Over the past few years, it has become increasingly common for works of all kinds to be adapted into different media from their original format, with collaborations giving rise to films, television series, books, comics, and video games that share the same narrative universe. This practice has exponentially expanded the target audience for many productions and has already been followed by major names in the entertainment industry: Star Wars, The Witcher, Game of Thrones, Batman, The Last of Us, and many others. Now, among these names, we also find Dragonero, a comic book series created by Luca Enoch and Stefano Vietti, published under the banner of Sergio Bonelli Editore – first as a graphic novel in 2007 and, since 2013, as a standalone regular publication with over a hundred issues.
Dragonero: L’Ascesa di Draquir is a turn-based RPG set in the lands of Erondàr, the fantasy empire where the adventures of protagonist Ian Aranill take place. It offers a visual style that faithfully reflects the original work, literally bringing its detailed illustrations to life on screen. By guiding the champions of this universe, players must explore dungeons, travel across a vast world filled with events, and battle fierce enemies using a turn-based system that adds a welcome strategic touch.
When dealing with high-profile names like Sergio Bonelli Editore, securing a collaboration is often challenging, as such publishers are understandably protective of their intellectual properties. “The collaboration between Operaludica and Sergio Bonelli Editore came about thanks to Ivan Venturi, a key figure in the Italian video game industry and a great enthusiast of stories and comics.” This was explained to Excaliber by Marco Pirruccio, CEO of Operaludica, the Bologna-based development studio behind Dragonero: L’Ascesa di Draquir. “Ivan saw the potential of Dragonero as a video game, managed to connect our two teams, and got the project started. Operaludica was born from my dual passion for both video games and Dragonero. ” This collaboration was an important learning experience for Operaludica, contributing to the maturity of the entire team. “The opportunity to work closely with Sergio Bonelli Editore, a publisher that has created such powerful and long-lasting imaginary worlds, was nothing short of exciting. Their team actively supported the game’s development by sharing visual materials, stories, and in-depth details about the Dragonero universe. ”
It is easy to imagine that translating the vast lore of Dragonero into a video game was no small feat, and Marco confirms this. “Dragonero is an incredibly multifaceted world with an intricate mythology and history. Bringing this complexity into a video game was a huge challenge. We wanted players to feel the charm and mystery of Erondàr without making the gaming experience overwhelming. We focused on key elements of the saga, such as exploration and adventure, while maintaining a compelling and structured narrative. ” This immense task was made possible by the expertise of the original comic’s artists and writers, whom Operaludica collaborated with to shape the game world. “We worked with many professionals from Sergio Bonelli Editore and made extensive use of the comic’s vast visual archive. The most exciting part was working directly with Luca Enoch and Stefano Vietti, the creators of the saga, who helped us respect and translate the comic’s imagery and narrative complexity into an interactive experience. This allowed us to create a game faithful to the spirit of Dragonero, a crucial aspect for maintaining its connection with the fanbase. ”
Ironically, the most difficult audience to please is often the longtime fans of a famous comic like Dragonero. The reason is simple: they know every detail of the many published issues and do not easily accept discrepancies or contradictions. It was therefore essential for Operaludica to embed the story within the continuity of the main work. “ The plot of Dragonero: L’Ascesa di Draquir fits into the narrative flow of the comic saga after the volume Le Origini. We worked to create an adventure that could exist within the Dragonero timeline without interfering with already published stories. Fans will recognize iconic settings and characters and will find references to events and missions from the comics. Our goal was to create an experience that enriches the Dragonero world while offering a new story that appeals to both longtime fans and newcomers to this universe. ” Thanks to the support of both the original authors and the fans, the project not only progressed smoothly but was also presented at major Italian industry events such as Milan Games Week and Lucca Comics & Games. “The reception was extremely positive. Dragonero fans, in particular, appreciated the effort to stay true to the original work and gave us enthusiastic feedback, sharing their favourite moments and discoveries in the game. ”
But it wasn’t just Italy – participation in international events like the Tokyo Game Show gave Operaludica increased visibility abroad as well. “The international audience also responded well, showing interest in a fantasy universe that is so carefully crafted and unique. Attending events like TGS was crucial for gathering global feedback and engaging with players and fans from different markets. It was thrilling to see how Erondàr and its characters captivated and fascinated people unfamiliar with the comic and to connect with audiences from distant cultures through its distinct and artistically significant aesthetic. ”
Although Dragonero: L’Ascesa di Draquir was released last September, work on the game is far from over. Operaludica is developing a new mode called Master Mode, an expansion that allows players to create and share their own dungeons and stories. “ Master Mode is designed to give the community the power to create, explore, and share custom adventures. We expect users to unleash their creativity by building complex dungeons, missions with surprising plots, and even stories that tie into the main saga. ” In addition to this new mode, Operaludica is also working on various game updates to refine the experience as much as possible. “We have optimized Dragonero’s complex user interface to make it easily usable on Steam Deck.” A crucial step before eventually tackling versions for other consoles.
In other words, Operaludica is meticulously nurturing the Dragonero brand, adding more details and content to enrich the game as much as possible. “Further updates are planned, currently released about every two weeks, along with a wealth of additional content, including missions, environments, and characters. We want the game to grow and continue to surprise fans by constantly expanding the experience and providing new reasons to explore Erondàr..”
Excaliber also had the opportunity to discuss this collaboration with Sergio Bonelli Editore. This partnership held special significance for the publishing house because, although Sergio Bonelli Editore has previously adapted its works into other media, the video game industry represented an entirely new frontier for Dragonero. “For years, Sergio Bonelli Editore has been on a path that has transformed it from a publishing house into a true media company” revealed Vincenzo Sarno, Head of Property Business Development at Sergio Bonelli Editore. “With the Bonelli Entertainment brand, we produce TV series, animated shows, and films. The creative challenge of adapting Dragonero, one of our most beloved comic book characters, into a video game required a deep understanding of the new medium and constant attention to balancing fidelity to the original work with the introduction of dynamic elements characteristic of interactivity. ”
It seems there was an immediate synergy with Operaludica. Both parties knew that Dragonero was almost made to be adapted into a video game. “ This experience with Operaludica was a unique opportunity to venture into the gaming world, which has always been closely connected to comics. Dragonero, with its vast fantasy world, was a perfect fit for this transition from comic to video game: the result is gameplay rich with locations, characters, and quests, appreciated by fans of the character while being perfectly accessible even to those unfamiliar with the comic. This allowed us to reach new fans and introduce our characters to a broader audience. ”
The adventure with Operaludica may just be the first step in a larger journey. Sergio Bonelli Editore has expressed great enthusiasm and confidence in the world of video games. “The success of Dragonero: L’Ascesa di Draquir has undoubtedly proven that a Bonelli comic can be successfully adapted into a video game while maintaining its original atmosphere and characters, creating an engaging gaming experience for fans.” With many IPs under Bonelli’s control and considering the achievements of this first venture, the desire to expand into the gaming industry is strong. “ In our dreams, all Bonelli characters can follow this same successful path, as they are perfectly suited to their respective worlds and narrative genres within the video game medium. Public interest is growing, and our desire to expand the Bonelli universe is at its peak. So, we can expect to see new and exciting projects bringing our favourite heroes to new platforms and new adventures. ”
With so many recent success stories, no further proof is needed to show that comics and video games share a strong and natural bond. Modern technologies allow for the on-screen adaptation of worlds and characters with minimal alteration, making it possible to create even more immersive universes. Sergio Bonelli Editore’s promise is truly exciting and sparks curiosity. Now, we just have to wait for news of their next collaboration – dreaming of virtual worlds dedicated to Tex, Nathan Never, Dylan Dog, Martin Mystère, and many more iconic characters that many would love to see adapted into video games.
