List of text adventures

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The list of text adventures is intended to provide as complete a list as possible of text adventures that were or are available as individual products in regular stores. Non-commercial text adventures ( interactive fiction ) should only be included if they have won at least one prize in international competitions (IFComp, XYZZY Awards, Spring Thing) that are recognized by the media or if they are classified as groundbreaking by the relevant specialist media. For the purposes of this list, text adventures are games that display the game in text form and process inputs using a parser . Visual novels and multiple choice adventures like a playbook should not be considered .

In order to avoid overloading the tables, games that have been released for more than three systems should contain the entry "Various" under "Systems". The "Genre" column should contain an entry from the following list. A change in the genre list requires a consensus on the discussion page. Genres: Adventure, Fantasy , History, Horror , Crime , Literary Experiment, Literature, Myths , Science Fantasy , Science Fiction , Slice of Life , Espionage, Steampunk , Time Travel.

Commercial text adventures

game year Studio Publisher author Engine Systems genre Text / graphics
007: Aqua Base 1982 ASD & D ASD & D Scott Morgan TI-99 / 4A espionage text
1942 mission 1984 Cases computer simulations Cases computer simulations Tom Frost ZX Spectrum espionage text
2112: A Field Trip 2001 Mutilation Software Independent Mutilation Software Independent George Algire Windows Science fiction Text / graphics
A Christmas Adventure 1983 Chart scan data Chart scan data Apple II , Atari 8-bit , C64 , TRS-80 Myths Text / graphics
A Mind Forever Voyaging 1985 Infocom Infocom Steve Meretzky ZIL Various Science fiction text
Abacadabra 1988 Odisea software Proein Jorge Blécua PAW MSX , Schneider CPC , ZX Spectrum Fantasy Text / graphics
Abyss 1984 Humming Bird Soft Humming Bird Soft FM-7 , PC-88 Science fiction Text / graphics
Abyss II: Tears of Emperor 1985 Humming Bird Soft Humming Bird Soft FM-7, PC-88, Sharp X1 Science fiction Text / graphics
Acheton 1987 Topologics Acorn Electron , MS-DOS , Schneider CPC, ZX Spectrum Fantasy text
Adventure Quest 1982 Level 9 Level 9 Mike, Nick and Peter Austin A code Various Fantasy text
Adventureland 1978 Adventure International Adventure International Scott Adams Various Fantasy text
Amazon 1984 Telarium Telarium Michael Crichton Various adventure Text / graphics
Amnesia 1986 Cognetics Corporation Electronic Arts Thomas Michael Disch King Edward Adventure Apple II, C64, MS-DOS Slice of Life, crime thriller text
Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur 1989 Infocom Infocom Bob Bates ZIL Various literature Text / graphics / menus
Asylum 1981 Med Systems Med Systems William F. Denman Jr. Various Slice of Life Text / graphics
Ballyhoo 1986 Infocom Infocom Jeff O'Neill ZIL Various Slice of Life text
Beyond Zork 1987 Infocom Infocom Brian Moriarty ZIL Various Fantasy Text / graphics
Blade of Blackpool 1982 Sirius software Sirius software Tim Wilson Various Fantasy Text / graphics
Border zone 1987 Infocom Infocom Marc Blank ZIL Various espionage text
Borrowed Time 1985 Interplay Activision Brian Fargo Various Thriller Text / graphics / menus
Breakers 1986 Synapse software Brøderbund Rodney Smith BTZ Various Science fiction text
Brimstone 1985 Synapse software Brøderbund James Paul BTZ Various literature text
Bureaucracy 1987 Infocom Infocom Douglas Adams ZIL Various Slice of Life text
Castle of Terror 1985 Beam software Melbourne House Grahame Willis C64 horror Text / graphics
Colossal Adventure 1982 Level 9 Level 9 Mike, Nick and Peter Austin A code Various Fantasy text
Corruption 1988 Magnetic scrolls Rainbird software Robert Steggles Various Thriller Text / graphics
Critical Mass 1982 Sirius software Sirius software Bob Blue Shield Apple II, C64 Thriller Text / graphics
Cromwell House 1985 Axis computer art Ariolasoft Jürgen Römer Atari 8-bit, C64 Thriller text
Cutthroats 1984 Infocom Infocom Michael Berlyn, Jerry Wolper ZIL Various adventure text
The hourglass 1990 World forge Software 2000 Harald Evers Amiga , Atari ST , DOS Fantasy Text / graphics
Deadline 1982 Infocom Infocom Marc Blank ZIL Various Thriller text
The Cathedral 1991 World forge Software 2000 Harald Evers Amiga, DOS Crime, time travel Text / graphics
Dodgy Geezers 1986 Lever / Jones Melbourne House Trevor Lever, Peter Jones The quill Various Slice of Life Text / graphics
Dragons of Laas 1991 Attic Attic Guido Henkel Amiga, Atari ST, DOS Fantasy Text / graphics
Dragonworld 1984 Byron Price VP Telarium Byron Preiss, Michael Reaves Various Fantasy Text / graphics
Dungeon Adventure 1982 Level 9 Level 9 Mike, Nick and Peter Austin A code Various Fantasy text
Earthquake San Francisco 1906 1981 Adventure International Adventure International Jyym Pearson Apple II, Atari 8-bit, TRS-80 history text
Emerald Isle 1985 Level 9 Level 9 Shaun D. Abbott A code Various adventure Text / graphics
Enchanter 1983 Infocom Infocom Marc Blank, Dave Lebling ZIL Various Fantasy text
Eric the Unready 1993 Legend Entertainment Legend Entertainment Bob Bates DOS Fantasy Text / graphics / menus
Escape from Rungistan 1982 Sirius software Sirius software Bob Blue Shield Apple II, PC-88 espionage Text / graphics
Escape from Traam 1981 Adventure International Adventure International Jyym Pearson Apple II, Atari 8-bit, TRS-80 Science fiction text
Essex 1985 Synapse software Brøderbund Bill Darrah BTZ Various Science fiction text
Fahrenheit 451 1984 Byron Price VP Telarium Ray Bradbury , Byron Price Various Science fiction Text / graphics
Fish! 1988 Magnetic scrolls Rainbird software John Molloy, Phil South, Peter Kemp Various Science fiction Text / graphics
Gateway 1992 Legend Entertainment Legend Entertainment Glen Dahlgren, Mike Verdu DOS, Windows Science fiction, literature Text / graphics / menus
Gateway 2: Homeworld 1993 Legend Entertainment Legend Entertainment Glen Dahlgren, Mike Verdu DOS, Windows Science fiction Text / graphics / menus
Ghost town 1980 Adventure International Adventure International Scott Adams Various adventure text
Gnome Ranger 1987 Level 9 Rainbird software Peter Austin KAOS Various Fantasy Text / graphics
Gruds in Space 1983 Sirius software Sirius software Chuck Sommerville, Joseph Dudar Apple II, Atari 8-bit, C64 Science fiction Text / graphics
Hampstead 1984 Lever / Jones Melbourne House Trevor Lever, Peter Jones The quill Various Slice of Life Text / graphics
Hellowoon 1987 Dragonware Ariolasoft Guido Henkel Amiga, Atari ST, C64 Fantasy Text / graphics
Hexuma 1992 World forge Software 2000 Harald Evers Amiga, DOS horror Text / graphics / menus
Hollywood Hijinx 1986 Infocom Infocom Dave Anderson, Liz Cyr-Jones ZIL Various Slice of Life text
Infidel 1983 Infocom Infocom Michael Berlyn ZIL Various adventure text
Ingrid's Back 1988 Level 9 Rainbird software Peter Austin, Peter McBride KAOS Various Fantasy Text / graphics
James Bond 007: A View to a Kill 1985 Angelsoft Mindscape Raymond Benson Apple II, DOS, Mac Adventure, literature text
Jewels of Darkness 1986 Level 9 Rainbird software Mike, Nick and Peter Austin A code Various Fantasy Text / graphics
Jinxter 1987 Magnetic scrolls Rainbird software Georgina Sinclair, Michael Bywater Various Science fantasy Text / graphics
Journey 1989 Infocom Infocom Marc Blank ZIL Various Fantasy Text / graphics / menus
Kabul Spy 1982 Sirius software Sirius software Tim Wilson Apple II espionage Text / graphics
Knight Orc 1987 Level 9 Rainbird software Peter Austin KAOS Various Fantasy Text / graphics
Lancelot 1988 Level 9 Mandarin software Peter Austin KAOS Various history Text / graphics
Leather Goddesses of Phobos 1986 Infocom Infocom Steve Meretzky ZIL Various Science fiction text
Lord of the Rings: Game One 1986 Beam software Melbourne House Philip Mitchell Inglish Various Fantasy, literature Text / graphics
Lords of Time 1983 Level 9 Level 9 Sue Gazzard A code Various Time travel text
Mindshadow 1984 Interplay Activision Brian Fargo Various Slice of Life Text / graphics / menus
Mindwheel 1984 Synapse software Brøderbund Robert Pinsky BTZ Various Science fiction text
Moonmist 1986 Infocom Infocom Stu Galley, Jim Lawrence ZIL Various Thriller text
Mystery fun house 1979 Adventure International Adventure International Scott Adams Various adventure text
Mystery House 1980 On-line systems On-line systems Ken Williams , Roberta Williams Various Thriller Text / graphics
Myth 1989 Magnetic scrolls Rainbird software Paul Findley FRED / ELTHAM Various Myths Text / graphics
Nine Princes in Amber 1985 Telarium Telarium Seth Godin Various Fantasy Text / graphics
Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It 1987 Infocom Infocom Jeff O'Neill ZIL Various Slice of Life text
Ooze 1988 Dragonware Games Ariolasoft Guido Henkel Amiga, Atari ST, DOS horror Text / graphics
Perry Mason: The Case of the Mandarin Murder 1985 Telarium Telarium Seth Godin Various Thriller Text / graphics
Pimania 1982 Automata Automata Mel Croucher Various Fantasy Text / graphics
Pirate Adventure 1979 Adventure International Adventure International Scott Adams Various adventure text
Planetfall 1983 Infocom Infocom Steve Meretzky ZIL Various Science fiction text
Plundered Hearts 1987 Infocom Infocom Amy Briggs ZIL Various adventure text
Pyramid of Doom 1979 Adventure International Adventure International Scott Adams Various adventure text
Red moon 1985 Level 9 Level 9 Peter Austin, David Williamson A code Various Fantasy Text / graphics
Rendezvous with Rama 1984 Byron Price VP Telarium Byron Preiss, Arthur C. Clarke Various Science fiction Text / graphics
Return to Eden 1984 Level 9 Level 9 Peter Austin A code Various Science fiction Text / graphics
Saigon: The Final Days 1981 Adventure International Adventure International Jyym Pearson, Robyn Pearson Atari 8-bit, TRS-80 History, espionage text
Savage Island 1980 Adventure International Adventure International Scott Adams Various adventure Text / graphics
Savage Island Part Two 1981 Adventure International Adventure International Scott Adams Various adventure Text / graphics
Scapeghost 1989 Level 9 Level 9 Peter Austin KAOS Various Thriller Text / graphics
Seastalker 1984 Infocom Infocom Stu Galley, Jim Lawrence ZIL Various adventure text
Secret Mission 1979 Adventure International Adventure International Scott Adams Various espionage text
Sherlock 1984 Beam software Melbourne House Philip Mitchell Inglish C64, ZX Spectrum Crime, literature Text / graphics
Sherlock: The Riddle of the Crown Jewels 1987 Infocom Infocom Bob Bates ZIL Various Thriller text
Shogun 1989 Infocom Infocom Dave Lebling ZIL Various literature Text / graphics
Silicon Dreams 1986 Level 9 Rainbird software Mike, Nick and Peter Austin A code Various Science fiction Text / graphics
Snowball 1983 Level 9 Level 9 Peter Austin A code Various Science fiction text
Soft porn adventure 1981 Blue Sky software On-line systems Chuck Benton Apple II, Atari 8-bit, DOS everyday life text
Sorcerer 1984 Infocom Infocom Steve Meretzky ZIL Various Fantasy text
Spell breaker 1985 Infocom Infocom Dave Lebling ZIL Various Fantasy text
Spellcasting 101 1990 Legend Entertainment Legend Entertainment Steve Meretzky DOS Slice of Life, Fantasy Text / graphics / menus
Spellcasting 201 1991 Legend Entertainment Legend Entertainment Steve Meretzky DOS Slice of Life, Fantasy Text / graphics / menus
Spellcasting 301 1992 Legend Entertainment Legend Entertainment Steve Meretzky DOS Slice of Life / Fantasy Text / graphics / menus
Starcross 1982 Infocom Infocom Dave Lebling ZIL Various Science fiction text
Station case 1987 Infocom Infocom Steve Meretzky ZIL Various Science fiction text
Strange Odyssey 1979 Adventure International Adventure International Scott Adams Various Science fiction text
Suspect 1984 Infocom Infocom Dave Lebling ZIL Various Thriller text
Suspended 1983 Infocom Infocom Michael Berlyn ZIL Various Science fiction text
Suspicious cargo 1991 Imagitec Gremlin Graphics Amiga, Atari ST Science fiction Text / graphics / menus
Swiss Family Robinson 1984 Tom Snyder Productions Windham Classics David Dockterman Apple II, C64 Adventure, literature Text / graphics
Tass Times in Tonetown 1986 Interplay Activision Michael Berlyn ADVENT Various Science fiction Text / graphics / menus
Terrormolinos 1985 Lever / Jones Melbourne House Trevor Lever, Peter Jones The quill Various Slice of Life Text / graphics
Thaumistry 2017 Bob Bates TADS 3 Linux , macOS , Windows Slice of Life, Fantasy Text / graphics
The Count 1979 Adventure International Adventure International Scott Adams Various Adventure, horror text
The Curse of Crowley Manor 1981 Adventure International Adventure International Jyym Pearson Various Crime, story Text / graphics
The Dallas Quest 1984 Datasoft Datasoft James Garon Various Slice of Life Text / graphics
The Guild of Thieves 1987 Magnetic scrolls Rainbird software Robert Steggles Various Fantasy Text / graphics
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 1984 Infocom Infocom Douglas Adams ZIL Various Science fiction text
The hobbit 1982 Beam software Melbourne House Philip Mitchell, Veronika Megler Inglish Various Fantasy Text / graphics
The Institute 1983 Screenplay Screenplay Jyym Pearson, Robyn Pearson Various horror Text / graphics
The Lurking Horror 1987 Infocom Infocom Dave Lebling ZIL Various horror text
The Mask of the Sun 1982 Ultrasoft Brøderbund Alan B. Clark UltraVision Apple II, Atari 8-bit, C 64 adventure Text / graphics
The pawn 1985 Magnetic scrolls Rainbird software Robert Steggles Various Fantasy Text / graphics
The Price of Magik 1986 Level 9 Level 9 Peter Austin A code Various Fantasy Text / graphics
The Saga of Erik the Viking 1984 Level 9 Mosaic Publishing Peter Austin A code Various Myths Text / graphics
The Serpent's Star 1983 Ultrasoft Brøderbund Ultra Apple II, Atari 8-bit, C64 adventure Text / graphics
The Shadows of Mordor 1987 Beam software Melbourne House John Haward, Philip Mitchell Inglish Various Fantasy, literature Text / graphics
The Tracer Sanction 1984 Interplay Activision Brian Fargo Apple II, C64, PC Booter Science fiction Text / graphics
The Witness 1983 Infocom Infocom Stu Galley ZIL Various Thriller text
The Wizard of Oz 1985 Windham Classics Windham Classics Various Fantasy, literature Text / graphics
The Worm in Paradise 1985 Level 9 Level 9 Peter Austin A code Various Science fiction Text / graphics
Time and Magik: The Trilogy 1988 Level 9 Mandarin software Peter Austin, Mike Austin, Nick Austin KAOS Various Fantasy, time travel Text / graphics
Timequest 1991 Legend Entertainment Legend Entertainment Bob Bates DOS Science fiction Text / graphics / menus
Treasure Island 1985 Byron Price VP Windham Classics Lee Jacknow Various Adventure, literature Text / graphics
Trinity 1986 Infocom Infocom Brian Moriarty ZIL Various Time travel text
Voodoo Castle 1979 Adventure International Adventure International Scott Adams Various adventure text
Wishbringer 1985 Infocom Infocom Brian Moriarty ZIL Various Fantasy text
Wonderland 1990 Magnetic scrolls Virgin Games David Bishop Magnetic Windows Engine Various literature Text / graphics
Magic castle 1984 Market & technology Dennis Merbach Atari 8-bit, C64, ZX Spectrum Fantasy text
Zork I 1980 Infocom Infocom T. Anderson, M. Blank, B. Daniels, D. Lebling ZIL Various Fantasy text
Zork II 1981 Infocom Infocom T. Anderson, M. Blank, B. Daniels, D. Lebling ZIL Various Fantasy text
Zork III 1982 Infocom Infocom T. Anderson, M. Blank, B. Daniels, D. Lebling ZIL Various Fantasy text
Zork Zero 1988 Infocom Infocom Steve Meretzky ZIL Various Fantasy Text / graphics

Interactive fiction

game year author Engine genre Competitive successes
1893: A World's Fair Mystery 2002 Peter Nepstad TADS 2 Crime, story
A Change in the Weather 1995 Andrew Plotkin Inform 6 Slice of Life IFComp 1995 (# 1)
Aka "The Magpie" 2018 JJ Guest Inform 7 adventure IFComp 2018 (# 1)
Anchorhead 1998 Michael Gentry Inform 6 horror
Aotearoa 2010 Matt Wigdahl Inform 7 adventure IFComp 2010 (# 1), XYZZY Award 2010 (Best Game)
All roads 2001 Jon Ingold Inform 6 Time travel / crime / story IFComp 2001 (# 1), XYZZY Award 2001 (Best Game)
Andromeda Apocalypse 2012 Marco Innocenti Inform 7 Science fiction IFComp 2012 (# 1)
Being Andrew Plotkin 2000 J. Robinson Wheeler Inform 6 Slice of Life XYZZY Award 2000 (Best Game)
Blue chairs 2004 Chris Klimas Inform 6 Slice of Life XYZZY Award 2004 (Best Game)
Blue Lacuna 2009 Aaron A. Reed Inform 7 Science fiction XYZZY Award 2009 (Best Game)
Brain Guzzlers from Beyond! 2015 Steph Cherrywell Inform 7 Science fiction IFComp 2015 (# 1)
Coloratura 2013 Lynnea Glasser Inform 7 Science fiction IFComp 2013 (# 1), XYZZY Award 2012 (Best Game)
Counterfeit Monkey 2012 Emily Short Inform 7 Espionage, literary experiment XYZZY Award 2012 (Best Game)
Cryptozookeeper 2011 Robb Sherwin Hugo Science fiction XYZZY Award 2011 (Best Game)
Curses 1993 Graham Nelson Inform 6 Time travel
Earth and Sky 2: Another Earth, Another Sky 2002 Paul O'Brian Inform 6 Science fiction IFComp 2002 (# 1)
Earth And Sky 3: Luminous Horizon 2004 Paul O'Brian Inform 6 Science fiction IFComp 2004 (# 1)
Float point 2006 Emily Short Inform 7 Science fiction IFComp 2006 (# 1)
Hunger demon 2014 Sean M. Shore Inform 7 Slice of Life IFComp 2014 (# 1)
I-0 1997 Adam Cadre Inform 6 Slice of Life XYZZY Award 1997 (Best Game)
Kaged 2000 Ian Finley TADS 2 Science fiction IFComp 2000 (# 1)
Lost Pig 2007 Admiral Jota Inform 6 Fantasy IFComp 2007 (# 1), XYZZY Award 2007 (Best Game)
Photopia 1998 Adam Cadre Inform 6 Slice of Life IFComp 1998 (# 1)
Rover's Day Out 2009 Jack Welch, Ben Collins-Sussman Inform 7 Science fiction IFComp 2009 (# 1)
Savoire Faire 2002 Emily Short Inform 6 Story / fantasy XYZZY Award 2002 (Best Game)
Slouching Towards Bedlam 2003 Star Foster, Daniel Ravipinto Inform 6 Steampunk IFComp 2003 (# 1), XYZZY Award 2003 (Best Game)
So far 1996 Andrew Plotkin Inform 6 Fantasy XYZZY Award 1996 (Best Game)
Spider and Web 1998 Andrew Plotkin Inform 6 Espionage, science fiction XYZZY Award 1998 (Best Game)
Superluminal Vagrant Twin 2016 CEJ Pacian Inform 7 Science fiction XYZZY Award 2016 (Best Game)
Taco fiction 2011 Ryan Veeder Inform 7 Slice of Life IFComp 2011 (# 1)
The Edifice 1997 Lucian P. Smith Inform 6 Time travel IFComp 1997 (# 1)
The Elysium Enigma 2006 Eric Eve TADS 3 Science fiction XYZZY Award 2006 (Best Game)
The Meteor, The Stone And A Long Glass Of Sherbet 1996 Graham Nelson Inform 6 Fantasy IFComp 1996 (# 1)
The Wizard Sniffer 2017 Buster Hudson Inform 7 Fantasy IFComp 2017 (# 1), XYZZY Award 2017 (Best Game)
Uncle Zebulon's Will 1995 Magnus Olsson TADS 2 Slice of Life IFComp 1995 (# 1)
Varicella 1999 Adam Cadre Inform 6 history XYZZY Award 1999 (Best Game)
Vespers 2005 Jason Devlin Inform 6 Story / horror IFComp 2005 (# 1), XYZZY Award 2005 (Best Game)
Violet 2008 Jeremy Freese Inform 7 Slice of Life IFComp 2008 (# 1), XYZZY Award 2008 (Best Game)
Winter wonderland 1999 Laura Knauth Inform 6 Fantasy IFComp 1999 (# 1)
Zozzled 2019 Steph Cherrywell Inform 7 history IFComp 2019 (# 1)

literature

  • Thomas A. Christie: The Spectrum of Adventure . Extremis Publishing, Stirling 2016, ISBN 978-0-9934932-1-8 .
  • Kevin Jackson-Mead & J. Robinson Wheeler: IF Theory Reader . 2nd Edition. Transcript On Press, Boston 2011.
  • Jimmy Maher: Let's Tell a Story Together . University of Texas, Dallas 2006 ( filfre.net ).
  • Nick Montfort: Twisty Little Passages - An Approach to Interactive Fiction . The MIT Press, Cambridge 2003, ISBN 0-262-13436-5 .

Web links