SSI (Strategic Simulations, Inc.) · 1992
The Summoning
Session Respect Score
"Classic dungeon crawler with gesture-based magic and level progression."
Minimum session
30 min
Pausability
At save points
Resume friendliness
Some reorientation
FOMO pressure
Zero FOMO
Focus required
Intense
Session structure
Story chapters
Where to play
Similar games
Platforms
About
The Summoning is an isometric-view fantasy role-playing video game developed by Event Horizon (later renamed DreamForge) and published by SSI in 1992. The sequel to Event Horizon's first game, DarkSpyre, The Summoning replaced the random-generated dungeons of the previous game with pre-designed levels. The title featured numerous magic items, as well as a spell-casting system utilizing virtual hand gestures. The game also utilized "runes" as a way to magically gain abilities or items. The game had several features typical of dungeon crawls, such as random treasure, weapon and armor options, treasure chests, and the use of a mannequin to visually aid in inventory management. The dungeon in The Summoning was broken up into separate levels and sections, with different types of monsters (such as undead) and NPCs being found in each. The featured weapon in the game is a large two-handed blade called "Warmonger." When first found, it is rusty and not very effective. But by repeatedly using it to kill, the magical blade becomes an immensely powerful weapon. The blade is actually a sentient, evil being with bloodlust.
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Platform Notes
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The Summoning — Session FAQ
- How long does a session of The Summoning take?
- The minimum meaningful session for The Summoning is approximately 30 minutes. This is the shortest play window where you can make real progress or have a satisfying experience, based on community data.
- Can you pause The Summoning?
- The Summoning uses save points or manual saves. You'll need to reach a checkpoint before exiting to avoid losing progress — factor this into your session planning.
- Does The Summoning pressure you to keep playing?
- The Summoning has no FOMO mechanics — no timed events, live content, or narrative cliffhangers. You can stop whenever you want without feeling like you're missing out.
- What is The Summoning's Session Respect Score?
- The Summoning has a Session Respect Score of 7.0/10. This score combines minimum session length, pausability, FOMO level, and pickup friendliness into a single metric for how well the game fits busy schedules.