List of text-based computer games explained

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.

On mainframe computers

Years listed are those in which early mainframe games and others are 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.)

TitleYear CreatedCreatorNotes
BBC1961John BurgesonBaseball simulator
The Sumerian Game1964Mabel Addis, William McKayThe first edutainment game.
Unnamed American football game[1] 1968 or beforeUnknownFor the Dartmouth Time Sharing System. One of "many games" in library of 500 programs.
The Sumer Game1968Doug DymentAKA Hamurabi
Highnoon1970Christopher Gaylo
Baseball1971Don Daglow
Oregon Trail1971Don Rawitsch
Star Trek (strategy game)1971Mike Mayfield
Hunt the Wumpus1972Gregory Yob
Star Trek (script game)1972Don Daglow
TREK731973William K. Char, Perry Lee, and Dan Gee
Cornell U. Hockey1973Charles Buttrey
Wander1974Peter Langston
dnd1975Gary Whisenhunt and Ray Wood
Dungeon1975Don Daglow
Colossal Cave Adventure1976Will CrowtherThe original adventure game
Dukedom1976Vince Talbot
Empire1977Walter Bright
Mystery Mansion1977Bill Wolpert
Zork1977Tim Anderson, Marc Blank, Bruce Daniels and Dave Lebling
Acheton1978Jon Thackray, David Seal and Jonathan PartingtonAdventure game originally hosted on Cambridge University's Phoenix mainframe
Decwar1978Hysick, Bob and Potter, Jeff
MUD1978Roy Trubshaw and Richard BartleThe first multi-user dungeon. See List of MUDs for later examples.
Battlestar1979David Riggle
Brand X1979Peter Killworth and Jonathan MestelAKA Philosopher's Quest
HAUNT1979John Laird
Martian Adventure1979Brad Templeton and Kieran Carroll
New Adventure1979Mark Niemiec
FisK1980John Sobotik and Richard BeigelText based adventure game
Hezarin1980Steve Tinney, Alex Shipp and Jon Thackray
Kingdom of Hamil1980Jonathan PartingtonAdventure game originally hosted on Cambridge University's Phoenix mainframe
Monsters of Murdac1980Jonathan PartingtonAdventure game originally hosted on Cambridge University's Phoenix mainframe
Quondam1980Rod UnderwoodAdventure game originally hosted on Cambridge University's Phoenix mainframe
Rogue1980Michael Toy, Glenn Wichman, and Ken Arnold
LORD1981Olli J. PaavolaBased on The Lord of the Rings
Avon1983Jonathan PartingtonShakespearean adventure game originally hosted on Cambridge University's Phoenix mainframe
Castle1983Barry Wilks
Dunnet1983Ron Schnell
Fyleet1986Jonathan PartingtonAdventure game originally hosted on Cambridge University's Phoenix mainframe
Crobe1987Jonathan PartingtonAdventure game originally hosted on Cambridge University's Phoenix mainframe
Nidus1987Adam Atkinson
Quest of the Sangraal1987Jonathan PartingtonAdventure game originally hosted on Cambridge University's Phoenix mainframe
Spycatcher1989Jonathan Partington and Jon ThackrayAdventure game originally hosted on Cambridge University's Phoenix mainframe; released commercially by Topologika Software as Spy Snatcher

On personal computers

Commercial text adventure games

These are commercial interactive fiction games played offline.

TitleYear CreatedCreatorNotes
Adventureland1978Scott Adams of Adventure Internationalseries
Zork I: The Great Underground Empire1980Tim Anderson, Marc Blank, Bruce Daniels and Dave Leblingseries
C.I.A Adventure1980Hugh Lampert of CLOAD
Softporn Adventure1981On-Line Systems
Madness and the Minotaur1981for Spectral Associates
The Hobbit1982Philip Mitchell and Veronika Megler of Beam Software
Valhalla1983Legend
Time and Magik1983Level 9
Forbidden Quest1983Pryority Software
Valley of the Minotaur1983Nicolas van Dyk of Softalk
The Wizard of Akyrz1983Brian Howarth of Mysterious Adventures and Cliff J. Ogden for Adventure International
The Biz1984Chris Sievey of Virgin GamesMusic band simulator for the ZX Spectrum
High Stakes1984Angelsoft
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy1984Douglas Adams and Steve Meretzky of Infocom
Mindwheel1984Robert Pinsky for Synapse Software
Zyll1984Marshal W. Linder and Scott B. Edwards for IBM
The Pawn1985Magnetic Scrolls
A Mind Forever Voyaging1985Steve Meretzky of Infocom
Brimstone1985James Paul for Synapse
Essex1985Bill Darrah for Synapse
Hampstead1985Peter Jones and Trevor Lever for Melbourne House
Bored of the Rings1985Delta 4
Mind Wheel1985Brøderbund Software
Heavy on the Magick1986Gargoyle Games
Breakers1986Rodney R. Smith for Synapse
Terrormolinos1986Peter Jones and Trevor Lever for Melbourne House
Amnesia1987Thomas M. DischThe only entirely non-graphical text adventure ever published by Electronic Arts
Braminar1987
Dodgy Geezers1987Peter Jones and Trevor Lever for Melbourne House
Enchanted Castle1987Michael R. Wilk[2]
Gnome Ranger1987Level 9
Jacaranda Jim1987Graham Cluley
Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It1987Jeff O'Neill for Infocom
1987Bob Bates for Infocom
Shadows of Mordor1987Melbourne House
Knight Orc1987Level 9
The Guild of Thieves1987Magnetic Scrolls
Fish!1988Magnetic Scrolls
Ingrid's Back1988Level 9
Corruption1988Magnetic Scrolls
Dr. Dumont's Wild P.A.R.T.I.1988Michael and Muffy Berlyn
Avalon1989Yehuda Simmons[3] A MUD, notable for its pioneering introduction of various innovations such as plotted quests, real estate, banking and distinct skills [4] [5]
The Hound of Shadow1989for Eldritch Games
Humbug1990Graham Cluley
Islands of Danger1990Carr Software
Danger! Adventurer at Work!1991Simon Avery
Spy Snatcher1992Jonathan Partington and Jonathan Thackray for Topologika
The Yawhg2013Emily Carroll[6]

Miscellaneous games

TitleYear CreatedCreatorNotes
Wizard's Castle1978Joseph R. Power
Aliens1982Yahoo SoftwareSpace Invaders clone for Kaypro.
CatChum1982Yahoo SoftwarePac-Man clone for Kaypro.
Ladder1982Yahoo SoftwareDonkey Kong clone for Kaypro.
Text Train1982Bert Kersey, Beagle Bros Software
Snipes1983SuperSet
Sleuth1983Eric N. Miller
Beast1984Dan Baker, Alan Brown, Mark Hamilton and Derrick Shadel
Kingdom of Kroz1987Scott Miller of Apogee Software
Mtrek1987Chuck Peterson of UCSC
ZZT1991Tim Sweeney of Epic MegaGames
Curses!1993Graham Nelson
MegaZeux1994Alexis Janson of Software VisionsSupports editing the character set to allow for more advanced graphical capabilities than most text mode games.
Jigsaw1995Graham Nelson
Chibot Ultra Battle1999
PAEE1999Enrique D. Bosch
For a Change1999Dan Schmidt
Shade2000Andrew Plotkin
Shrapnel2000Adam Cadre

Online games

Play-by-email games

These are play-by-email games played online.

TitleYear CreatedCreator
Lords of the Earth1983
Quantum Space1989
Atlantis PbeM1993
Eressea PbeM1996

BBS door games

These are BBS door games played online.

TitleYear CreatedCreator
TradeWars 20021987Gary Martin for Martech Software
Legend of the Red Dragon1989Seth Able Robinson

Text-Based Browser Multiplayer Games

These games are played in a web browser and involve multiplayer components: based mainly around text but may have limited graphical user interfaces.

TitleYear CreatedCreator
Torn City2003Joe Chedburn (Torn LTD)
Mafia Wars2008Zynga

See also

Notes and References

  1. Dartmouth Time-Sharing . Kemeny, John G. . Kurtz, Thomas E. . Science . 11 October 1968 . 162 . 3850 . 223–228 . 10.1126/science.162.3850.223 . 5675464 . 1968Sci...162..223K . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221336/http://dtss.dartmouth.edu/sciencearticle/index.html . 4 March 2016 .
  2. Web site: Enchanted Castle. Michael R. Wilk. 1 January 1987. Internet Archive.
  3. Web site: Online RPG Game - Avalon - Text Based Games. Avalon, The Legend. Lives. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151205233853/http://www.avalon-rpg.com/. 2015-12-05.
  4. Web site: Richard A. Bartle: Reviews - UK. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151228220559/http://mud.co.uk/richard/imucg4.htm. 2015-12-28.
  5. Web site: Designing Virtual Worlds. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151118103355/http://mud.co.uk/dvw/index.html. 2015-11-18.
  6. Web site: The Yawhg. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140601065915/http://www.theyawhg.com/. 2014-06-01.

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