Classic exploration games - (modern ones too)

[hudson]

In my early days of gaming, I would occasionally come across a game that let you stray away from the main aim of the game, just like modern day open-world games. Most of the time though, exploration would be approached with caution, as delving deeper into the map would unveil things like rooms that looked impossible to progress through, a deep sea creature guarding a curious looking box, or an island inhabited by an aggressive soldier and a bicycle. More often than not the penalty would be start the whole game again, but that was okay.

Maybe, it was because these games were so unforgiving that we resorted to seeing how far we (my brother and Dad) could get or maybe It was because I was young and didn't bother reading the instructions.

A modern day equivalent would be the Demon's/Dark Souls series, I suppose. I love these games too. For some reason, the lack of direction is appealing to me.

Here are several games that immediately come to mind when I think of classic exploration games...

Scuba Dive - ZX Spectrum


Jet Set Willy - ZX Spectrum


Sabre Wulf - ZX Spectrum


Hunter - Amiga


Honourable mentions... Turbo Esprit, Saboteur, Ecco the Dolphin.

I'm sure there are loads more. Share your classic or modern experiences...

[MartyG]

Adventure on the Atari 2600 - those were the days ...

[Baseley09]

Can't recommend Starquake enough, Amstrad but also Atari ST & Spectrum.

[hudson]

It's like Metroid but starring a head with feet

The game Exile was originally released in 1988 on Acorn Electron. I only played the Amiga version...

[Golgo]

Ahh, Adventure! Gool call MartyG. I actually found that ****-yer-pants scary when I was a kid, being chased around by the dragon/duck thing!

[Nu-Eclipse]

Can't recommend Starquake enough, Amstrad but also Atari ST & Spectrum.

Dude...that is my childhood right there! One of my very EARLIEST home gaming memories

[egparadigm]

It's like Metroid but starring a head with feet

The game Exile was originally released in 1988 on Acorn Electron. I only played the Amiga version...

The ultimate example, I think. This game was exploration, pure and simple.

['Press Start']

Here are my fav classic ones:-


Gateway to Asphai - C64


Pitall 2 - C64


Hero -c64

Journey to the centre of the earth - 64


Underwurlde - C64


Montezuma's Revenge - C64


Faery Tale Adventure - Amiga

[DeathAdder]

I love the trees in Sabre Wolf.

[Deuteros]

Where Time Stood Still. Fantastic game! Hard as nails, though.

The cover art is also one of my all-time favourites.

[hudson]

Where Time Stood Still. Fantastic game! Hard as nails, though.

The cover art is also one of my all-time favourites.

I miss the 80's nipples.