What Was the First Third-Person Video Game? Knightmare (1987) Is the Leading Candidate

There's no single undisputed "first," but the strongest contender for the first widely recognized third-person action-adventure with direct character control and a trailing camera is:

Knightmare (1987) — by Ultimate Play the Game (later Rare)

• Platforms: ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Atari ST, MSX.
• Perspective: Fixed isometric camera positioned behind and above the player character (a knight).
• Control: Direct 8-directional movement of the character relative to the screen — not tank controls, not grid-based.
• Gameplay: Real-time exploration, combat, puzzle-solving in a fantasy world.

Why It's the Leading Candidate

• Clear third-person view (character visible on screen).
• Direct avatar control in a continuous world.
• Camera follows character's position (scrolling screen).
• Commercial release, not a tech demo.

Earlier "Proto-Third-Person" Titles

• Zaxxon (1982, Arcade): Isometric shooter. Ship moves in 3D space but on fixed rails (forced scrolling). No free movement.
• Space Invaders (1978): Technically a side view of a "character" (cannon), but fixed single-axis movement.
• Radar Scope (1980) / Star Fire (1979): First-person or fixed third-person rail shooters.
• Temple of Apshai (1979, TRS-80/PET): Top-down dungeon crawler — overhead, not third-person.

Evolution After Knightmare

• Prince of Persia (1989): Side-view, but fluid animation set the standard for character presence.
• Fade to Black (1995) / Tomb Raider (1996): True 3D third-person with camera-relative controls — the modern template.

Verdict: Knightmare (1987) is the earliest clear implementation of the third-person action-adventure paradigm.