Recommended interpreters
From IFWiki
This page shows stable interpreters, for all formats, which can be downloaded to play games or which will run games within a browser. They are listed in date order (latest release first).
Click to download the interpreter, or to play online, as appropriate.
| Interpreter | Link | Format | System | Updated | Multimedia support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectrote | Download | ADRIFT 4, Glulx, Hugo, Ink JSON, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code | Windows, macOS, Linux | 2025-02-22 | Color, Graphics (No TADS multimedia support) |
| Ozmoo | Download | Z-code | BBC Micro/Acorn Electron, Commodore 64/128, Other | 2025-02-20 | color effects (all platforms), loader image (C64 and Plus/4), sound effects (MEGA65) |
| Status Line | Z-code | Other | 2025-02-15 | "EGA" color | |
| M4ZVM | Download | Z-code | Tandy TRS-80 | 2025-02-09 | No multimedia |
| Vezza | Download | Z-code | CP/M, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Apple II, Atari 400/800, MSX, MSX2, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Tandy TRS-80, Other | 2025-02-09 | No multimedia |
| M3ZVM | Download | Z-code | Tandy TRS-80 | 2025-02-09 | No multimedia |
| Parchment | Download Play | ADRIFT 4, Glulx, Hugo, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code | Browser | 2025-01-14 | Colours, graphics, sound (in Glulx only) |
| Fabularium (F-Droid) | Download | ADRIFT 4, ADRIFT 5, AdvSys, AGT, Alan 2, Alan 3, Glulx, Hugo, Level 9, Magnetic Scrolls, ScottFree, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code | Android | 2025-01-11 | Colors, graphics |
| Spatterlight | Download | ADRIFT 4, AdvSys, AGT, Alan 2, Alan 3, Glulx, Hugo, Level 9, Magnetic Scrolls, ScottFree, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code | macOS | 2024-11-13 | Colors, graphics, sound |
| ThinBASIC Adventure Builder | Download | Other | Windows | 2024-11-13 | Graphics: jpg, png, bmp, gif
Sound: wav, ogg, mp3, aiff, mod FMVideo: wmv |
| Gelek Vanilla | Download | ADRIFT 4, AdvSys, AGT, Alan 2, Alan 3, Glulx, Hugo, Level 9, Magnetic Scrolls, ScottFree, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code | Linux | 2024-09-18 | |
| Windows Frotz | Download | Z-code | Windows | 2024-09-06 | Color, Graphics, Sound |
| Infocom Frotz | Play | Z-code | Browser | 2024-09-01 | Fully supports Z6 multimedia (colour, graphics, sound) |
| FrankenDrift | Download | ADRIFT 4, ADRIFT 5 | Windows, macOS, Linux | 2024-08-10 | Graphics, color |
| Magnetic for Windows | Download | Magnetic Scrolls | Windows | 2023-12-19 | |
| Windows Git | Download | Glulx | Windows | 2023-10-12 | Color, graphics, sound |
| Windows Glulxe | Download | Glulx | Windows | 2023-10-10 | Color effects, graphics, sound |
| Frotz for iOS | Download | Glulx, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code | iOS | 2023-09-24 | Color, Graphics (No TADS multimedia support) |
| ElseIFPlayer | Play | ADRIFT 4, Glulx, Hugo, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code | Browser | 2023-06-29 | No multimedia |
| Parchmap | Play | Glulx, Hugo, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code | Browser | 2023-06-17 | |
| QTads | Download | TADS 2, TADS 3 | Windows, macOS, Linux | 2023-05-17 | All multimedia features of TADS are supported. |
| DMagnetic | Download Play | Magnetic Scrolls | Browser, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, CP/M, Other | 2023-05-17 | Colour text effects: yes. Graphics: ANSI, ASCII, sixel, UTF-8. Sound: No. |
| Gargoyle | Download | ADRIFT 4, AdvSys, AGT, Alan 2, Alan 3, Glulx, Hugo, Level 9, Magnetic Scrolls, ScottFree, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code | Windows, macOS, Linux | 2023-02-20 | Different for each game format |
| ScummVM | Download | ADRIFT 4, AdvSys, AGT, Alan 2, Alan 3, Glulx, Hugo, Level 9, Magnetic Scrolls, Quest, ScottFree, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code, Other | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Other | 2022-10-31 | |
| Hugor | Download | Hugo | Windows, macOS, Linux | 2022-05-09 | |
| WinArun | Download | Alan 2, Alan 3 | Windows | 2021-09-21 | |
| Insteadlauncher | Download | Other | Android | 2021-09-04 | |
| Hunky Punk | Download | TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code | Android | 2021-04-05 | |
| ADRIFT Runner | Download | ADRIFT 4, ADRIFT 5 | Windows | 2020-09-12 | |
| ADRIFT WebRunner | Play | ADRIFT 4, ADRIFT 5 | Browser | 2020-09-12 | |
| Encrusted | Download Play | Z-code | Browser, Windows, Linux | 2019-02-25 | |
| Quest for Windows | Download | Quest | Windows | 2018-07-20 | |
| Magnetic Scripts | Play | Magnetic Scrolls | Browser | 2015-12-18 | |
| Level9 | Download | Level 9 | Windows, macOS, Linux, MS-DOS, Commodore Amiga, Sinclair QL, Other | 2011-06-23 | Both line-drawn and bitmap graphics |
| Magnetic for Amiga | Download | Magnetic Scrolls | Commodore Amiga | ||
| PAW | Download | Other | MS-DOS, CP/M, BBC Micro/Acorn Electron, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Sinclair ZX Spectrum | Multimedia support varies by platform; by default it includes sound (Spectrum), line-and-fill images (Spectrum), bitmap graphics (CPC), custom fonts, coloured text (Spectrum), and UDGs (Spectrum); but also executing external code routines allow other options. | |
| Magnetic for DOS | Download | Magnetic Scrolls | MS-DOS | ||
| Magnetic | Download | Magnetic Scrolls | Other | Graphics (unsure about colour effects or sound) | |
| Quest for Web | Play | Quest | Browser | ||
| MagnetiX | Download | Magnetic Scrolls | macOS | ||
| Magnetic for Ubuntu | Download | Magnetic Scrolls | Linux |
To see all interpreters, including ones that may not be stable, or that may not be as simple to download and run, you can use the search form or drilldown page (see navbox below).
Note: To update information about an interpreter, please go to its IFWiki page and choose "Edit with form." This list of interpreters will be updated automatically.
| Interpreters | |
|---|---|
| By format | ADRIFT • AdvSys • AGT • Alan • Glulx • Hugo • Magnetic Scrolls • TADS • Z-code |
| By system | Browser • Android • iOS • Linux • macOS • Windows |
| Browse | Recommended interpreters • Search form • Drilldown |
| Other software | Authoring systems • Utilities |