The Castle of Dr. Malvado

The Castle of Dr. Malvado is a compact adventure built around the wonderfully old-fashioned idea that entering a mysterious castle owned by a sinister doctor is probably a perfectly sensible thing to do. Exploration, puzzles, and careful observation are the order of the day, with the player expected to investigate rooms, discover useful objects, and work out how the various pieces fit together. Its DOS origins are obvious, particularly in the presentation and deliberately straightforward interface, but there is a certain appeal in its homemade, almost experimental character. The game does not bury its ideas under elaborate cinematics or complicated systems; instead, it lets the strange setting do much of the work. Expect cryptic moments, occasional trial and error, and the sort of puzzle logic that makes you wonder whether the villain or the programmer is actually trying to trap you.