Avernum 3: Ruined World (2018)
Originally released as Exile 3: Ruined World in 1996, Avernum 3: Ruined World is the third entry in the Avernum series, and is a remaster of the original Exile game with improved graphics. The game was released in 2018 by Spiderweb Software, a small independent video game company led by developer Jeff Vogel. Featuring role-playing game elements, Avernum 3 tells the tale of a band of exiles from the underground world of Avernum, where the Empire sends those it deems a threat. The game features a huge open world with different classes to choose from and weapons to equip.
Story
After having discovered a way out of the underground prison of Avernum, the main characters find themselves back in the surface world controlled by the Empire. However, roving bands of monsters are terrorizing the kingdom, and despite the reluctance of some to be seen requesting the assistance of Avernites, town leaders task the main characters with eliminating the monsters that plague the Empire's lands. As the story progresses, the main characters discover that an unknown force is causing the monster invasion, and when the Emperor is assassinated must confront those responsible for the chaos in the surface world.
Trivia
The original version of this game, Exile 3: Ruined World, was originally released as shareware. This would allow free access to a demo of the game. To purchase the full version of the game, one would send money to the developer's address and would receive in return the complete game on a floppy disk or CD. The creator of Avernum, Jeff Vogel, is a very prolific developer and has produced multiple game series, including Exile, Nethergate, and Geneforge. He has for the most part developed these games single-handedly.
