Shining in the Darkness is a role-playing game co-developed by Climax Entertainment and Sonic! Software Planning (now Camelot) and published by Sega in 1991 for the Mega Drive. As the first entry in the Shining series, it marked the franchise's RPG debut on the Mega Drive and laid the foundation for later titles. Featuring a first-person perspective, players control the protagonist alongside two companions—the mage Pyra and the warrior Milo—as they explore a three-dimensional dungeon. Players engage in turn-based battles against randomly encountered monsters, solve puzzles, and take on powerful bosses. The combat system resembles contemporary RPGs such as Dragon Quest, but its unique icon-based menu makes operations more intuitive and improves playability. In terms of story, the game is set in a kingdom threatened by the evil sorcerer Dark Sol. With the princess and the protagonist's father having gone missing, players must seek out the legendary weapons of light, rescue the princess and the protagonist's father, and ultimately defeat Dark Sol to save the kingdom. Shining in the Darkness received widespread praise upon release, earning its reputation as a Mega Drive classic. Its success led Sega to release several sequels and spin-offs on later platforms, further enriching the Shining series' world and gameplay experience.