A clever and silly thinking-outside-the-box piece in the tradition of A New Day and Cheater. Your cousin has written a terrible text adventure in a generic fantasy setting, riddled with bugs which make it impossible to progress by normal means. Can you finish the game by abnormal means? Short, linear, very forgiving. Contains gentle hints.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Carl Muckenhoupt (21 Jun 2001)

2002-12-01 bugged.zip (42.97 KB)

Alan executable (version: 1.2)

2002-12-08 wurm.inf (6.81 KB)

Inform source code (version: 2)

2002-12-08 wurm.z5 (4.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 2)

An evocative game in a beautiful setting with Buddhist decor. Your task is to banish Black Dragon from the World Beyond. To do this, you will have to get the cooperation of the other dragons (who symbolize various elemental forces), despite the uncertainty of their own fate if you succeed. Intriguing but simple puzzles, good sense of freedom, built-in hints in the form of visions gained from meditating. It is possible to get into no-win situations without realizing it.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Carl Muckenhoupt (30 Jun 2000)

1993-03-09 onehand.tar.Z (145.06 KB)

AdvSys 1.2 executable (version: 1, The AdvSys data file and source code for an AdvSys runtime)

1993-12-20 onehand.zip (104.41 KB)

AdvSys 1.2 executable (version: 1, bundled with MS-DOS runtime, The AdvSys data file and source code for an AdvSys runtime)

2002-12-16 onehand.html (119.64 KB)

solution

Easy, generous game-play, a reasonably effective plot, and a nifty magic mechanic combine to make this game accessible and charming. The game offers interesting graphical enhancements to the standard features of interactive fiction, including images of all the NPCs and a set of buttons that simplify spell-casting.

Not all aspects of the work shine equally -- the prose has its rough moments, object descriptions tend to be little more than restatements of what you already saw in the room description, and some elements of the fantasy setting seem a bit tired. There is enough that's fresh to keep the game going, however, and it's short and entertaining enough not to wear out its welcome.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Emily Short (01 Jun 2003)

2002-12-29 words-ns.zip (2.23 MB)

Glulx executable (version: 4, no sound)

2002-12-29 words.zip (5.91 MB)

Glulx executable (version: 4)

Parody of both Interactive Fiction conventions and the conventions of the superhero genre. Strong on verbal humor and puns, with several sidekick NPCs; puzzles are (deliberately) rather arbitrary. Probably frustrating to new IF players.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Emily Short (09 Feb 2003)

2002-12-30 fren5-3.gam (371.82 KB)

TADS executable (version: 1.0)

A rather slight game about a journey to a dairy. It features one deceptive non-puzzle, a really bad pun, and some hilarious character graphics. The reward for finishing is also quite nice, in that (I think I'm not spoiling much here) one winds up in a room full of many varieties of cheese, all with lovingly-described smells, tastes, and appearances. In structure, then, it resembles an IF Art Show piece appended to a work of Speed-IF. The puzzles are tricky and not always fairly clued, and there's not much by way of plot. It's mostly worth playing if you really, really like cheese, or if you are in a very silly mood.

Rating: ***

Reviewed by Emily Short (28 Apr 2003)

2002-12-29 lambs2.z5 (58.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1)

A puzzle romp. The premise: You've gotten lost on the road and wind up at an abandoned castle. The former occupant is some kind of mad genius who left puzzles and other oddities scattered around to get in the way of anyone exploring the place. The style is goofy and full of self-consciously text-adventure-like situations. Puzzles are hard, but fair. The user interface is interesting: the player has the option of typing verbs or choosing them from a menu. Thus, you have in front of you at all times a list of all the necessary verbs in the game. Features automapping.

Rating: ***

Reviewed by Carl Muckenhoupt (30 Jun 2000)

1993-01-09 c-ralf.zip (196.86 KB)

MS-DOS executable (version: 4-2)

2002-12-12 castle_ralf_hints.zip (9.45 KB)

hints

2003-10-15 gorron_src.zip (12.69 KB)

Inform source code in Spanish (version: 6)

2002-12-16 gorron.zip (47.35 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in Spanish (version: 6)

A pleasant and reasonably easy jaunt through the countryside of a sort of Edwardian fantasy world at a time when there's no great treasure to unearth or evil wizard to defeat. You're a landed gentleman in pursuit of seven escaped horses, each named for a significant quality of character (Courage, Defiance, etc.) I was impressed with how good-natured it all is: all the NPC's are friendly and eager to help, pretty much all the areas are described as pleasant, picturesque, or elegant (to the point where this constitutes a weakness in the prose), and everything the player does exhibits goodwill and strength of character.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Carl Muckenhoupt (29 Dec 2001)

2002-12-01 chasing.zip (58.86 KB)

Alan executable (version: 1.1)

2001-09-29 chasing.acd (141.00 KB)

Alan executable (version: 1.0, original competition entry, also need chasing.dat)

2001-09-29 chasing.dat (98.00 KB)

Alan executable (version: 1.0, original competition entry, also need alan.acd)

2001-09-29 solution.txt (920 bytes)

solution

2000-02-09 guilty.hex (241.18 KB)

Hugo executable (version: 2.09, graphics and sound resources not included)

2000-02-09 guilty.zip (3.76 MB)

Hugo executable (version: 1.09)

2002-09-27 guilty.exe (4.07 MB)

Hugo executable (version: 2.09)

1999-12-03 gbsource.zip (109.06 KB)

Hugo source code (version: Release 2.08)

2002-12-10 GuiltyBastards.txt (3.74 KB)

minimal solution

This is basically a one-joke game, but it wins over the player's heart by heaps of style, and flawless implementation. It also has a very satisfactory ending.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Valentine Kopteltsev (18 Dec 2008)

2002-12-30 cheeseshop.z5 (83.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 2)

2002-12-18 conrumbo.zip (57.74 KB)

Glulx executable in Spanish (version: 5), Inform source code in Spanish

2002-12-16 halb2.z5 (29.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in German (version: 1.0)

2002-12-31 comp02tr.t3 (938.14 KB)

TADS 3 executable

2002-12-16 casi.z5 (95.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in Spanish (version: 1)

The original. What more can be said? This was the first adventure game; the whole genre is named after it. Without it, Infocom would have been just another maker of business software, Sierra On-line would be primarily known for adaptations of coin-op videogames, and Volker Blasius would have a life. A detailed description of this game's history and significance can be found in Graham Nelson's "The Craft of Adventure".

Ignoring the profound historical significance for a moment, it's a treasure hunt in a cave, like most of the early adventures (including Zork). It has a verb-noun parser, minimal detail, two big annoying mazes, magic words, nonsense puzzles, and occasional death without warning. None of this matters. Download it anyway. You cannot consider yourself a true adventurer until you've played this game.

There are many different versions of this game, some of which include additions by later authors. The original gave a total of 350 points. Later additions usually award a higher final score.

Rating: ***

Reviewed by Carl Muckenhoupt (03 Jul 2000)

1997-12-04 adventions.tar.gz (1.08 MB)

TADS executable (version: 2.0G, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser, all the Adventions games gzipped together)

1997-12-04 adventions.zip (1.08 MB)

TADS executable (version: 2.0G, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser, all the Adventions games zipped together)

1993-10-26 ccr.sit.bin (481.13 KB)

Macintosh executable, TADS source code (version: 1.0, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser)

1993-10-26 ccr.sit.hqx (655.11 KB)

Macintosh executable, TADS source code (version: 1.0, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser)

1993-07-25 ccr.oldtr.tar.Z (352.14 KB)

TADS 2.1 or earlier executable, TADS source code (version: 1.0, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser)

1993-07-10 ccr.tar.Z (264.27 KB)

TADS executable, TADS source code (version: 1.0, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser)

1993-07-10 ccr.zip (374.29 KB)

MS-DOS executable, TADS source code (version: 1.0, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser)

1993-07-22 firstadv.zip (159.08 KB)

AGT executable (version: 1.4, ported by David Gasior, bundled with MS-DOS runtime, full-sentence parser)

1993-08-04 hugecave.zip (437.88 KB)

AGT executable (version: 2.0, additional material by David Malmberg, bundled with MS-DOS runtime, full-sentence parser, 1000 points)

1996-07-02 adv350.lha (68.28 KB)

Amiga executable (ported by Don Ekman and David Kinder, 350 points)

1996-11-20 adv350jg.lha (82.26 KB)

Amiga executable (ported by Jim Gillogly and David Kinder, 350 points)

1997-08-03 adv350r4.lha (69.92 KB)

Amiga executable (version: DECUS release 4, ported by David Kinder, 350 points)

1996-02-06 adv430.lha (161.50 KB)

Amiga executable (version: 2.5, ported by David Kinder, additional material by Donald Woods, 430 points), C source code

1996-01-08 adv550.lha (201.46 KB)

Amiga executable (ported by David Kinder, additional material by Ken C. Wellsch, 550 points), C source code

1996-05-28 adv551.lha (123.36 KB)

Amiga executable (ported by David Kinder, additional material by Doug McDonald, 551 points)

1996-01-08 adv660.lha (274.78 KB)

C source code, Amiga executable (version: 10.06, ported by David Kinder, additional material by Mike Arnautov, 660 points, requires Kicksart 2.04)

1996-11-20 Adventure.lha (644.33 KB)

Amiga executable (ported by David Kinder, contains all of Kinder's amiga ports listed below)

1993-06-30 hugecave.lzh (237.20 KB)

Amiga executable (additional material by David Malmberg, 1000 points)

1995-11-17 atari8gm.zip (790.45 KB)

Atari 800 executable

1992-12-06 adventr.arc (64.75 KB)

Atari ST executable (ported by Marvin W. Rasmussen)

2003-07-06 beebgames.zip (1.32 MB)

BBC executable (additional material by Mike Austin, Nick Austin, and Pete Austin)

1997-02-13 ColossalAdventure.zip (19.77 KB)

BBC executable (additional material by Mike Austin, Nick Austin, and Pete Austin)

1995-03-19 advc64.zip (88.38 KB)

Commodore executable (ported by Jim Butterfield), BASIC source code (version: 4)

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable

1997-05-17 Int-Fic.zip (96.11 KB)

Commodore executable

2005-02-11 cpm-advent-b03.zip (118.01 KB)

CP/M executable (version: B03, ported by Mike Goetz, 580 points)

2000-08-13 cpm-advent.zip (736.95 KB)

CP/M executable (version: A02, ported by Mike Goetz, 350 points), FORTRAN source code, CP/M executable (version: B00, 550 points), CP/M executable (version: B01, 550 points), CP/M executable (version: A02, 580 points)

2002-11-15 advent.blb (190.83 KB)

Glulx executable (version: 5, ported by Simon Baldwin, GUI enhancements)

2000-04-01 advent.ulx (163.50 KB)

Glulx executable (version: release 5, ported by Andrew Plotkin)

1997-01-03 colossal.hex (121.24 KB)

Hugo 2.2a executable (ported by Kent Tessman)

2001-12-19 adv440-linux.tgz (98.93 KB)

Linux executable (ported by Mike Arnautov, 440 points)

2002-01-04 adv550_glk_linux.tar.gz (146.54 KB)

Linux executable, Linux executable (ported by Mike Arnautov)

2002-01-04 adv660_glk_linux.tar.gz (213.96 KB)

Linux executable (ported by Mike Arnautov, 660 points)

2006-12-30 adv770-1.80-linux-glk.tgz (717.16 KB)

Linux executable (version: 1.80, additional material by Mike Arnautov, 770 points)

1993-01-13 adventure-11.hqx (134.81 KB)

Macintosh executable (version: 1.1, ported by Anthony C. Ard, 550 points)

1999-01-29 Adventure.sit (100.93 KB)

Macintosh executable (version: 2.5.m2, ported by Jacob Munkhammar, additional material by Donald Woods, 430 points)

2005-12-02 HCMacPkg.sit (710.41 KB)

Macintosh executable (version: 1, ported by Al Golden, additional material by David Malmberg, 1000 points), hints, maps in GIF format

1994-04-29 advos2.zip (70.15 KB)

OS/2 2.x executable (ported by John W. Kennedy, additional material by Jerry D. Pohl, three-score version)

1992-11-12 adv.arc (55.75 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Jerry D. Pohl, three-score version)

1992-11-12 adv350de.zip (138.78 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Don Ekman), FORTRAN source code, walkthrough

1997-03-05 adv350kb.zip (76.99 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Kevin Black, 350 points)

1994-10-11 adv350kp.zip (220.38 KB)

FORTRAN source code, MS-DOS executable (ported by Ken Plotkin)

1996-09-16 adv370.zip (56.05 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Paul Munoz-Colman, 370 points)

1999-08-21 adv375.zip (60.00 KB)

MS-DOS executable (additional material by Walt Bilofsky and Jim Gillogly, 375 points)

2001-12-30 adv440.zip (124.20 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Mike Arnautov, 440 points)

2002-10-19 adv550_glk.zip (886.27 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Mike Arnautov and David Kinder, 550 points)

1993-07-22 adv550.zip (115.75 KB)

MS-DOS executable (version: B00, ported by Steve Dover, 550 points)

1993-03-25 adv551.zip (118.40 KB)

MS-DOS executable (version: 6.6, ported by Magnus Olsson, additional material by Doug McDonald, 551 points)

2002-10-19 adv660_glk.zip (468.19 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Mike Arnautov and David Kinder, 660 points)

1995-11-29 adv660.zip (199.93 KB)

MS-DOS executable (version: 10.06, additional material by Mike Arnautov, 660 points)

2006-12-30 adv770-1.80-dos.zip (732.34 KB)

MS-DOS executable (version: 1.80, additional material by Mike Arnautov, 770 points)

2006-12-30 adv770-1.80-win-glk.zip (1.17 MB)

Windows executable (version: 1.80, additional material by Mike Arnautov)

1996-06-16 advbds.zip (140.99 KB)

C source code, MS-DOS executable (ported by Bob Withers, three-score version)

1996-02-05 advent25.zip (95.56 KB)

MS-DOS executable (version: 2.5, additional material by Donald Woods, 430 points)

1993-03-25 advtc2.zip (98.40 KB)

MS-DOS executable (by Jerry D. Pohl, three-score version), C source code

2006-10-17 CCave.zip (1.57 MB)

Windows executable (version: V2006.1.2, ported by C. Young, relies on graphics, music, primitive parser, GUI version)

2005-12-02 HCWinPkg.zip (774.07 KB)

1000 points, hints in Z-code format, maps in GIF format

2004-11-01 advent_rus.zip (259.05 KB)

MS-DOS executable in Russian, C source code in Russian

1992-11-12 winadv21.zip (127.25 KB)

Windows executable (version: 2.1, ported by Wolfgang Strobl and Ken C. Wellsch, additional material by David Platt, 550 points)

2000-12-28 adv350-pdp10.tar.gz (48.85 KB)

FORTRAN source code

2003-04-08 adv350-php.zip (54.47 KB)

PHP source code (ported by Matt Cox, requires MySQL)

1996-11-13 adv350jg.zip (62.31 KB)

C source code (version: 1.2, ported by Jim Gillogly, 350 points)

1997-03-05 adv350kb-src.zip (64.56 KB)

FORTRAN source code (ported by Kevin Black)

2002-11-01 adv350r4_f77.tar.gz (51.85 KB)

FORTRAN source code (version: DECUS release 4, ported by Linards Ticmanis)

1996-12-12 adv350r4.tar.gz (51.06 KB)

FORTRAN source code (version: DECUS release 4, ported by Kevin Black)

1996-09-16 adv370s.zip (181.10 KB)

FORTRAN source code (ported by Paul Munoz-Colman, 370 points)

2001-12-17 adv440.tgz (156.53 KB)

FORTRAN source code (additional material by Peter Luckett and Jack Pike, 440 points)

1993-03-25 adv550s.zip (131.48 KB)

C source code (ported by Ken C. Wellsch, additional material by David Platt, 550 points)

1995-11-29 adv660.tar.Z (227.66 KB)

C source code (version: 10.06, additional material by Mike Arnautov, 660 points)

2006-12-28 adv770-1.80-C-src.tgz (619.12 KB)

C source code (version: 1.80, additional material by Mike Arnautov)

2002-01-04 advent_acode.tar.gz (778.67 KB)

A-code source code (ported by Mike Arnautov, 550 points), A-code source code (ported by Mike Arnautov, 660 points), solution

2003-08-20 advent_forth.zip (56.92 KB)

Forth source code (350 points, compatible with Gforth, Win32Forth, bigFORTH, VFX Forth, Swiftforth, and PFE)

2002-09-30 advent_unisys2200.zip (24.95 KB)

MAPPER source code (ported by Jared Mathes)

2003-03-18 advent-5.2.2-5.tar.gz (161.34 KB)

FORTRAN source code (version: 5.2/2, ported by Johann Gunnar Oskarsson, additional material by David Long)

2003-03-19 advent-orig550.tar.gz (115.35 KB)

FORTRAN source code (additional material by David Platt, 550 points), PL-6 source code, A-code source code

1996-03-18 advent-original.tar.gz (50.42 KB)

FORTRAN source code (This is the ur-text from which most other versions are derived.)

1992-12-21 advent.tar.Z (155.56 KB)

FORTRAN source code (version: 5.2/2, additional material by David Long, 501 points)

1996-01-29 Adventure2.5.tar.gz (67.18 KB)

C source code (version: 2.5, additional material by Donald Woods, 430 points)

1994-04-29 advos2s.zip (58.45 KB)

C source code (ported by John W. Kennedy, additional material by Jerry D. Pohl, three-score version, for OS/2)

1994-02-16 advqnx.tar.gz (38.63 KB)

C source code (additional material by Jerry D. Pohl, three-score version, for Unix)

1992-12-16 advsrc.zip (115.03 KB)

FORTRAN source code (version: 6.6, additional material by Doug McDonald, 551 points)

1993-03-18 cave.zip (45.12 KB)

AGT source code (350 points)

1995-12-29 hugecv-s.zip (216.23 KB)

AGT source code (additional material by David Malmberg, 1000 points), solution

2000-10-12 colossal.hug (121.68 KB)

Hugo source code (version: Release 2.2a, ported by Kent Tessman)

2003-04-26 Avontuur.inf (149.62 KB)

Inform source code in Dutch (version: 8, translated by Yuri Robbers)

2006-11-12 polyadv_320a.zip (1.22 MB)

TADS source code (version: 3.20a, ported by David Baggett, David Picton, and Bennett Standeven, original 350-point version, 550-point version by David Platt, 551-point version by David Long, 580-point version by Mike Goetz, and combined 701-point versions)

2003-07-22 level9.zip (1.26 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1997-11-27 zx.zip (2.88 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

2006-11-12 polyadv.gam (849.18 KB)

TADS executable (version: 3.20 Rev. A, ported by David Baggett, David Picton, and Bennett Standeven, original 350-point version, 550-point version by David Platt, 551-point version by David Long, 580-point version by Mike Goetz, and combined 701-point versions)

2006-06-12 Advent.z5 (135.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 9, ported by Graham Nelson, 350 points)

2001-11-23 advent.z6 (115.50 KB)

Z-code 6 executable (version: 10, ported by Jason C. Penney)

2003-04-26 Avontuur.z5 (150.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in Dutch (version: 8, translated by Yuri Robbers)

2000-05-17 aventure.z5 (126.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in French (translated by Jean-Luc Pontico)

1998-04-19 abent.z5 (123.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in German (version: 5, translated by Toni Arnold, full-sentence parser)

2005-12-02 HugeCave.z8 (325.00 KB)

Z-code 8 executable (version: 1, ported by Al Golden, additional material by David Malmberg, 1000 points)

2005-12-02 HugeHint.z5 (122.00 KB)

hints in Z-code format for Humongous Cave 1000-point version

2002-12-10 nuntalylihu.z5 (144.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in Lojban (version: 5)

1997-12-09 aventura.zip (79.16 KB)

Z-code executable in Spanish (version: 1, translated by José Luis Díaz)

1995-01-19 Craft.Of.Adventure.txt (96.89 KB)

essay by Graham Nelson, containing quite a bit of background on this game

1996-09-24 ColossalAdventure.clues (18.34 KB)

clue sheet

1995-11-24 col-adv.step (6.45 KB)

solution

1998-02-07 Adv_walk.zip (7.51 KB)

solution and map in GUEmap format for 350 point version

1997-09-12 adv660-hints.txt (23.86 KB)

hints for 660-point version

1993-08-02 adven550.sol (25.93 KB)

solution for the 550-point version

1997-08-17 adventure-walkthrough.txt (13.75 KB)

solution for the 350-point version

1992-12-31 adventure.step (10.29 KB)

solution for the 350-point version

1999-12-26 hcavesol.zip (68.01 KB)

solution to 1000-point "humongous" version

1995-11-21 jgunness.zip (159.04 KB)

Walkthrough for Level 9 version

1996-10-15 Sols1.zip (213.57 KB)

solution

1992-12-02 winadsol.zip (29.96 KB)

solution to the 550-point version

2002-12-18 celos.zip (40.03 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in Spanish (version: 2)

2002-09-18 cquest.gam (185.34 KB)

TADS executable (original competition entry)

2002-09-18 walk.txt (1.27 KB)

solution

2002-12-08 cquest.zip (93.17 KB)

TADS executable (version: post-comp), solution

2001-09-29 amfluss.bat (12 bytes)

batch file

2001-09-29 amfluss.tag (52.17 KB)

T.A.G. executable in German (version: 1.0, as entered in 2001 competition)

2001-09-29 amfluss.txt (7.43 KB)

documentation

2001-09-29 tam.exe (132.45 KB)

T.A.G. runtime for MS-DOS

2002-12-16 amfluss.tag (56.02 KB)

T.A.G. executable in German (version: 1.1)

2002-12-16 ei.tag (35.00 KB)

T.A.G. executable in German (version: 1.2)

2002-12-11 otrolado.zip (85.72 KB)

MS-DOS executable in Spanish (version: 2.03)

A short, simple horror game in the Lovecraftian mode. The puzzles are logical and sensible, and objects are found in logical places. The best thing about the game is the prose, which is expansive but not wordy. The only real problem here is that the game's main audience, Lovecraft fans, are likely to figure things out far too early.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by R. Serena Wakefield (12 Jul 2000)

1998-07-27 awaken.inf (91.03 KB)

Inform source code (version: Release 1)

1998-07-27 awaken.z5 (97.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: release 1)

2002-12-31 despert.z5 (126.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in Spanish (version: 1, translated by José Luis Díaz)

2002-12-20 lldc.zip (84.67 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in Spanish (version: 2)

2002-12-20 achus.sna (128.03 KB)

Spectrum executable in Spanish

2002-12-17 memhobbit.zip (85.98 KB)

Spectrum executable in Spanish