10 Must-Play Text-Based Adventure Games You Probably Haven't Discovered Yet

Launched in 2004, The Dreamhold stands out as one of the more modern entries on this list. It’s an ideal starting point for newcomers, as it includes a tutorial—something rarely found in classic text adventures. The Dreamhold not only teaches the basics of interactive fiction but also offers a clever critique of the genre. With its challenging puzzles and thoughtful design, it’s a must-play. You can download it for free on the App Store or play it directly in your browser.

Although not the earliest text adventure game, Colossal Cave became the first to gain widespread popularity among computer enthusiasts in the late 1970s. It was also the first adventure game accessible on home computers, making it one of the most groundbreaking video games in history. The game immerses you in one of the earliest virtual worlds, featuring monsters, a dragon, and a basic combat system. You can experience it right here.

In the 1980s, the PC gaming community was tiny, but Zork stood out as a massive hit. By 1986, its publisher had sold over 680,000 copies—a modest figure by today’s standards but monumental for its time. Zork pushed the boundaries of text-based adventures with its intricate design, expansive lore, and challenging puzzles. Even today, it remains a captivating experience. Give it a try.

Text adventure games weren’t always solo endeavors. Just like modern gamers, players in the past enjoyed shared experiences, leading to the creation of MUDs (Multi-User Dungeons). These games allowed people to engage in collaborative RPG adventures long before World of Warcraft entered the scene. While Genesis wasn’t the first MUD, it holds the record for being the longest-running one. This game has a rich legacy, operating since before the internet became mainstream. You can dive into this historic experience anytime by following this link.

Text adventures aren’t limited to caves and dragons—they can explore any theme, even risqué ones. Softporn Adventure, a product of the sexual liberation era, puts players in the shoes of a character on a quest for romance. While it might raise eyebrows today, the game is more humorous than offensive, considering its era and target audience. It’s unlikely to be titillating unless you’re a die-hard fan of text-based games. Give it a look.

Fun fact: The hot tub models on the game’s cover were mostly On-Line Systems employees, including Roberta Williams, the company’s co-founder, who appears on the right.

The future of text adventure games is here, and it’s undeniably bizarre. AI Dungeon is a fully procedurally generated experience where you select a character, setting, and scenario, and an AI crafts a unique story on the fly. While the AI’s logic can be erratic, the results are endlessly intriguing. Each session feels like a surreal, dreamlike journey, as if your computer has gained sentience, overdosed on sedatives, and decided to run a D&D campaign for you.

Scott Adams (not the Dilbert creator) designed a series of text-based games for early home computers. Despite the severe memory limitations of those systems, his games managed to craft immersive and thrilling fantasy worlds—until you hit a puzzle with no solution in sight. Pirate Adventure stands out as one of his finest works, but all his games are worth exploring. You can play them directly in your browser.

Hidden within one of the most popular websites on the internet is a full-fledged text adventure. To uncover this search engine easter egg, visit Google’s homepage, search for “text adventure,” and open the Javascript console by pressing CMD + OPT + J on Mac or CTRL + SHIFT + J on Windows. A prompt will ask, “Would you like to play a game?” Say yes, and you’ll embark on a whimsical journey through a virtual Google campus, complete with challenging puzzles to solve.

Hitchhiker’s Guide stands out for its notoriously difficult puzzles and witty writing. Its absurdist humor provides a refreshing contrast to the often serious tone of other text-based games. Co-written by Douglas Adams, it’s a must-play for fans of the novel, offering a unique story that expands the Hitchhiker’s universe in delightfully funny ways. Try it out here.

If you’ve ever encountered the term “Roguelike,” its origins trace back to this 1980 fantasy classic. Whether Rogue qualifies as a “text-adventure” is debatable, as it diverges from traditional text-based games. Instead of typing commands like “Go North,” it uses text characters to simulate a turn-based, top-down dungeon exploration. Playing as an “@” battling “Z” symbols, you’ll discover a deeply challenging experience where every dungeon is randomly generated, and death is final. Mastering survival is a true feat. Give it a try here.