Return to Zork

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 50 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • humor
Return to Zork Game Cover
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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.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Ms Dos
  • Play​Station
  • Sega Saturn
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews
story4 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • Brings back nostalgic memories for many players, especially those who enjoyed it in their childhood.
  • Features a good story with fun and clever puzzles that challenge players to think outside the box.
  • The graphics and voice acting, while dated, add a unique charm and humor to the gameplay experience.
  • The game is notoriously difficult, with many puzzles being cryptic and lacking clear explanations.
  • Players often encounter frustrating bugs and glitches that can hinder progress, including a game-breaking issue at the end.
  • The text and interface can feel outdated, with small text and a lack of modern features like Steam achievements.
  • graphics10 mentions

    The graphics of *Return to Zork* are considered good for its time, showcasing the advancements in the transition from text to graphical adventure games in the early 1990s. While they may appear fuzzy and plain by today's standards, the game's unique charm and nostalgic value still resonate with players, highlighting the state-of-the-art video capture techniques used during its release. Overall, the graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia, reflecting the evolution of gaming visuals over the decades.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • story6 mentions

    The story of "Return to Zork" is generally regarded as enjoyable and engaging, set in a unique world that employs classic RPG tropes. However, some players find the plot to be incoherent at times. Nostalgic memories of collaborative gameplay enhance the overall appreciation of the narrative experience.

    • “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.”
    • “As a kid, I tried to beat it with my friends at school, and we'd be trading notes about things we saw or did to advance the story. I have a lot of good memories from that.”
    • “The big problem is that the plot itself doesn't seem to be coherent.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The game is praised for its humor, described as super funny, entertaining, and featuring a mix of freaky and creepy elements. It incorporates tongue-in-cheek and sarcastic humor reminiscent of classic titles like Zork, making it a delightful experience for fans of challenging point-and-click adventures.

    • “It's a super funny and entertaining game.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay2 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized as classic puzzle mechanics that evoke a strong sense of nostalgia for players, particularly those 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.”
  • music2 mentions

    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 music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “The soundtrack is forgettable and doesn't enhance the overall experience.”
    • “While the digitized voice and CD audio soundtrack are neat, they don't compensate for the lack of memorable tunes.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly and is free of significant bugs, especially when compared to other vintage conversions.

    • “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 polished and reliable throughout.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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