
Spyro
"A purple dragon's journey through vibrant worlds"
Score
83.0/10
Overview
Spyro is a platform game series that began in 1998 as a PlayStation exclusive, created by Insomniac Games. The series follows Spyro, a young purple dragon, as he explores colorful 3D worlds, collects gems, and defeats enemies. Core mechanics include charging, gliding, flaming, and headbutting, with levels connected through hub worlds. The series is known for its family-friendly difficulty and hidden secrets like skill points and dragon eggs.
The original trilogy includes Spyro the Dragon (1998), Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! (1999), and Spyro: Year of the Dragon (2000). After Activision acquired the rights in 2008, the franchise saw spin-offs and later a faithful remake collection, Spyro Reignited Trilogy (2018), developed by Toys for Bob. In 2026, a new entry, Spyro: A Realm Beyond, was announced for a 2027 release.
Gameplay
Players control Spyro through 3D levels, using a moveset that includes charging, gliding, flaming, and headbutting. A supercharge mechanic lets Spyro run on special ramps to break barriers or defeat stronger foes. Levels are interconnected via hub worlds, with each game introducing new abilities and collectibles like gems, dragon eggs, and orbs. The series emphasizes exploration and light puzzle-solving.
Story
In Spyro the Dragon, the evil Gnasty Gnorc traps all dragons in crystal, and Spyro must free them across six worlds. Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! sees Spyro vacationing in Avalar, where he must defeat the villain Ripto. Spyro: Year of the Dragon involves traveling to the Forgotten Worlds to rescue stolen dragon eggs from the Sorceress. The Reignited Trilogy faithfully remakes these stories.
Awards & Acclaim
Interactive Achievement Awards: Best Console Game: (1999)
The Game Awards: Best Remake/Remaster: (2018)
Golden Joystick Awards: Best Re-release: (2019)
Keywords
Game Info
- Developer
- Insomniac Games
- Publisher
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- Engine
- Custom engine (original); Unreal Engine 4 (Reignited Trilogy)
- Release Date
- 1998-09-10
- Age Rating
- E (Everyone)
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- PlayStation, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
- Original Creator
- Insomniac Games
- First Release
- September 10, 1998
- Total Sales
- Over 20 million copies worldwide
- Composer
- Stewart Copeland (original trilogy)
- Art Director
- Charles Zembillas
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