Editing Ultima (series) (section)

==Games==
{{Timeline of release years
|subtitle = Main series in '''bold'''
|compressempty = yes
| range1 = 1979 -
| range1_color = #4B61D1 #CCCCFF
|1979 ='''''[[Akalabeth: World of Doom|Akalabeth]]'''''
|1981 ='''''[[Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness|Ultima I]]'''''
|1982 ='''''[[Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress|Ultima II]]'''''
|1983a ='''''[[Ultima III: Exodus|Ultima III]]'''''
|1983b =''[[Ultima: Escape from Mt. Drash|Escape from Mt. Drash]]''
|1985 ='''''[[Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar|Ultima IV]]'''''
|1988 ='''''[[Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny|Ultima V]]'''''
|1990a ='''''[[Ultima VI: The False Prophet|Ultima VI]]'''''
|1990b =''[[Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire|Worlds of Ultima]]''
|1991a =''[[Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams|Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2]]''
|1991b =''[[Ultima: Runes of Virtue]]''
|1992a =''[[Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss|Ultima Underworld]]''
|1992b ='''''[[Ultima VII: The Black Gate|Ultima VII]]'''''
|1993a =''[[Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds|Ultima Underworld II]]''
|1993b ='''''[[Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle|Ultima VII Part Two]]'''''
|1993c =''[[Ultima: Runes of Virtue II]]''
|1994 ='''''[[Ultima VIII: Pagan|Ultima VIII]]'''''
|1997 =''[[Ultima Online]]''
|1999 ='''''[[Ultima IX: Ascension|Ultima IX]]'''''
|2005 =''[[Ultima V: Lazarus]]''
|2010 =''[[Lord of Ultima]]''
|2013 =''[[Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar|Ultima Forever]]''
|2018 =''[[Underworld Ascendant]]''
}}
The main ''Ultima'' series consists of nine installments (the seventh title is divided into two parts) grouped into three trilogies, or "[[List of time periods|Age]]s": The Age of Darkness (''Ultima&nbsp;I-III''), The Age of Enlightenment (''Ultima&nbsp;IV-VI''), and The Age of Armageddon (''Ultima&nbsp;VII-IX''). The last is also sometimes referred to as "The Guardian Saga" after its chief [[antagonist]]. The first trilogy is set in a [[fantasy world]] named Sosaria, but during the cataclysmic events of The Age of Darkness, it is sundered and three quarters of it vanish. What is left becomes known as Britannia, a realm ruled by the benevolent [[Lord British]], and is where the later games mostly take place. The protagonist in all the games is a resident of [[Earth]] who is called upon by Lord British to protect Sosaria and, later, Britannia from a number of dangers. Originally, the [[player character]] was referred to as "the Stranger", but by the end of ''Ultima&nbsp;IV'' he becomes universally known as the [[Avatar (Ultima)|Avatar]].

===Main series===
====The Age of Darkness: ''Ultima&nbsp;I–III''====

In ''[[Ultima&nbsp;I: The First Age of Darkness]]'' ([[1981 in video gaming|1981]]),<ref>{{citation|magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]]|date=September–October 1982|volume=2|issue=5|page=2|title=List of Top Sellers}}</ref> the Stranger is first summoned to Sosaria to defeat the evil wizard [[Mondain]] who aims to enslave it. Since Mondain possesses the Gem of [[Immortality]], which makes him invulnerable, the Stranger locates a [[Time travel|time machine]], travels back in time to kill Mondain before he creates the Gem, and shatters the incomplete [[artifact (fantasy)|artifact]].

''[[Ultima&nbsp;II: The Revenge of the Enchantress]]'' ([[1982 in video gaming|1982]]) details Mondain's secret student and lover [[Minax (Ultima)|Minax]]'s attempt to avenge him. When Minax launches an attack on the Stranger's homeworld of Earth, her actions cause doorways to open to various times and locations throughout Earth's history, and brings forth legions of monsters to all of them. The Stranger, after obtaining the Quicksword that alone can harm her, locates the evil sorceress at Castle Shadowguard at the origin of time and defeats her.

''[[Ultima&nbsp;III: Exodus]]'' ([[1983 in video gaming|1983]]) reveals that Mondain and Minax had an offspring, the eponymous Exodus, "neither human, nor machine", according to the later games (it is depicted as a computer at the conclusion of the game, and it appears to be a [[demon]]ic, self-aware [[artificial intelligence]]). Some time after Minax's death, Exodus starts its own attack on Sosaria and the Stranger is summoned once again to destroy it. ''Exodus'' was the first installment of the series featuring a [[role-playing game#Game systems|player party system]], which was used in many later games.

====The Age of Enlightenment: ''Ultima&nbsp;IV–VI''====
''[[Ultima&nbsp;IV: Quest of the Avatar]]'' ([[1985 in video gaming|1985]]) marked a turning point in the series from the traditional "[[hero]] vs. [[villain]]" plots, instead introducing a complex [[alignment (role-playing games)|alignment system]] based upon the [[#Virtues|Eight Virtues]] derived from the combinations of the Three Principles of Love, Truth and Courage. Although Britannia now prospers under Lord British's rule, he fears for his subjects' spiritual well-being and summons the Stranger again to become a [[spiritual leader]] of Britannian people by example. Throughout the game, the Stranger's actions determine how close he comes to this [[ideal (ethics)|ideal]]. Upon achieving enlightenment in every Virtue, he can reach the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom and becomes the "Avatar", the embodiment of Britannia's virtues.

In ''[[Ultima&nbsp;V: Warriors of Destiny]]'' ([[1988 in video gaming|1988]]), the Avatar returns to Britannia to find that after Lord British had been lost in the [[Underworld]], [[Lord Blackthorn]], who rules in his stead, was corrupted by the Shadowlords and enforces a [[political radicalism|radically twisted]] vision of the Virtues, deviating considerably from their original meaning. The Avatar and [[The Companions of the Avatar|his companions]] proceed to rescue the true king, overthrow the tyrant, and restore the Virtues in their true form.

''[[Ultima&nbsp;VI: The False Prophet]]'' ([[1990 in video gaming|1990]]) details the invasion of Britannia by [[Gargoyle]]s, which the Avatar and his companions have to repel. Over the course of the game, it is revealed that the Gargoyles have valid reasons to loathe the Avatar. Exploring the themes of [[racism]] and [[xenophobia]], the game tasks the Avatar with understanding and reconciling two seemingly opposing cultures.

====The Age of Armageddon: ''Ultima&nbsp;VII–IX''====
''[[Ultima VII: The Black Gate]]'' ([[1992 in video gaming|1992]]) sees the Avatar entangled in the plan of an ostensibly virtuous and benevolent organization named the Fellowship (inspired by [[Scientology]])<ref>''Prima's official strategy guide – Ultima Ascension'', page 271</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1571/the_history_of_computer_.php?page=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027093514/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1571/the_history_of_computer_.php?page=3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 27, 2007 |title=Features – The History of Computer Role-Playing Games Part III: The Platinum and Modern Ages (1994–2004) |website=Gamasutra |access-date=2012-09-02}}</ref> to create a gateway for the evil entity known as the Guardian to enter Britannia. Though all of the main line of ''Ultima'' games are arranged into trilogies, Richard Garriott later revealed that ''Ultima&nbsp;VII'' was the first game where he did any sort of planning ahead for future games in the series. He elaborated that "the first three didn't have much to do with each other, they were 'Richard Garriott learns to program'; IV through VI were a backwards-designed trilogy, in the sense that I tied them together as I wrote them; but VII-IX, the story of the Guardian, were a preplanned trilogy, and we had a definite idea of where we wanted to go."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=NG Alphas: Ultima&nbsp;IX: Ascension |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=22 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=October 1996|pages=154–5}}</ref> An [[expansion pack]] was released named ''[[Forge of Virtue]]'' that added a newly arisen volcanic island to the map that the Avatar was invited to investigate. The tie-in storyline was limited to this island, where a piece of Exodus (his data storage unit) had resurfaced. To leave the island again, the Avatar had to destroy this remnant of Exodus. In the process of doing so, he also created The Black Sword, an immensely powerful weapon possessed by a demon.

''[[Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle]]'' ([[1993 in video gaming|1993]]) was released as the second part of ''Ultima&nbsp;VII'' because it used the same game engine as ''Ultima&nbsp;VII''. According to interviews, Richard Garriott felt it therefore did not warrant a new number. Production was rushed due to deadlines set to the developers, and the storyline was cut short; remains of the original, longer storyline can be found in the database. Following the Fellowship's defeat, its founder [[Batlin (Ultima)|Batlin]] flees to the Serpent Isle, pursued by the Avatar and companions. Serpent Isle is revealed as another fragment of former Sosaria, and its history which is revealed throughout the game provides many explanations and ties up many loose ends left over from the Age of Darkness era. Magical storms herald the unraveling of the dying world's very fabric, and the game's mood is notably melancholic, including the voluntary sacrificial death of a long-standing companion of the Avatar, Dupre. By the end of the game, the Avatar is abducted by the Guardian and thrown into another world, which becomes the setting for the next game in the series. ''[[Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle#The Silver Seed expansion|The Silver Seed]]'' was an expansion pack for ''Ultima&nbsp;VII Part 2'' where the Avatar travels back in time to plant a silver seed, thus balancing the forces that hold the Serpent Isle together. Like ''Forge of Virtue'', the expansion contained an isolated sub-quest that was irrelevant to the main game's storyline, but provided the Avatar with a plethora of useful and powerful artifacts.

In ''[[Ultima VIII: Pagan]]'' ([[1994 in video gaming|1994]]), the Avatar finds himself exiled by the Guardian to a world called "Pagan". The Britannic Principles and Virtues are unknown here. Pagan is ruled by the Elemental Titans, [[god]]-like servants of the Guardian. The Avatar defeats them with their own magic, ascending to demi-godhood himself, and finally returns to Britannia. A planned expansion pack, ''The Lost Vale'', was canceled after ''Ultima&nbsp;VIII'' failed to meet sales expectations.

''[[Ultima&nbsp;IX: Ascension]]'' ([[1999 in video gaming|1999]]), the final installment of the series, sees Britannia conquered and its Virtues corrupted by the Guardian. The Avatar has to cleanse and restore them. The Guardian is revealed to be the evil part of the Avatar himself, expelled from him when he became the Avatar. To stop it, he has to merge with it, destroying himself as a separate entity. The [[Ultima IX: Ascension#Original plot|unreleased version of the plot]] featured a more [[apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction|apocalyptic]] ending, with the Guardian and Lord British killed, Britannia destroyed, and the Avatar ascending to a higher plane of existence.

====Collections====
* ''Ultima Trilogy'' (1989) – an early compilation of the first three ''Ultima'' games released for the Apple II, Commodore 64 and DOS by Origin Systems.
* ''Ultima: The Second Trilogy'' (1992) – a later trilogy of the second three ''Ultima'' games released by Origin Systems for Commodore 64 and DOS.
* ''Ultima&nbsp;I–VI Series'' (1992) – a compilation of the first six ''Ultima'' games and published for DOS by [[Software Toolworks]]. Includes reprints of the instruction manuals and original maps.
* ''Ultima Collection'' (February 1998)<ref>{{cite web|first=Harley|last=Jebens|url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_01/14_larry/index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001019032222/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_01/14_larry/index.html|title=Origin's Ultima Overdose|website=[[GameSpot]]|archivedate=October 19, 2000|date=January 14, 1998|accessdate=September 2, 2022}}</ref> – a [[CD-ROM]] collection of the first eight ''Ultima'' computer games published for DOS and Microsoft Windows 95/98, including their expansion packs. Includes a complete atlas of each game's map, a PC port of ''Akalabeth'', and a sneak preview of ''Ultima&nbsp;IX''.

===Spin-offs and other games===
''[[Akalabeth: World of Doom]]'' was released in [[1979 in video gaming|1979]], and is sometimes considered a precursor to the ''Ultima'' series.

[[Sierra On-Line]] also produced ''[[Ultima: Escape from Mt. Drash]]'' in [[1983 in video gaming|1983]]. The [[maze game]] has nothing in common with the others,<ref name="maher20130516">{{cite web | url=http://www.filfre.net/2013/05/the-legend-of-escape-from-mt-drash/ | title=The Legend of Escape from Mt. Drash | work=The Digital Antiquarian | date=2013-05-16 | access-date=10 July 2014 | author=Maher, Jimmy}}</ref> but is highly sought after by collectors due to extreme rarity.

The ''Worlds of Ultima'' series is a [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] of ''Ultima VI'' using the same [[game engine]], following the Avatar's adventures after the game's conclusion:
* In ''[[Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire]]'' ([[1990 in video gaming|1990]]), a failed experiment transports the Avatar to the Valley of Eodon, a [[jungle]] world populated by thirteen [[primitive tribe]]s whom he must unite against a common enemy, the [[Insectoids in science fiction|insectoid]] Myrmidex.
* ''[[Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams]]'' ([[1991 in video gaming|1991]]) takes place after ''The Savage Empire'' and sees the Avatar travel back in time to the [[Victorian era]] and eventually land on [[Mars]] to rescue humans stranded on it by accident and to restore the native Martian civilization.
* The third game, ''Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 3: Arthurian Legends'', was planned to be set in the times of [[King Arthur]] but was canceled in [[1993 in video gaming|1993]].

The second spin-off series, ''Ultima Underworld'', consisted of three games with a [[First person (video games)|first-person]] perspective:
* Set after ''Ultima VI'', ''[[Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss]]'' ([[1992 in video gaming|1992]]) sees the Avatar descending into the Great Stygian Abyss to rescue a Britannian [[baron]]'s kidnapped daughter and prevent the summoning of a powerful [[demon]].
* ''[[Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds]]'' ([[1993 in video gaming|1993]]) is set between the two parts of ''Ultima VII'' and starts with the Guardian trapping Lord British, the Avatar and his companions within an impenetrable barrier in their castle. To free them, the Avatar has to travel through several [[parallel universe (fiction)|parallel universe]]s looking for a way to undo the spell.
* ''[[Underworld Ascendant]]'' ([[2018 in video games|2018]]), the third in the series, licensed the lore and characters for the Underworld setting, but did not allow use of the ''Ultima'' brand. The Avatar has been transported to the Underworld and works with local factions.

A group of volunteer programmers created ''[[Ultima V: Lazarus]]'' in 2005, a remake of ''Ultima V'' using the ''[[Dungeon Siege]]'' engine.<!--

--><!-- Red link, notability not established: Another group of volunteer programmers created ''[[Ultima VI Project]]'' in 2010, a remake of ''Ultima VI'' also using the ''[[Dungeon Siege]]'' engine. -->

===Console games===
Console versions of ''Ultima'' have allowed further exposure to the series, especially in [[Japan]] where the games have been bestsellers and were accompanied by several [[Merchandising|tie-in products]] including ''Ultima'' [[animated cartoon|cartoons]] and [[manga]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=75 Power Players|journal=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=11|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=November 1995|pages=68–69}}</ref> In most cases, gameplay and graphics have been changed significantly.

====Console ports of computer games====
* ''Ultima III: Exodus'' ([[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]])
* ''Ultima: Quest of the Avatar'' (NES) - Remake: includes plot and gameplay changes.
* ''Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar'' ([[Master System]]) — A faithful port of the original. Only released in Europe and South America.
* ''Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny'' (NES)
* ''Ultima VI: The False Prophet'' ([[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]) — Gameplay adapted for the game pad.
* ''Ultima: The Black Gate'' (SNES) — Action-adventure remake.
* ''Ultima: The Savage Empire'' (SNES) — A graphical update using the ''Black Gate'' engine for the SNES. Japan only, canceled in the US.
* ''Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss'' ([[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]) — Uses 3D models rather than the 2D sprites of the original. Released only in Japan.

====Original console games====
* ''[[Ultima: Runes of Virtue]]'' (1991) ([[Game Boy]]) — Non-canonical, action-based gameplay and puzzle solving. The game's antagonist is called the "Black Knight".<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Gamespot ''The Ultima Legacy''|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/ultima/g15.html|access-date=2013-08-11|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive}}</ref>
* ''[[Ultima: Runes of Virtue II]]'' (1993) (Game Boy, [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]])

===''Ultima Online'' MMORPG===
{{Timeline of release years
|subtitle = List of ''[[Ultima Online expansions]]''
|1998 =''[[Ultima Online: The Second Age|The Second Age]]''
|2000 =''[[Ultima_Online_expansions#Renaissance|Renaissance]]''
|2001 =''[[Ultima_Online_expansions#Third_Dawn|Third Dawn]]''
|2002 =''[[Ultima_Online_expansions#Lord_Blackthorn's_Revenge|Lord Blackthorn's Revenge]]''
|2003 =''[[Ultima_Online_expansions#Age_of_Shadows|Age of Shadows]]''
|2004 =''[[Ultima_Online_expansions#Samurai_Empire|Samurai Empire]]''
|2005 =''[[Ultima_Online_expansions#Mondain's_Legacy|Mondain's Legacy]]''
|2009 =''[[Ultima_Online_expansions#Stygian_Abyss|Stygian Abyss]]''
|2010 =''[[Ultima Online expansions#High Seas|High Seas]]''
|2015 =''[[Ultima Online expansions#Time of Legends|Time of Legends]]''
}}

''[[Ultima Online]]'' ([[1997 in video gaming|1997]]), a [[MMORPG]] spin-off of the main series, has become an unexpected hit, making it one of the earliest and longest-running successful MMORPGs of all time. Its lore [[retcon]]ned the ending of ''Ultima&nbsp;I'', stating that when the Stranger shattered the Gem of Immortality, he discovered that it was tied to the world itself, therefore its shards each contained a miniature version of Britannia. The player characters in ''Ultima Online'' exist on these "shards". Eight expansion packs for ''UO'' have been released (''[[Ultima Online: The Second Age|The Second Age]]'', ''[[Ultima Online: Renaissance|Renaissance]]'', ''[[Ultima Online: Third Dawn|Third Dawn]]'', ''[[Ultima Online: Lord Blackthorn's Revenge|Lord Blackthorn's Revenge]]'', ''[[Ultima Online: Age of Shadows|Age of Shadows]]'', ''[[Ultima Online: Samurai Empire|Samurai Empire]]'', ''[[Ultima Online: Mondain's Legacy|Mondain's Legacy]]'' and ''[[Ultima Online: Stygian Abyss|Stygian Abyss]]''). The aging ''UO'' graphic engine was renewed in 2007 with the official ''[[Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn|Kingdom Reborn]]'' client. ''Ultima Online 2'', later renamed to ''[[Ultima Worlds Online: Origin]]'' and canceled in [[2001 in video gaming|2001]], would have introduced [[steampunk]] elements to the game world, following Lord British's unsuccessful attempt to merge past, present, and future shards together.

''UO'' spawned two sequel efforts that were canceled before release: ''[[Ultima Worlds Online: Origin]]'' (canceled in [[2001 in video gaming|2001]], though the game's storyline was published in the Technocrat War trilogy) and ''[[Ultima&nbsp;X: Odyssey]]'' (canceled in [[2004 in video gaming|2004]]). ''Ultima&nbsp;X: Odyssey'' would have continued the story of ''Ultima&nbsp;IX''. Now merged with the Guardian, the Avatar creates a world of Alucinor inside his mind, where the players were supposed to pursue the Eight Virtues in order to strengthen him and weaken the Guardian. ''Ultima&nbsp;X'' was developed without participation of the original creator [[Richard Garriott]] and he no longer owns the rights to the series. However, he still owns the rights to several of the game characters so it is impossible for either him or [[Electronic Arts]] to produce a new ''Ultima'' title without getting permission from each other.

===''Lord of Ultima''===
''[[Lord of Ultima]]'' is a defunct free-to-play browser-based [[MMORTS]] released in 2010 by [[EA Phenomic]]. It was the first release in the ''Ultima'' series since ''Ultima Online'', and also the first title to have no involvement from series creator Garriott or founding company Origin. It has been criticized{{By whom|date=July 2014}} for having slow-paced gameplay and very weak connections to the Ultima franchise lore.
EA announced on February 12, 2014 that ''Lord of Ultima'' would be shut down and taken offline as of May 12, 2014.{{update inline|date=July 2014}}

===''Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar''===
Announced in summer 2012, ''[[Ultima Forever]]'' is a defunct free-to-play online action role-playing game. In contrast to ''Lord of Ultima'', ''Ultima Forever'' returns to the lore of the original game series.
As of August 29, 2014. Ultima Forever's servers were shut down.

===Other media===
Several novels were released under the ''Ultima'' name, including:
* ''The Ultima Saga'' by [[Lynn Abbey]] ([[Warner Books]])
** ''The Forge of Virtue'' (1991)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lynnabbey.com/html/forge_of_virtue.html |title=Forge of Virtue |publisher=Lynnabbey.com |access-date=2012-08-17}}</ref>
** ''The Temper of Wisdom'' (1992)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lynnabbey.com/html/temper_of_wisdom.html |title=Temper of Wisdom |publisher=Lynnabbey.com |access-date=2012-08-17}}</ref>
* ''Ultima: The Technocrat War'' by Austen Andrews ([[Pocket Books]])
** ''Machinations'' (2001)
** ''Masquerade'' (2002)
** ''Maelstrom'' (2002)

In Japan, various novels, multiple gamebooks, a soundtrack CD, two kinds of wrist watches, a tape dispenser, a pencil holder, a board game, a jacket, and a beach towel were released. There were rumours of an ''Ultima'' anime cartoon,<ref>''The Official Book of Ultima,'' page 78</ref> but its existence has been described as unlikely.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rumor Control: The History of Ultima Cartoons - Wing Commander CIC|url=https://www.wcnews.com/news/update/14815|access-date=2021-02-20|website=www.wcnews.com|date=13 December 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

Four main manga comics were released in Japan:
* ''Ultima: EXODUS No Kyoufu'' (The Terror of EXODUS)
* ''Ultima: Quest of the Avatar''
* ''Ultima: Magincia no Metsubou'' (The Fall of Magincia)
* ''Ultima: The Maze of Schwarzschild