List of text-based computer games
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following list of text-based games is not to be considered an authoritative, comprehensive listing of all such games; rather, it is intended to represent a wide range of game styles and genres presented using the text mode display and their evolution across a long period of time.
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[edit] On mainframe computers
Years listed are those in which the game is believed to have originally appeared. Often these games were continually modified and played as a succession of versions for years after their initial posting. (For purposes of this list, minicomputers are considered mainframes, in contrast to microcomputers, which are not.)
- M denotes the game is a multi-user dungeon.
- HAMURABI (1969) by Rick Merrill
- Highnoon (1970) by Christopher Gaylo
- Baseball (1971) by Don Daglow
- Oregon Trail (1971) by Don Rawitsch
- Star Trek (text game) (1971) by Mike Mayfield
- Hunt the Wumpus (1972) by Gregory Yob
- Star Trek (script game) (1972) by Don Daglow
- dnd (1975) by Gary Whisenhunt and Ray Wood
- Dungeon (1975) by Don Daglow
- Adventure by Will Crowther (1976)
- Empire by Walter Bright (1977)
- Mystery Mansion (1977)
- Oubliette (1977) by Jim Schwaiger M
- Zork (1977) by Tim Anderson, Marc Blank, Bruce Daniels and Dave Lebling
- Acheton (1978) by Jon Thackray, David Seal and Jonathan Partington
- Decwar (1978)
- Avatar (1979) by Bruce Maggs and Andrew Shapira M
- Battlestar (1979) by David Riggle
- Brand X (1979) (aka Philosopher's Quest) by Peter Killworth and Jonathan Mestel
- HAUNT (1979) by John Laird
- Martian Adventure (1979) by Brad Templeton and Kieran Carroll
- New Adventure (1979) by Mark Niemiec
- Hezarin (1980) by Steve Tinney, Alex Shipp and Jon Thackray
- Kingdom of Hamil (1980) by Jonathan Partington
- Monsters of Murdac (1980) by Jonathan Partington
- Quondam (1980) by Rod Underwood
- Rogue (1980) by Michael Toy, Glenn Wichman, and Ken Arnold
- LORD (1981) by Olli J. Paavola
- FisK (1982)
- Avon (1983), a Shakespearean game by Jonathan Partington
- Castle (1983) by Barry Wilks
- Fyleet (1986) by Jonathan Partington
- Crobe (1987) by Jonathan Partington
- MIST (1987) M
- Nidus (1987) by Adam Atkinson
- Quest of the Sangraal (1987) by Jonathan Partington
- Spysnatcher (1989) by Jonathan Partington and Jon Thackray
[edit] On personal computers
[edit] Roguelike games
- Further information: List of roguelikes
[edit] Commercial text adventure games
These are commercial interactive fiction games played offline.
- Adventureland series, 2000) by Scott Adams of Adventure International
- Zork series) by Tim Anderson, Marc Blank, Bruce Daniels and Dave Lebling
- C.I.A Adventure (1980) by Hugh Lampert of CLOAD
- Madness and the Minotaur (1981) for Spectral Associates
- The Hobbit (1982) by Philip Mitchell and Veronika Megler of Beam Software
- Forbidden Quest (1983), Pryority Software
- The Wizard of Akyrz (1983), Brian Howarth of Mysterious Adventures and Cliff J. Ogden for Adventure International
- High Stakes (1984), Angelsoft
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1984) by Douglas Adams and Steve Meretzky of Infocom
- Mindwheel (1984) by Robert Pinsky for Synapse Software
- Zyll (1984) by Marshal W. Linder and Scott B. Edwards for IBM
- A Mind Forever Voyaging (1985) by Steve Meretzky of Infocom
- Brimstone (1985) by James Paul for Synapse
- Essex (1985) by Bill Darrah for Synapse
- Hampstead (1985) by Peter Jones and Trevor Lever for Melbourne House
- Breakers (1986) by Rodney R. Smith for Synapse
- Terrormolinos (1986) by Peter Jones and Trevor Lever for Melbourne House
- Amnesia (1987) by Thomas M. Disch, the only entirely non-graphical text adventure ever published by Electronic Arts
- Braminar (1987)
- Dodgy Geezers (1987) by Peter Jones and Trevor Lever for Melbourne House
- Jacaranda Jim (1987) by Graham Cluley
- Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head Or Tail Of It (1987) by Jeff O'Neill for Infocom
- Sherlock: The Riddle of the Crown Jewels (1987) by Bob Bates for Infocom
- Dr. Dumont's Wild P.A.R.T.I. (1988) by Michael and Muffy Berlyn
- The Hound of Shadow (1989) for Eldritch Games
- Humbug (1990) by Graham Cluley
- Danger! Adventurer at Work! (1991) by Simon Avery
- Spy Snatcher (1992) by Jonathan Partington and Jonathan Thackray for Topologika
[edit] Amateur text adventure games
For amateur text adventure games, see Category:Interactive fiction, Interactive Fiction Competition and XYZZY Awards.
[edit] Miscellaneous games
- Wizard's Castle (1978?) by Joseph R. Power
- Snipes (1983) by SuperSet
- Beast (1984), Dan Baker, Alan Brown, Mark Hamilton and Derrick Shadel
- Kingdom of Kroz (1987) by Scott Miller of Apogee Software
- ZZT (1991) by Tim Sweeney of Epic MegaGames
- Sleuth (1993) by Eric N. Miller
- MegaZeux (1994) by Gregory Janson of Software Visions
- Chibot Ultra Battle (1999)
- PAEE (1999) by Enrique D. Bosch
The Interactive Fiction Archive (Guide) currently contains a far more comprehensive list of text adventure games and related materials, while the Tribute to Text-Mode Games site contains a great deal of information on and downloads of games that use text for illustrative rather than descriptive purposes. The mainframe adventures page at Adventureland, while uneven in its coverage, is nonetheless preeminent in its documentation of these early games. MobyGames also maintains extensive accounts of games using 40-column and 80-column text modes.
[edit] Online games
[edit] Play-by-email games
These are play-by-email games played online.
- Lords of the Earth (1983)
- Quantum Space (1989)
- Atlantis PbeM (1993)
- Eressea PbeM (1996)
[edit] BBS door games
These are BBS door games played online.
- TradeWars 2002 (1987) by Gary Martin for Martech
- Legend of the Red Dragon (1989) by Seth Able Robinson
- See also: Category:Door games
[edit] MUDs
- See also: Category:MU* games
[edit] Other
- Federation (1988) and Federation II (2003)
- NukeZone (2001) MMORTS