text adventure
Typed command game
A text adventure is a computer game that presents scenarios entirely through written prose, with players typing commands to navigate and interact: go north, open door, take sword.
The genre flourished in the 1980s before graphics became standard.
Text adventures are also called interactive fiction, a term that emphasizes their literary qualities over puzzle-solving.
Seminal interactive fiction series
- interactive fictionCommand-driven narrative software
- parserSyntax-interpreting program
- command-lineText-based computer interface
- MUDText-based online game
prompt · inventory · verbs · syntax · typing · ASCII · keyboard · turn-based
Recounting events aloud
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- charactersPersons in a narrative
- branchingSplitting into separate directions
- prologueIntroductory literary section
epilogue · climax · twist · fiction · narrator · dialogue · setting · theme
Puzzling question to solve
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- mazePuzzle of passages
- combinationJoining of multiple elements
- clueSolving aid
solve · decipher · locked door · key · obstacle · brainteaser · challenge · solution
Zork
Seminal interactive fiction series
- interactive fictionCommand-driven narrative software
- parserSyntax-interpreting program
- command-lineText-based computer interface
MUD · prompt · inventory · verbs · syntax · typing · ASCII · keyboard · turn-based · single-player
storytelling
Recounting events aloud
- plotStoryline or land parcel
- charactersPersons in a narrative
- branchingSplitting into separate directions
prologue · epilogue · climax · twist · fiction · narrator · dialogue · setting · theme · arc
riddle
Puzzling question to solve
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- mazePuzzle of passages
- combinationJoining of multiple elements
clue · solve · decipher · locked door · key · obstacle · brainteaser · challenge · solution · hint system
quest
Seeking journey for something
- wizardPractitioner of sorcery
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- magicSupernatural or illusory power
dungeon · kingdom · sorcery · goblin · spellbook · potion · amulet · enchantment · treasure · sword
map
Spatial representation of terrain
look · discover · uncharted · journey · frontier · wander · backtrack · hidden passage · secret door · dark room
- retro gamingretro gaming, 8-bit, NES, SNES, 16-bit
- adventure gamespoint-and-click, puzzle, narrative, quest, Myst
- game narrativestory, narrative, plot, storyline, dialogue tree
- text gamesinteractive fiction, word game, word puzzle, Zork, parser
- MUDsMUD, mudding, rooms, zones, areas
- text interfacescommand line, console, CLI, terminal, prompt
text adventurefirst-person shooter
Combat game, protagonist's viewpoint
button masher · rhythm game · fighting game · racing game · sports game
text, adventure, texts, textual, textually, texture, textured, texturing, textile