《蘭斯》（Rance）系列是風格獨特、歷時近三十年的長壽成人RPG遊戲作品，由日本知名美少女遊戲品牌 AliceSoft（アリスソフト） 製作，主要以RPG及戰略遊戲為主。自1989年《蘭斯：尋找小光》（ランス～光をもとめて～）在PC-8800平台推出以來，該系列不僅成為AliceSoft的代表作，更被譽為是日本18禁遊戲史上最重要的系列之一。

故事主角「蘭斯」是一名性格自大、自戀、好色但實力極強的冒險者。他在架空世界「利薩斯王國」中展開一場場熱血又荒誕的冒險，初期目的是為尋找失蹤的貴族少女小光，之後故事逐步擴展成描繪人類與魔族勢力爭霸的宏大史詩。該系列特點是融合傳統RPG系統、戰略模擬、迷宮探索與戀愛養成等要素，並以18禁情節與黑色幽默聞名。雖然表面包裝是「成人向作品」，但隨著劇情推進，其世界觀結構、人物塑造與敘事深度超越眾多主流RPG遊戲。

系列從初代開始就展現出強烈的個人風格，開發者TADA與其團隊並未妥協於當時市場主流的輕鬆戀愛路線，而是塑造出一位不按牌理出牌、性格極端卻又極具魅力的男主角。蘭斯不僅與眾多女性角色有肉體關係，還經常以「暴君」姿態行事，卻在關鍵時刻展現出領袖魅力與英雄精神，使其成為玩家又愛又恨的對象。

從1990年代至2000年代，《蘭斯》系列經歷畫風進化、系統更替與劇情擴張等變化。代表作如《蘭斯5D》、《戰國蘭斯》、《蘭斯9：赫爾曼革命》與最終作《蘭斯10：决戰》不僅在玩法上不斷創新，還成功將「性」的內容包裝進嚴肅甚至感人的戰爭與政治敘事中。《戰國蘭斯》作為系列的轉捩點之一，以戰略模擬玩法搭配日本戰國背景，開創系列銷量與口碑雙豐收的高峰。

2018年發售的《蘭斯10：決戰》（Rance X –決戰-）則被視為整個系列的總結與巔峰，結合系列數十年來出現的角色與事件，為人魔之爭畫下壯闊句點。遊戲系統融合卡牌戰鬥、資源管理與劇情分支，規模龐大、自由度極高，被玩家譽為「成年向遊戲的集大成之作」。該作在美少女遊戲玩家群中獲得空前好評，甚至打破非主流遊戲無法登上主流平台的偏見。

在市場評價方面，《蘭斯》系列歷來被視為成人遊戲中少數能兼顧劇情、玩法與角色魅力的精品。儘管其18禁屬性讓它無法進入主流遊戲展覽與媒體報導，但在核心玩家圈層與同人創作中有著極高的影響力，尤其在日本、台灣與部分歐美地區的日系ACG圈中擁有穩固的粉絲群。玩家們認為，《蘭斯》突破成人遊戲「只有色情沒有內容」的偏見，其角色命運的描寫、世界觀的構築甚至可以與《Final Fantasy》、《Dragon Quest》等主流RPG並列討論。

TADA本人在系列完結時也發表感言，表示他將《蘭斯》系列視為其一生最重要的創作之一。從1989年到2018年，這段將近三十年的時光，不僅記錄日本成人遊戲發展的縮影，也見證一位創作者如何用幽默、熱情與勇氣將一個不被主流認可的題材推向極致。

總結來說，《蘭斯》不只是成人遊戲，它是對RPG敘事、角色設計與玩家互動的深入實驗與顛覆。在「平成」這段日本遊戲史中，這位自戀又有魅力的冒險者，確實留下無法抹去的傳奇痕跡。

The Rance series is a uniquely styled, long-running adult RPG franchise spanning nearly thirty years, developed by the renowned Japanese bishōjo game studio AliceSoft (アリスソフト). Primarily focused on role-playing and strategy gameplay, the series began in 1989 with Rance: Hikari o Motomete ("Rance: The Quest for Hikari"), released on the PC-8800 platform. It has since become AliceSoft's flagship property and is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential titles in the history of Japanese adult gaming.

The story centers on Rance, an arrogant, narcissistic, lecherous, yet undeniably powerful adventurer. Set in the fictional world of the Kingdom of Leazas, Rance’s journey begins as a quest to find a missing noblewoman named Hikari, but the narrative gradually evolves into a sprawling epic chronicling the conflict between humans and demons. The series is characterized by its hybrid gameplay, blending classic RPG systems with strategy, dungeon crawling, and dating-sim mechanics, and is especially known for its 18+ content and dark humor. While marketed as adult entertainment, the games feature a depth of storytelling, character development, and worldbuilding that surpasses many mainstream RPG titles.

From the very first installment, the series exhibited a strong and unapologetic identity. Rather than conforming to the lighthearted romance trends of the time, creator TADA and his team crafted a male protagonist who defied convention—an antihero who engages in numerous sexual encounters and often behaves like a tyrant, yet ultimately displays leadership and heroism that earn players' conflicted admiration.

Through the 1990s and 2000s, the Rance series evolved in both art style and game mechanics. Major entries such as Rance 5D, Sengoku Rance, Rance 9: The Helman Revolution, and the final title Rance X: Showdown demonstrated continual innovation. The series successfully integrated erotic content into stories of war, politics, and personal growth. Sengoku Rance, in particular, marked a turning point—its tactical strategy gameplay set against the backdrop of Japan’s Warring States era led to both commercial and critical success.

Released in 2018, Rance X: Showdown (Rance X –決戦–) served as the grand finale to the series and is considered its ultimate masterpiece. Bringing together decades of characters and lore, the game concludes the human-demon conflict in a sweeping climax. Its gameplay fused card-based combat, resource management, and branching narrative paths, creating a vast and complex experience with exceptional freedom. Many players hailed it as the definitive adult RPG, with some even arguing that it shattered the stereotype of adult games being purely erotic with little substance.

Critically, the Rance series has long been seen as a rare gem within adult gaming—one that balances storytelling, gameplay depth, and character appeal. Although its 18+ content barred it from mainstream trade shows and media outlets, it maintained a strong following in enthusiast circles, particularly in Japan, Taiwan, and parts of the West. Fans have praised the series for breaking through the stigma of adult games lacking narrative weight, noting that its exploration of character fates and intricate worldbuilding are on par with mainstream RPG franchises like Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest.

Upon the series’ conclusion, creator TADA expressed that Rance was the most important work of his life. From 1989 to 2018, this near three-decade journey not only mirrored the evolution of Japan’s adult game industry, but also showed how humor, passion, and creative courage could elevate a niche genre to artistic and cultural relevance.

In summary, Rance is more than just an adult game franchise. It is an ambitious experiment in RPG narrative, character dynamics, and player engagement. Within the broader landscape of Heisei-era Japanese gaming, this narcissistic yet captivating adventurer has carved an indelible legacy.