I’m going to talk to you again today… Imagine one that combines the ambiance of classic text adventures like Space Quest with the adrenaline of endless running games like Canabalt. Well this improbable merger is exactly what is proposed Terminal Cityan experience that transforms the very concept of the text adventure game.

In this pixelated cyberpunk universe, you play V-Loca street urchin who must escape the clutches of the fearsome Syndicate while trying to save his friends. But be careful, this is not a simple text adventure where you can take your time to think… no, in this game, your character is constantly moving!

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The core mechanics are brilliantly simple and terrifyingly stressful: You must type your commands as quickly as possible while V-Loc races tirelessly through the neon streets of Terminal City. A single mistake, too slow a reaction time, and it’s an instant game over.

The command system covers the basics of the genre with instructions like:

  • LOOK AROUND to observe the environment
  • LOOK AT [objet] to examine something specific
  • GET, SEARCH, CLIMB, SWEATER, JUMP, KIND, TURN ON to interact
  • TAB to view your inventory

But the real difficulty lies in the speed of execution. Every command must be typed perfectly and quickly, otherwise… bim you’re dead!

The game also features an ingenious speed control system via controls like GO SLOWER Or GO FASTER. So you can adjust the pace according to your comfort level:

SLOWEST -> SLOWER -> SLOW -> NORMAL -> FAST -> FASTER -> FASTEST

Beginners will appreciate being able to slow down the action to learn the mechanics, while speed-runners can push their limits in FASTEST mode.

THE pixel art of Terminal City deserves a special mention. The fluid animations, the perfectly transcribed cyberpunk atmosphere and the lighting effects bring this dystopian universe to life. Each screen is a small work of art that tells a story, reminiscent of the golden age of point & click adventure games.

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The real appeal of Terminal City lies in its ability to turn text entry into a thrilling gameplay mechanic. Each run then becomes a high-pressure typing exercise, where the slightest typo can be fatal. The secretaries will love it!

And the current records are impressive since the best time recorded is 43.296 seconds by Deivore! To achieve such performance, players must perfectly memorize the course but also master the rapid entry of commands, optimize their timing not to mention exploiting advanced techniques such as “duck tech”.


Although developed in just one week by Dave Lloyd for PowerJam3, the game has already brought together an active community that shares strategies but also spectacular runs and speedrunning techniques, resulting in ever more impressive records.

I find that Terminal City proves that it is still possible to innovate in the field of video games by mixing seemingly incompatible genres and this fusion of text adventure and race against the clock creates a truly unique experience.

You can download the game at itch.io.

Thanks to Lorenper for sharing this find!

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