List of text-based computer games


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.
TitleYear CreatedCreatorNotes
BBC1961John BurgesonBaseball simulator
Unnamed American football game1968 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 1971Mike Mayfield-
Hunt the Wumpus1972Gregory Yob-
Star Trek 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		-
1978Jon 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 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--
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 SimmonsA MUD, notable for its pioneering introduction of various innovations such as plotted quests, real estate, banking and distinct skills-
The Hound of Shadow1989for Eldritch Games--
Humbug1990Graham Cluley--
Danger! Adventurer at Work!1991Simon Avery--
Spy Snatcher1992Jonathan Partington and Jonathan Thackray for Topologika--
dead rage2005Tate Productions--
World War II: Heroes of Valor2009Samuel Horton--
'2012Cabrera Brothers--
The Yawhg2013Emily Carroll--
Shimlar2013SHIMLAR LTD.Text-Based RPG-
Criminal Gangsters2014Inspire Gaming--
2015Black Shell GamesText-Based RPG-
What Would You Do As a Nigerian Tribal Chief2015Nathaniel Ogungbuyi--
Commandverse2015Cyborg RealityText-Based God Game-
Open Sorcery2017Open Sorcery GamesText-Based RPG
City of Ages2017Darren N. Lory of formsmatter.comwritten in Visual Basic 6.0 sr 6-

On Android phones

Miscellaneous games

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

MUDs

Other