adventure

adventure [-r [savefile]] [-s] [-C]

-r [savefile]
    Restore a previously saved game from savefile (default: adventure.sav)

-s
    Display the current high score list without playing

-C
    Use short cave descriptions for faster gameplay

The adventure command launches the iconic Colossal Cave Adventure, one of the first computer adventure games. Originally created by Will Crowther in 1976 and expanded by Don Woods in 1977, it immerses players in a vast maze of caves filled with treasures to collect, puzzles to solve, and dangers like dwarves and a pirate to evade.

You navigate using compass directions (N, S, E, W, U, D) and verbs like take, drop, open, or attack. The objective is to gather 15 treasures and deposit them in a building repository, scoring points while managing limited lamp fuel and inventory. The game responds to two-word commands in a verbose, narrative style, building a legendary interactive fiction experience.

Found in BSD games packages on Linux, it runs interactively in the terminal, saving high scores system-wide. It's a cornerstone of gaming history, influencing genres like RPGs and modern adventures.

Requires write access to score file (often /var/games/adventure.sav, needs setgid games). Game may hang without proper permissions; lamp fuel limits exploration.

Type help in-game for commands. Carry lamp for dark areas; feed bear; avoid black rod initially.
Quit with quit; save with save.

High scores stored in /var/games/adventure.sav. Top players listed by initials and score.

Developed by Will Crowther (1976) for TOPS-10 as a caving simulator; Don Woods enhanced it (1977) adding fantasy. Ported to Unix/BSD in 1978 by Dave Woolley. Included in BSD 4.3 (1986) and Linux bsdgames packages since 1990s. Versions 350-point (original) and 430-point exist.

rogue(6), nethack(6), hack(6), col(1)