Here is a timeline and summary of the games, books and other media I have experienced as part of this blog. Items that I have not written about but would like to give a gut recommendation have a rating but are not a link to a post.
Just as in the modern era, games were often repackaged, ported and remade over several years. While I may not be playing the very original version of a given game, I will always try to include the original release within the timeline for comparison.
Items with ongoing publications, live service games and things that may have been available and updated for an extended period of time will be found under their original launch date with an end year for clarification.
Key:
👍👍👍 - Fantastic. A perfect example of the genre. Highly recommended.
👍👍 - Great. A solid example of the genre. Definitely worth playing.
👍 - Good. Worth playing, but perhaps not for full price.
🆗 - Average. Meh. Only worth playing by fans of the genre.
👎 - Not great. Either disappointing in some way, or compares unfavourably to similar games.
👎👎 - Bad. Not worth playing.
👎👎👎 - Awful. Either completely broken or just terrible. Avoid.
🌍 - Particularly good exploration or mapping.
💰 - Compelling loot. Items or equipment were interesting.
📚 - I really enjoyed the story.
🔧 - Very satisfying game mechanics.
🎶 - Great music.
Timeline
1958
Q3
- to 1984 📖 War Picture Library [Comic]
1975
Q4
- 🕹️ pedit5 [PLATO, CRPG] (👎)
1977
Home computer industry truly starts.
Q2
- to 1979 🕹️ (Mainframe) Zork (see 1980, Zork I: The Great Underground Empire) [PDP-10, Interactive Fiction]
1978
Q4
- 🕹️ #1 Adventureland [PC, Interactive Fiction] (🆗)
1979
Q1
- 🕹️ #2 Pirate Adventure [PC, Interactive Fiction] (🆗)
- 🕹️ #3 Secret Mission (prev. Impossible Mission) [PC, Interactive Fiction] (👍)
Q3
- 🕹️ Dunjonquest: Temple of Apshai (see 1985, Temple of Apshai Trilogy) [PC, CRPG]
- 🕹️ #4 Voodoo Castle [PC, Interactive Fiction] (upcoming)
- 🕹️ #5 The Count [PC, Interactive Fiction] (upcoming)
1980
Q2
- 🕹️ Akalabeth [PC, CRPG] (in progress)
Q4
- 🕹️ Zork I: The Great Underground Empire [PC, Interactive Fiction] (👍👍 - 🌍)
1981
Q4
- 🕹️ Zork II: The Wizard of Frobozz [PC, Interactive Fiction] (👎)
1982
Q3
- 🕹️ Zork III: The Dungeon Master [PC, Interactive Fiction] (👍)
1985
Q4
- 🕹️ Temple of Apshai Trilogy [PC, CRPG] (👍 - 🌍)
1986
Q2
- 🕹️ Dragon Quest (Dragon Warrior when released in the US in 1989) [NES, JRPG] (in progress)
2023
Q2
- 🕹️ Final Fantasy XVI [Multiple Platforms, JRPG] (🆗)
2024
Q1
- 🕹️ Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth [Multiple Platforms, JRPG] (👍👍)
2025
Q1
- 🕹️ Avowed [Multiple Platforms, CRPG] (👍)
Q2
- 🕹️ Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 [Multiple Platforms, JRPG] (👍👍👍 - 📚,🎶)