A LYMM games studio has teamed up with the ‘godfathers of the games industry’ to revive the celebrated Fighting Fantasy books for the digital age.

Nomad Games collaborated with authors Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson on Fighting Fantasy Legends which has been released as the roleplaying series marks its 35th anniversary.

The dice-rolling game, available on Steam, Google Play and the Apple App Store, is based on the classic roleplaying game books, City of Thieves, Citadel of Chaos and The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.

The original series saw you plot your own adventure by making choices that corresponded to different pages in the book and led to different outcomes. It was revolutionary at the time.

Set in Titan, a world of monsters and magic, the series has sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide and has been published in more than 35 languages.

Nomad’s version of Fighting Fantasy also sees players use cards.

The studio in Church Road, with a team of 16, has come to specialise in video game adaptations of card games after working on the likes of Talisman and Smash Up.

The original boardgame version of Talisman was released by Games Workshop, the tabletop wargames company that Ian and Steve also co-founded.

Don Whiteford, who set up Nomad after previously working for the games developer THQ in Centre Park, said: “Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson, authors of the Fighting Fantasy books, are also godfathers of the British games industry and to be working with them here in Lymm is both an honour and a privilege.

“The launch of our game coincides with the relaunch of their famous books, so these are exciting times for us as we continue to expand our portfolio of digital tabletop games with famous licenses.”

Steve and Ian both went on to work in the games industry after the success of Fighting Fantasy.

Ian joined Eidos Interactive, securing many of the company’s major franchises including Tomb Raider and Hitman.

And Steve set up Lionhead Studios with Peter Molyneux.

Ian said: “Fighting Fantasy has survived the test of time, and I’m delighted that Nomad are reimagining our game books in an exciting new way for digital.

“They have linked together three classic titles to let players to explore the world of Allansia in a thrilling solo adventure with lots of familiar characters and creatures and to meet and defeat.”

Steve added: “We are proud to have been working with Nomad on Fighting Fantasy Legends.

“Throughout the development they have striven to maintain the look and feel of the Fighting Fantasy world of Titan and have succeeded admirably.

“Plus they have introduced a whole new approach to Fighting Fantasy, bringing cards into the gameplay.”