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The Retro Adventurers

The Retro Adventurers
Text Adventure Games
Interactive Fiction
Retro Adventure Games
Game Development
Technology
Ship Of Doom
The Dark Crystal
Colossal Cave
The Tracer Sanction
Twin Kingdom Valley
Sphinx Adventure
Swiss Family Robinson
Valhalla
Kingdom Of the Seven Stones
Personal Experiences
Shakespeare
Infocom
Avon
Emergent Gameplay
Down Among the Dead Men

Explore classic text adventure games from legendary publishers and authors including Magnetic Scrolls, Level 9, Infocom, Scott Adams, and Interplay. A podcast for fans of GET LAMP, Eaten By a Grue, The Classic Adventurer, Renga In Blue, and Quest For Clues. Follow us on your favorite podcast app, and keep the conversations going on Facebook and Bluesky.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes38Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesTechnologyLeisure

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Artwork for The Retro Adventurers

Latest Episodes

Hyperspace adventure awaits as Tim Gilberts joins Jason to play two underrated science fiction games from the 1970s. For starters it's Dog Star Adventure, the first type-in text adventure in Softside Magazine. True to its 1979 roots it's steeped in S... more

Ron Martinez, our guest from Episode 11, returns! This is actually a holdover from the 2025 Year-End Chatisode sessions, but it really stands alone as an exploration of Ron's recent work in narrative design involving generative AI, large language mod... more

It's the Infocom classic Zork, but in two unusual formats!

First Nick and Jason explore the unusual covertape edition of Mini-Zork I, a stripped-down, memory-resident version of the original Great Underground Empire created in 1987 and later provide... more

Holiday merriment with many past guests and minimal editing!

Retro Adventurers Jason and Nick chat about the year that was including recent developments in classic adventure open source, plans for 2026, and more with many of our past participants:

more

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This Week in RetroChris from 005 AGIMA, Jason from The Retro Adventurers, Dave and Duncan Styles
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Recent Guests

Peter Golden
Author of Sherlock Holmes: Another Bow, prolific writer spanning multiple genres.
Episode: Episode 24 - A Conversation with Peter Golden
Christian Neuhaus
Noted international Sherlockian expert and co-author of 'You've Ruined a Perfectly Good Mystery'
Episode: Episode 23 - Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes: Another Bow, and Sherlock: Riddle of the Crown Jewels
Iain Lee
A notable figure from the 90s and host of multiple podcasts.
Iain Lee's Random Access Memories
Episode: Episode 18 - Bored of the Rings / Calixto Island with Iain Lee
Jonathan Partington
Developer of several classic text adventure games, associated with Cambridge University.
Topologika
Episode: Episode 16 - A Conversation With Jonathan Partington
Mark Hardesty
Assisted in scheduling the interview with Jonathan Partington.
Episode: Episode 16 - A Conversation With Jonathan Partington
Ron Martinez
A developer of interactive fiction and author of classic text adventures.
Headcanon, Invention Arts
Episode: Episode 11 - A Conversation with Ron Martinez
Chad Fifer
Host of the podcast Strange Studies of Strange Stories, focused on Lovecraftian literature and gaming culture.
Strange Studies of Strange Stories
Episode: Episode 10 - The Lurking Horror and Crypt of Medea
Robin Raymond
Neo-retro developer and creator of Kingdom of the Seven Stones
The Future was 8 Bit
Episode: Episode 9 - A Conversation with Robin Raymond
Tim Gilberts
Founder of Gilsoft and co-developer of The Quill and PAW
Gilsoft
Episode: Episode 5 - A Conversation With Tim Gilberts

Hosts

Nick Moffat
Co-host of The Retro Adventurers; frequent contributor with a focus on整理 and historical context.
Jason Compton
Co-host and frequent discussion leader; brings technical insight and a passion for interactive fiction.
Ben Collier
Host and co-creator; provides analytical perspective on game design and narrative structure.
Dave Hawkins
Host and frequent co-host; discusses gameplay mechanics and historical context with enthusiasm.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 28 ratings
  • A high quality production

    Jason and co wax lyrical (and I do mean lyrical) about old text adventures. Each episode seems really well planned so that the discussions flow in a natural and entertaining way. Fascinating stuff for those of us who mostly prefer to hear about (rather than play) classic text adventures!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Piero
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Showed Up for the Retro Adventure… Stayed for the Engaging Hosts!

    One of those rare podcasts that lures you with an intriguing subject (Classic 8-Bit Text Adventures) but a few episodes in, you discover the hosts could make any topic entertaining!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shroomAzoom
    Canadaa year ago
  • Cumbo lives!

    Good to hear Cumbo on episode 1

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RainMan999
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Excellent dialogue about old text games

    Very promising!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    eskeandersen
    Denmark2 years ago

Listeners Say

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The show delivers engaging, well-planned discussions with natural flow.
Hosts make any topic entertaining with their chemistry.
Episode highlights strong writing and insightful guests.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 16 - A Conversation With Jonathan Partington
Q: What do you think we should play next from the Jonathan Partington archives?
You could try Murdac. Murdac is a bit more sympathetic to the player.
Episode 16 - A Conversation With Jonathan Partington
Q: Can you talk about what it was that hooked you?
I liked writing puzzles. People could interact in fiction a lot, which drew me to text adventures.
Episode 7 - A Conversation with Roberta and Ken Williams
Q: Can you tell us about your new books?
Ken's book 'Not All Fairy Tales Have Happy Endings' discusses the rise and fall of Sierra, while Roberta's 'Farewell to Tara' focuses on historical themes.
Episode 7 - A Conversation with Roberta and Ken Williams
Q: What challenges did you face in the transition from the text-based games to graphical adventures?
Roberta highlighted that designing interactive stories is challenging as it requires breaking the narrative into parts while keeping players engaged.
Episode 7 - A Conversation with Roberta and Ken Williams
Q: How did your experiences with boat life and COVID lead to developing Colossal Cave?
Ken and Roberta adapted their life on the boat by integrating their interests in gaming while navigating challenges posed by the pandemic, allowing them to start programming again.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Retro Adventurers

What is The Retro Adventurers about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show spotlights classic text adventure games and the people who create and analyze them, blending author interviews, historical context, and deep dives into puzzle design, narrative, and programming. Episodes frequently explore how literary works and historical periods influence interactive fiction, discuss different publishers and platforms, and share behind-the-scenes anecdotes from developers and researchers. A notable edge is the emphasis on literary quality within games and the evolution of text adventures across platforms, which helps listeners understand the craft behind enduring classics and enjoy thoughtful, nostalgia-tinged conversations.

If you're into retro computing, puzzle-rich storytelling, and the history of interactiv... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Retro Adventurers?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Retro Adventurers:

1. This Week in Retro
2. The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast)
3. Rees Rambles
4. Retro Gaming Discussion Show
5. Stay Forever - Retrogames & Technik

How many episodes of The Retro Adventurers are there?

The Retro Adventurers launched 2 years ago and published 38 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Retro Adventurers?

Recent guests on The Retro Adventurers include:

1. Peter Golden
2. Christian Neuhaus
3. Iain Lee
4. Jonathan Partington
5. Mark Hardesty
6. Ron Martinez
7. Chad Fifer
8. Robin Raymond

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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