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, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code Windows, macOS, Linux 2023-09-19 Graphics
ThinBASIC Adventure Builder Download Other Windows 2023-09-03 Graphics: jpg, png, bmp, gif

Sound: wav, ogg, mp3, aiff, mod

FMVideo: wmv
Ozmoo Download Z-code BBC Micro/Acorn Electron, Commodore 64/128, Other 2023-07-19 color effects (all platforms), loader image (C64 and Plus/4), sound effects (MEGA65)
ElseIFPlayer Play ADRIFT 4, Glulx, Hugo, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code Browser 2023-06-29 No multimedia
FrankenDrift Download ADRIFT 4, ADRIFT 5 Windows, macOS, Linux 2023-06-20 Graphics, color
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.
Parchment Download Play ADRIFT 4, Glulx, Hugo, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code Browser 2023-04-30 Colours, graphics
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
Spatterlight Download ADRIFT 4, AdvSys, AGT, Alan 2, Alan 3, Glulx, Hugo, Level 9, Magnetic Scrolls, ScottFree, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code macOS 2022-10-08 Colors, graphics, sound
M4ZVM Download Z-code Tandy TRS-80 2022-08-07 No multimedia
M3ZVM Download Z-code Tandy TRS-80 2022-08-01 No multimedia
Windows Git Download Glulx Windows 2022-07-12 Color, graphics, sound
Hugor Download Hugo Windows, macOS, Linux 2022-05-09
Gelek Vanilla Download ADRIFT 4, AdvSys, AGT, Glulx, Level 9, Magnetic Scrolls, ScottFree, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code Linux 2022-02-21
Windows Frotz Download Z-code Windows 2022-02-15 Color, Graphics, Sound
WinArun Download Alan 2, Alan 3 Windows 2021-09-21
Windows Glulxe Download Glulx Windows 2021-05-06 Color effects, graphics, sound
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
Frotz for iOS Download Glulx, TADS 2, TADS 3, Z-code iOS 2020-09-07 Color, Graphics
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 2019-10-03 Colors, graphics
Quest for Windows Download Quest Windows 2018-07-20
Magnetic Scripts Play Magnetic Scrolls Browser 2015-12-18
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 Download Magnetic Scrolls Other Graphics (unsure about colour effects or sound)
Quest for Web Play Quest Browser
Magnetic for Amiga Download Magnetic Scrolls Commodore Amiga
Magnetic for DOS Download Magnetic Scrolls MS-DOS
MagnetiX Download Magnetic Scrolls macOS
Magnetic for Windows Download Magnetic Scrolls Windows
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
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