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How to play classic text adventures on Android for free

Install UserLAnd (free), set up Debian with a Terminal connection, and run sudo apt install bsdgames frotz. Type adventure to play Colossal Cave Adventure, or use frotz to play Infocom-format story files. For the Zork series ready to play, see Z-Machine.

Get it on Google PlayUserLAndGet it on Google PlayZ-Machine

Step by step

  1. Install UserLAnd

    Get UserLAnd free from Google Play.

  2. Set up Debian in a terminal

    On the Apps tab, tap Debian, enter a username and password, and choose Terminal.

  3. Install the games

    Run sudo apt update && sudo apt install bsdgames frotz.

  4. Play Colossal Cave Adventure

    Type adventure. Then try commands such as look, take lamp or go north.

  5. Play other interactive fiction

    Download a story file (.z5, .z8 and similar) and run frotz followed by its file name. The Interactive Fiction Archive has thousands of free games.

Frequently asked questions

What is Colossal Cave Adventure?

The first text adventure, from the 1970s. It inspired Zork, including its maze of twisty little passages.

Can I play Zork this way?

frotz plays Zork story files if you have them. To play Zork I, II and III, Beyond Zork, Zork Zero and Return to Zork without finding any files, use Z-Machine.

About this app

Z-Machine doesn't contain any game files or ROMs. It loads the publicly available, unmodified version from the Internet Archive and adds Android touch controls. You need internet the first time it loads.

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