Return to Zork

About

Return to Zork is a single player puzzle game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Activision and was released on April 18, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

Return to Zork is a graphic adventure game that takes you through a series of puzzles and challenges. You play as a traveler visiting the land of Zork, where you'll explore, gather items, and talk to characters to uncover the story. The game features a unique interface, combining text-based commands with point-and-click mechanics, and a diverse cast of characters with voice acting.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 61 reviews

story4 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Brings back nostalgia for fans of the original Zork series, with memorable characters and quirky humor.
Offers a variety of puzzles that can be solved in multiple ways, providing a fun challenge for players.
Runs well on modern systems and retains the charm of early 90s adventure games.

Puzzles can be overly cryptic and frustrating, often lacking clear logic or guidance.
The game suffers from dated graphics and sound, which may detract from the experience for new players.
Players can easily become trapped or lose progress due to poorly designed mechanics and unexpected deaths.

graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The graphics of "Return to Zork" are generally regarded as impressive for its time, showcasing advancements in CD technology and video capture that were state-of-the-art in the mid-1990s. While some players acknowledge the dated and fuzzy visuals, they also appreciate the game's charm and nostalgic value, highlighting its transition from text to graphical adventure. Overall, the graphics contribute to a unique experience, despite the clunky interface and sound issues.
- “The video capture was state of the art at the time and now serves as a fun nostalgia trip of how far graphics have come over the last few decades.”
- “Played this back in the day, graphics and FMV rotoscoping were hi-tech in the mid 1990s.”
- “As I see it, the big problem with this game is not the fuzzy graphics or clunky interface (I'd expect both from a game this old).”
- “Sure, the sound can be especially grating now, and the graphics are just plain old and pretty plain at this point, but there's still a surprising amount of charm to this decades-old game.”
- “Played this back in the day, graphics and FMV rotoscoping were hi-tech in the mid-1990s.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
12%
38%
The story aspect of the game is described as lacking coherence and depth, with some players noting that it relies on flawed logic puzzles rather than a strong narrative. However, others appreciate the nostalgic and fun elements of the plot, likening it to classic RPGs and recalling positive experiences shared with friends while playing. Overall, while the story may not be its strongest feature, it still provides an enjoyable backdrop for gameplay.
- “Good story”
- “Still fun to see the story unfold.”
- “Return to Zork uses classic RPG tropes to tell a fun story set in its own unique world.”
- “Not really any story.”
- “The big problem is that the plot itself doesn't seem to be coherent.”
- “It's not the art or story, but the actual ideas of what items and interactions are about (and how). The expansion of problem-solving isn't like LucasArts, for example; it's more about some individuals' flawed logic that they want you to solve, like 'What am I thinking of?' Then, no!”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
60%
The humor in the game is polarizing; while some players find it super funny, entertaining, and reminiscent of classic sarcastic styles like Zork, others feel it falls flat and lacks cleverness. Overall, those who appreciate tongue-in-cheek humor and a mix of creepy and addictive elements tend to enjoy the comedic aspects.
- “It's a super funny and entertaining game.”
- “These days there is much free help of course on the internet, and if you enjoy a challenging point and click game with good voice acting and some tongue-in-cheek humor, this game is a great value.”
- “This is a point and click game with the same Zork sarcastic humor that doesn't take itself seriously at all.”
- “It's not funny, it's not clever. The only takeaway lesson is this: you suck!”
- “The humor falls flat and feels forced, making the experience more cringeworthy than enjoyable.”
- “I expected witty jokes, but instead, I was met with tired clichés that missed the mark completely.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its excellence, featuring impressive digitized voice elements and a high-quality CD audio soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- “The music is excellent.”
- “The standout features are the digitized voice and the CD audio soundtrack.”
- “The digitized voice and CD audio soundtrack are the only highlights in an otherwise lackluster musical experience.”
- “The music feels repetitive and uninspired, failing to enhance the gameplay.”
- “While the digitized voice is a neat feature, it doesn't compensate for the overall poor quality of the soundtrack.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly without any significant bugs, especially when compared to other vintage conversions. Stability appears to be a strong point for this title.
- “In all seriousness, the game runs great and has none of the bugs like a few vintage conversions I've played.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive; I haven't encountered any crashes or major issues.”
- “I appreciate how smooth the gameplay is; it feels very polished and reliable.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, with poorly designed mazes that detract from the overall experience. The lack of challenge and dull XP progression contribute to a frustrating gameplay loop that many reviewers consider a significant drawback.
- “This game is the worst I've ever played for its overly expansive scenery, and that is saying something. It also has the most tedious mazes I've encountered, which are not well thought out. I've seen three so far, and there's no challenge—just time depletion!”
- “To be fair, there are things that link up, but I found the whole XP system dull, slow, and tedious.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is highly regarded for its classic puzzle mechanics, evoking a strong sense of nostalgia for players who experienced it during their childhood.
- “This game was prime puzzle gameplay back in the day.”
- “This game was a part of my childhood, and the characters, the gameplay, everything about it is nostalgic.”