The best text-based games
In the past, lots of games used ASCII characters (text) to represent the game world. These text-only video games may seem primitive and outdated and, in fact, the genre almost died with the fast evolving graphics of modern games.
A few genres traditionally linked to the beautiful world of ascii characters still survives: roguelikes (nethack, angband, etc.) and interactive fiction, for example.
A few genres traditionally linked to the beautiful world of ascii characters still survives: roguelikes (nethack, angband, etc.) and interactive fiction, for example.
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Omega
DOSLinux1988freeware
Lawn Mower
DOS1987
Ancient Domains of Mystery (ADOM) v1.1
Windows XP/98/95DOSLinux1996freeware
The Final Crusade of Kroz
DOS1990freeware Apogee Software
Forbidden Quest
DOS1983 Pryority software
Star Fleet 1: The War Begins
DOSMac OS1985 Interstel Corporation
1893: A World's Fair Mystery
Windows XP/98/95Mac OS2003
1893: A World's Fair Mystery is an interactive fiction game developed by the American studio Illuminated Lantern and released in 2002. Set during the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, the game combines historical fiction with mystery-solving gameplay.In 1893: A World's Fair Mystery, players take on the role of a detective investigating ...
Amazon
DOS1984 Telarium
Armchair Quarterback
DOS1985
Championship Manager 93
DOS1993 Domark Software
Data Perfect 2.6
DOS1993
F-Prot
DOS1995
F-PROT is an antivirus developed by FRISK Software International. The name "F-PROT" stands for "FRISK-PROActive," emphasizing its proactive approach to virus detection and prevention. F-PROT Antivirus is designed to protect computer systems from various forms of malware, including viruses, worms, Trojans, and other malicious software.
Temple of Kroz
DOS1990freeware Apogee Software
WitchavenRL
Windows 10/11Linux2013
Guns 'R' Us
DOS1993 Future Vision
Border Zone
DOS1987 Infocom
Beast
DOS1984
Borland Turbo C v2
DOS1988 Borland Software Corporation
Return to Doom
DOS1988 Topologika Software
The Shadows of Mordor
DOS1988 Beam Software
Borland Reflex 2.0
DOS1986 Borland Software Corporation
Borland Reflex was a relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Borland International, a software company that was prominent in the 1980s and 1990s. Reflex was released in the mid-1980s as a graphical database software primarily targeted at business and professional users.
Fish!
DOS1988 Magnetic Scrolls
Microsoft COBOL 1.12
DOS1984 Microsoft
Objection!
DOS1992
Questprobe featuring The Hulk
DOS1984 Adventure International
Reach for the Stars
DOS1988 SSG Strategic Studies Group
Voodoo island
DOS1985 Angelsoft
NetHack
DOSWindows XP/98/95Mac OSLinux1987freeware
NetHack is an open-source roguelike game that's been around since the early 1980s. It's a single-player dungeon exploration game where you navigate your character through a randomly generated dungeon filled with monsters, traps, treasures, and various items. The goal is to retrieve the Amulet of Yendor, located deep within the dungeon's lowest leve...
Acheton
DOS1987
President Elect: 1988 Edition
DOS1987protected SSI Strategic Simulations Inc.
President Elect: 1988 Edition is a political simulation game developed by Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) and released in the mid-1980s. The game simulates U.S. presidential elections and allows players to take on the role of campaign managers in an effort to help their candidate win the election. Players can simulate U.S. presidential elect...