Beginner's Guide

AP:
This game has a totally different vibe from the rest of the series, and it's really interesting to see where it came from and how it grows!

AV1:
This is the big nostalgia hitter of the series, but in my opinion it also has the absolute best maps. The art style is interesting and gorgeous and makes exploring all the more fun, and the map design is really creative and plays with space in interesting ways.

AV2:
I love the entire series with my whole heart, but in my opinion this is the most well-rounded. The story and characters are really compelling, the maps are a delight to explore, and the gameplay is challenging but rarely frustrating.

AV3:
Mel has made a name for herself as a thief on the streets of Harburg. Hired to steal a family heirloom from a supposedly haunted keep, the job goes south when her client reveals himself to be a vampire determined to use Mel - and the dark prophecy entwined with her family lineage - to take over the world. Mel escapes, but is left with the job of preventing her family's curse from coming to fruition.

This game has four chapters: Lord of Twilight, Gates of Night, The Lost Orb, and The Darkthrop Prophecy. They're all reliant on each other and should be played in order, although the game will provide you with information to catch you up to speed if you start in the middle.

This is my favorite game in the series! It's a wild, whacky ride, with a lot of my favorite characters not just from Aveyond but basically any media ever. I think it's tied for Aveyond 4 with strongest cast, and I really love the way they play off of each other.

AV4:
Boyle Wolfbane tried and failed to take over the world. He's resigned himself to an early and mostly content retirement, until his pet wolf Fang goes missing. Meanwhile, the Mist Queen's son, Whisp, is kidnapped, and she sends her daughter, Myst, to find him. Fang and Whisp's fates become connected with both each other's and that of the entire world, pushing Boyle and Myst to work together and forcing Boyle to become what he hates most: a hero.

This game has a more robust battle system - it maintains the simple, turn-based element, but emphasizes the strategy component by individualizing the options for each character. It's my favorite battle system in any game I've ever played! It also ties with Aveyond 3 for favorite cast in the series - everyone in this game is really solid, at least kind of weird, and incredibly charming.

FAQ
(HOW) Can I play on [system]?
Although originally the series could only be played on a Windows PC, it was ported by RadialApps for both [**Mac**](https://radialapps.com/mac/ultimate.html@blank) and [**Linux**](https://radialapps.com/linux/ultimate.html@blank)! RadialApps also ported the series for Android mobile devices, and it can now be found on the Google Play store.

Alternatively, you can use either an emulator of your choice or [**WineHQ**](https://www.winehq.org/@blank), to allow you to run Windows programs on other operating systems. You can read about how to use Wine [**here**](https://www.howtogeek.com/263211/how-to-run-windows-programs-on-a-mac-with-wine/@blank@blank) for Mac systems, or [**here**](https://www.howtogeek.com/263211/how-to-run-windows-programs-on-a-mac-with-wine/@blank) for Linux systems. The Steam versions should also be compatible with Proton, Valve's fork of Wine for Linux.

where should i start?
I would recommend Aveyond 1! Although the series isn't super reliant on its own lore to understand, there's little stuff you'll appreciate more if you play the series in order. However, if one of the game descriptions really strikes your fancy, I'd say just jump in there! I know people who have started with every game in the series and all ended up enjoying it thoroughly.

I would honestly recommend going back and playing Ahriman's Prophecy after Aveyond 1 (if you play it at all - lots of fans don't), because I find it most compelling if you already know what happens to the world/characters. It's also not really a tonal or gameplay match for the series as a whole, so it won't be a totally accurate first exposure. However, if you're a stickler for chronological order or really into the gameplay/graphics, it's a good place to start, too!

i'm interested, but i hate rpgs. tips?

If you're up for attempting to play it, try a free trial and playing the game on easy mode. It's a very casual series, so it might be able to sell you. However, that's definitely not a guarantee.

There's a host of playthroughs on YouTube, so you can always check those out! I don't have any recommendations, because I haven't watched through them myself, but I'll update this with them if I get any. I'm also slowly making my way through recording a no-commentary playthrough of the series to make sure that option is available!

is it hard/what mode should i play on?
A couple dungeons in each game are pretty difficult, and in Normal and Expert mode there tends to be a steep experience curve, but gameplay is pretty straightforward/simplistic and there aren't very many puzzles, if any, depending on the game. Most difficulty will be the time spent grinding. 

If you're concerned by battles or don't like grinding, I recommend Easy mode. If you're a fan of turn-based RPGs and don't mind having to train to level up, I would go for Normal. If you actively enjoy grinding in video games, Expert might be the right choice for you. Because grinding is such a big part of the different difficulties, bear in mind the higher difficulty you choose, the longer the game will take to play.

how long do they take to play?
Gameplay varies on game, play style, and difficulty setting. These ranges are compiled from my personal experience, friends' projections of their playtime, and the playtimes the games have been advertised with! Asterisks indicate my biggest guess-timates.

Game
Easy
Normal
Expert

Ahriman's Prophecy
n/a
35-45 hrs*
n/a

Aveyond 1
15-20 hrs
25-30 hrs
30-40 hrs

Aveyond 2
10-15 hrs
20-25 hrs
30-40 hrs

Aveyond 3 (Full)
28-40 hrs
40-60 hrs
60-80 hrs

Aveyond 3 (Chapter)
7-10 hrs
10-15 hrs
15-20 hrs

Aveyond 4
25-30 hrs*
30-35 hrs
40-45 hrs*


what's the best way to buy the series on a budget?

**Windows:** If you're willing to be patient, keep an eye out for sales on Big Fish Games for **[Aveyond 1](https://www.bigfishgames.com/games/1030/aveyond/?pc@blank)** and **[Aveyond 2](https://www.bigfishgames.com/games/2256/aveyond-2/?pc@blank)**, which will easily bring the cost of those games down from $10 each to $10 total, and for the **[Aveyond Saga (3 & 4)](https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/15386/Aveyond_Saga/@blank)** on Steam, which will bring down the cost from $47 to, again, nearly $10!
If you don't want to wait, jumping straight in on Big Fish is probably cheapest.

**Mac:** **[Radial Apps Mac Series Bundle](https://radialapps.com/mac/ultimate.html@blank)**, $36 for the entire series

**Linux:** **[Radial Apps Linux Series Bundle](https://radialapps.com/linux/ultimate.html@blank)**, $36 for the entire series