Infocom. (1980). Zork: The Great Underground Empire [Video game]. Infocom.

Zork is a classic text-based adventure game that relies on typed commands to explore and interact with the Great Underground Empire. The player must navigate numerous locations, solve intricate puzzles, and acquire treasures. Gameplay revolves around typing actions and responses to the game's narrated scenarios. The player has to formulate commands that match the context, such as acquiring items or moving in different directions.

The game is known for its conversational tone and sarcastic commentary from the in-game narrator, akin to a tabletop RPG's Game Master. Initially released as a single game in 1977, Zork was later divided into three episodes when it became commercial, each episode featuring new content and puzzles with some having multiple solutions.

Combat and problem-solving are key aspects of Zork. Players encounter a thief who can steal items and must be outwitted or combated. Light is crucial in dark areas to avoid the deadly grue, and inventory management is determined by object weight.

Scoring is based on treasure collection and task completion, with player scores reflecting game progress. Zork allows for a non-linear progression, permitting various puzzle-solving sequences. In Zork III, a timed earthquake event introduces urgency, altering available passageways. Ultimately, treasures are essential to reaching each episode's conclusion, providing a metric for achievement within the game.