Colossal Cave, a seminal game that has left a significant mark on the gaming industry, has been reimagined for the Meta Quest 3 by Roberta Williams. Known for her work on King’s Quest and Phantasmagoria, Williams brings a fresh perspective to this classic game. Colossal Cave, originally released in 1976, has inspired countless adventure games, including Zork, Monkey Island, and King’s Quest.
Cygnus Entertainment has spent over three years developing this new version, which features a mixed-media format and introduces a new “Explorer” mode. This mode allows players to casually navigate the enchanted corridors of the game. The reimagined Colossal Cave has no in-game advertising, no subscription fees, and no in-app purchases, offering uninterrupted gameplay. It is a one-time purchase game, providing players with lifetime access.
Colossal Cave Adventure was created by Will Crowther and expanded by Don Woods. The original game involved exploring a cave system filled with treasure and gold. It is recognized as the first well-known example of interactive fiction and adventure gaming. Crowther’s design was based on his experiences in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. The game was accessible to non-technical players and was expanded by Woods to include fantasy elements like dragons and magic spells. It was widely played on mainframe computers and spread via the early ARPANET.
The influence of Colossal Cave is substantial, and it was inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2019. In 2020, Ken and Roberta Williams, founders of Sierra On-Line, began redesigning the game for modern devices to create an immersive 3D experience.