In 1983, Games Workshop released the first edition of Talisman - the Magical Quest Game, designed by Robert Harris. In the first edition, Only the board and the Character cards were in color. All the rest of the cards were in black and White. Due to the surprising popularity of the game, GW released a second edition. All cards were in color for this newer version of the game. Also, the rules were updated slightly and Citadel Miniatures were produced to supplement its play.

Over the course of the following six years, six expansion sets were produced. Two issues of White Dwarf magazine included bonus cards to be added to the game, as well. The expansion sets and articles, in order, are: the Expansion, White Dwarf #72, the Adventure, the Dungeon, Timescape, City, White Dwarf #115, and Dragons.

In 1985, the Spectrum version of the game was released. It greatly simplified game play and the scope of what might occur. While it did change the individual parts of the game, it seemed to distill them down to their essence rather than distort them.

In 1994, Games Workshop released an updated and completely revamped version of Talisman. The main game and its three supplements were designed and created more or less at the same time, and released in a much shorter period than the second edition sets were. The three expansion sets are: Dungeon of Doom, City of Adventure, and Dragon's Tower. Overall, better materials were used than in the previous editions. Plastic miniatures were included with the game rather than as an afterthought. The Dragon's Tower consisted of a three-dimensional tower that Characters must ascend to face the new game's final challenge: the Dragon King. Unfortunately, while the overall scheme of the game was well thought out and the game itself was made to be much more internally consistent, there were many drawbacks to the revisions. Most notable among these were the price and the artwork

The third edition cost considerably more than either of the two preceding editions. Also, while including much in the way of eye-candy (3D board, minis), the artwork on the boards and cards was arguably less than up to the standards set by the second edition. The third edition died a quite death in just a couple of years.

Overall, though, Talisman has taken on a life of its own. There are many fan sites on the internet and it continues to sell at very high prices at auction. There is currently an effort to turn it into a more modern computer game based on a combination of the second and third editions of the game.

Finally, Talisman was released in a variety of non-English markets. Both the second and third editions were converted, in whole or in part. Some of these are still being printed and are available for sale today.

Update: The third edition is being re-released in a slightly different box. This is a limitted run by GW-US. They are not reprinting the expansion sets or anything new, but they are taking pre-orders and will probably consider getting more out if this run does well.