Space Quest 5: The Next Mutation

In Space Quest 5: The Next Mutation, Roger Wilco finally receives something resembling a promotion. Released in 1993, the game puts him in charge of a spaceship and a crew, which feels like a terrible management decision but makes for great comedy. The plot spoofs science-fiction television, particularly starship-based series where captains deliver dramatic speeches while staring at stars. Roger, naturally, spends most of his time trying not to embarrass himself in front of his own bridge crew. The puzzles are more straightforward than in earlier entries, and the interface abandons typing for the point-and-click system Sierra fans had grown used to. Between awkward diplomacy, strange alien encounters, and the constant risk of humiliation, the game turns Roger’s unlikely career into a delightful spacefaring sitcom.