investor Chris Wells. Through this work, she played a direct role in the creation and release of popular games like Wasteland, Star Trek: Starfleet Command, and Baldur’s Gate.

Perhaps most significantly, Heineman laid the groundwork for countless developers and publishers who followed, and her influence on the gaming industry will continue to be felt for years to come. She created a remarkable legacy, and although it’s unfortunate she couldn’t complete the Dragon Wars remaster, she undeniably improved gaming for everyone.

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2025-11-23 04:42