Might & Magic I: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum is a 1986 RPG by New World Computing, first launched on Apple II then ported to MS-DOS, NES and more. Set in the vast world of VARN, players lead six adventurers across forests, deserts, swamps, mountains, oceans and the astral plane to uncover the secret of the Inner Sanctum.
It features first-person perspective and turn-based combat with real-time tactical responses. The deep character system includes classes like Knights, Clerics, Thieves, Mages, Paladins and Archers, plus races such as Humans, Elves, Orcs, Gnomes and Dwarves, each with unique stats and skills.
Might & Magic I pioneered new gameplay with its open-world, free-exploration design, influencing later RPGs. Its success laid the foundation for the Might & Magic franchise, cementing its status as a classic.