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The Retro Adventurers

The Retro Adventurers
Text Adventure Games
Interactive Fiction
Infocom
Retro Adventure Games
Valkyrie 17
Redhawk
Spider-Man
Ship Of Doom
The Dark Crystal
Game Development
Technology
Colossal Cave
Commodore 64
Mask Of the Sun
Sphinx Adventure
Twin Kingdom Valley
The Tracer Sanction
Sherlock Holmes
Kingdom Of the Seven Stones
Swiss Family Robinson

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 Discord, Facebook, and Bluesky.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes48Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Video GamesLeisureTechnology

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Artwork for The Retro Adventurers

Latest Episodes

Contest deadlines, international reviews, and some Ramsberg groveling lead our news coverage for text adventure enthusiasts this month. Tim, Jason, and Nick bring you the latest for one of the oldest gaming disciplines... aside from that one story we... more

YouTube

Pack your phrasebook and get ready to defend democracy as Ben and Jason take on a pair of quirky early 1980s adventures. For an appetizer, we order Infocom legend Brian Moriarty's early effort, a type-in published in ANALOG Computing Magazine no less... more

YouTube

No rest for retro adventuring news this summer as Tim and Jason bring you lots of news: contest developments (don't delay, some deadlines are very very very soon!), Visible Zorker updates which aren't as stark as they seem, lost games and a lost deve... more

YouTube

"I don't want to suggest this is a more obviously American game than some others, but I will say you do solve one problem by shooting a tree." - Dudley of Yesterzine

Jason and special guest player Dudley from the Yesterzine YouTube channel take on t... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Andrew Zarf Plotkin
Guest participant on the episode
Episode: Episode 41 - Infidel and The Smirking Horror
Tim Gilberts
Honorary fifth member of the team
Gilsoft
Episode: Episode 38 - Aldebaran III and Dog Star Adventure
Scott Adams
Creator of the Scott Adams text adventures
Adventure International (UK/US)
Episode: Episode 35 - 2025 Year-End Chatisode
Andrew Plotkin
Designer/author of Inhumane, Z-machine discussions
Independent
Episode: Episode 35 - 2025 Year-End Chatisode
Dave Velociraptor
Co-host on This Week in Retro, guest on episode
This Week in Retro
Episode: Episode 35 - 2025 Year-End Chatisode
Iain Lee
Past Retro Adventurers player, television host
Media/TV
Episode: Episode 35 - 2025 Year-End Chatisode
Christian Neuhaus
Guest, involved in Sherlock Holmes adaptation discussions
Sherlock Holmes adaptation project
Episode: Episode 35 - 2025 Year-End Chatisode
Brian Rushton
Mathbrush, prolific interactive fiction reviewer and game writer
IFDB reviewer and IF creator
Episode: Episode 33 - A Conversation with Mathbrush
Peter Golden
Author of Sherlock Holmes: Another Bow, prolific writer spanning multiple genres.
Episode: Episode 24 - A Conversation with Peter Golden

Hosts

Jason Compton
Anchor and host with focus on historical context and discussion flow; frequent guest.
Nick Moffat
Co-host and interviewer with deep knowledge of interactive fiction and community.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 33 ratings
  • Strangely Compelling!!

    Arrived here from this week in Retro. I used to play the odd text adventure back in the day on the 64 and early PC but was not a die hard adventurer and did not have high hopes for this but it’s absolutely fascinating. I don’t know what it is but these guys chatting about puzzles and old tech with such knowledge holds your attention for an hour easily. The episodes with Jason and Nick are particularly listenable but all the guests are extremely good. Highly recommended only small gripes are it i... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gorgar will eat you!!!
    United States3 months ago
  • Deep, chewy nerdism

    If you like your dives deep and your games text based this is the absolute go to podcast. Very geeky chat alongside picking apart a variety of text adventures across a wealth of platforms - great fun!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Majikal Mike
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • I love this podcast!

    Since I’m on a roll (just added a review for This Week in Retro) - figured I’d stop here since this is one of the other few podcasts that I really look forward to. Great content - particularly love the adventure dives - and fantastic hosts. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pxlcool
    United States6 months ago
  • 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 Kingdom9 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

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Feedback notes a desire for more video content and consistent guest appearances.
Listeners praise deep nerd-level discussions of puzzles and old tech.
Show is repeatedly recommended for fans of classic text adventures and restoration projects.
Audience appreciates the hosts' engaging delivery and strong guest lineups.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#41
Poland/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#120
Denmark/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#137
Poland/Leisure
Apple Podcasts
#174
Singapore/Leisure/Video Games
Apple Podcasts
#177
Finland/Leisure/Video Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 28 - A Conversation with Andrew Plotkin
Q: What inspired you to re-implement Inhumane in Inform 6 and make it playable on modern platforms?
The motivation came from seeing the original on a listing and realizing there was value in preserving and sharing the experience with newer audiences, plus the opportunity to illustrate how Inform could extend the life of classic works across devices.
Episode 28 - A Conversation with Andrew Plotkin
Q: Did you change the text at all?
I did not; I attempted to recreate the experience as closely as possible while using the Inform-based path, fixing a few typos but keeping the original sense intact.
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.
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.
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.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Retro Adventurers

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

A deep-daniel penchant for classic text adventures shines through a conversation that consistently centers on Infocom-era titles, parsing quirks, and the evolving tooling around classic interactive fiction. Episodes frequently explore historical systems (Z-machine, Wander System), preservation efforts, open-source tooling, and contemporary projects that port, ported, or reinterpret vintage games. Noteworthy is the cast's breadth: long-time hosts mix with frequent guests—developers, reviewers, and community figures—creating technically rich, historically informed discussions with a warm, collaborative vibe. The show stands out for its nerdy rigor, affectionate nostalgia, and a healthy sense of community engagement that appeals to historians,... more

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How many episodes of The Retro Adventurers are there?

The Retro Adventurers launched 2 years ago and published 48 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. Andrew Zarf Plotkin
2. Tim Gilberts
3. Scott Adams
4. Andrew Plotkin
5. Dave Velociraptor
6. Iain Lee
7. Christian Neuhaus
8. Brian Rushton

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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