It began with Hero's Quest I: So You Want to Be a Hero?, but a copyright dispute over the name Hero's Quest turned the series title into Quest for Glory.
The series contained the following games:
Quest for Glory I: So You Want to be a Hero - released in 1989 (VGA remake in 1991)
Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire - released in 1990
Quest for Glory III: Wages of War - released in 1992
Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness - released in 1994
Quest for Glory V: Dragon Fire - released in 1998
Each game drew its inspiration from a different culture and mythology (in order, European/fairy tale; Arab/Middle Eastern; Egyptian/African; Eastern European; and finally Greco-Mediterranean) with the Hero facing increasingly powerfulful opponents with help from characters who become increasingly familiar from game to game.
The enjoyment was enhanced by the player's ability to choose his character's career path from among the three traditional role-playing game backgrounds: fighter, spellcaster and thief. Further variation was added by the ability to customize the Hero's abilities, including the option of selecting skills normally reserved for another job class. Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire and Quest for Glory III: Wages of War added the ability to turn a character into a Paladin.
Each career path had its own strengths and weaknesses, as well as its own unique quests and scenarios. Each class also had its own unique way to solve various in-game puzzles, which encouraged replay. For instance, only the Thief would see what the inside of the Thieves' Guild looks like, and generally only a Magic User could play Mages' Maze against the wizard Erasmus.