View source for Shadowgate

{{Short description|1987 video game}}
{{About|the 1987 video game|the unrelated novel|Shadowgate (novel)}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Shadowgate
| image = Shadowgate Coverart.png
| caption = Apple IIGS box art
| developer = [[ICOM Simulations]]{{efn|NES version developed by [[Kemco]]; Game Boy Color version developed by [[Infinite Ventures]].}}
| publisher = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|[[Mindscape (company)|Mindscape]]}}|'''NES'''{{vgrelease|NA|[[Kemco|Kemco * Seika]]|JP/PAL|[[Kemco]]}} '''Game Boy Color'''{{vgrelease|NA/EU|[[Nintendo]]|JP|Kemco}} '''Mobile'''<br>Vindigo Entertainment}}
| director = {{ubl|[[Dave Marsh (game developer)|Dave Marsh]]|[[Karl Roelofs]]<ref name="Before_Shadowgate_Copyright_Registration">{{Citation|date=May 1991 |title=Before Shadowgate / book created by F. X. Nine; written by Ellen Miles. |id=Registration No. TX0003091870 |work=Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) |publisher=[[United States Copyright Office]] |location=Washington D.C. |at=Notes |quote=Based on story line and characters created by David R. Marsh & Karl A. Roelofs. |mode=cs1 |postscript=}}</ref>}}
| composer = '''NES'''<br>Hiroyuki Masuno<br>Kento's Group
| series = ''Shadowgate''
| engine = [[MacVenture]]
| platforms = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|[[Mac (computer)|Macintosh]]}}|[[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Apple IIGS]], [[Windows]], [[Game Boy Color]], [[Pocket PC]], [[Palm OS]], [[mobile phone]], [[Playdate (console)|Playdate]]}}
| released = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|June 1987}}
|'''Macintosh'''{{vgrelease|NA|June 1987<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 12, 1987 |title=Mindscape |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/388884607 |access-date=May 24, 2024 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |quote="Shadowgate."...Available now for $49.95.}}</ref>}}
|'''Amiga'''{{vgrelease|NA|December 1987<ref>{{cite news |title=Availability Update |url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/b7770df3-1275-40f6-b122-44f99081d53f |work=[[Computer Entertainer]] |volume=6 |issue=10 |date=January 1988 |page=14}}</ref>}}
|'''Atari ST'''{{vgrelease|NA|February 1988<ref>{{cite news |title=Availability Update |url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/f16a3947-76bb-4948-87fe-81425a21adcb |work=[[Computer Entertainer]] |volume=6 |issue=12 |date=March 1988 |page=14}}</ref>}}
|'''MS-DOS'''{{vgrelease|NA|July 1988<ref>{{cite news |title=Availability Update |url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/54fb89b8-2ade-40a3-ba6c-b042a812a66a |work=[[Computer Entertainer]] |volume=7 |issue=4 |date=July 1988 |page=14}}</ref>}}
|'''NES'''{{vgrelease|JP|March 31, 1989<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/schedule/recent/fc/|title=All Famicom games sorted from the latest release to the earliest|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|archive-date=October 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015061257/https://www.famitsu.com/schedule/recent/fc/|url-status=dead}}</ref>|NA|December 1989<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf |publisher=Nintendo of America |title=NES Games |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611225644/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2014 }}</ref>|PAL|May 30, 1991{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}}}
|'''Apple IIGS'''{{vgrelease|NA|1989{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}}}
|'''Windows'''{{vgrelease|NA|1993{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}|EU|1993{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}}}
|'''Game Boy Color'''{{vgrelease|NA|January 1999{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}|JP|August 13, 1999<ref>{{cite web |title=GAMEBOY & GAMEBOY COLOR Software List 1999 |url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTM1_GB1999.html |website=GAME Data Room |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827210647/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTM1_GB1999.html |archive-date=August 27, 2018 |language=ja}}</ref>}}
|'''Pocket PC'''{{vgrelease|NA|2002{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}}}
|'''Playdate'''{{vgrelease|WW|June 18, 2025}}
}}
| genre = [[Point-and-click adventure]]
| modes = [[single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}
'''''Shadowgate''''' is a 1987 [[point-and-click adventure game]] developed by [[ICOM Simulations]] and published by [[Mindscape (company)|Mindscape]] for the [[Mac (computer)|Macintosh]] as part of the [[MacVenture]] series. The game takes place in the Castle Shadowgate, residence of the evil Warlock Lord. The player, as the "last of a great line of hero-kings", is tasked with saving the world by defeating the Warlock Lord, who is attempting to summon the demon Behemoth out of Hell. The original Macintosh version was only in black-and-white, but color versions of the game were later released for the [[Amiga]] and [[Atari ST]], and in 1989 for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]. The game was generally well-received, and was followed by several sequels and remakes for various systems.

==Gameplay==
[[File:Shadowgate screenshot.jpg|thumb|left|The beginning of the game (Macintosh version)]]

''Shadowgate'' is a point-and-click adventure game in which the player must solve a series of puzzles throughout a castle to proceed to the Warlock Lord's chamber. Due to the castle's perilous nature, at least one lit torch must be in the player's possession at all times. If all torches are extinguished, the player soon stumbles,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Steel |first1=Rob |title=Shadowgate |url=https://archive.org/details/TheGamesMachine14Jan89/TheGamesMachine/TheGamesMachine04-Mar88/page/n1/mode/1up |access-date=26 September 2025 |work=printed magazine |agency=The Games Machine Computer & Electronic Entertainment |issue=4 |publisher=Newsfield |date=March 1988 |page=68 |format=Magazine}}</ref> breaking their neck, and must then continue from a saved game (or the area where they died, in console versions). Only a limited number of torches can be found throughout the game, which effectively acts as a time limit. The player may acquire various items such as a sword, a sling and other ancient weapons which can be used at the appropriate time to deliver a fatal blow to specific enemies. 

The game has many instances of death, including being burned by dragon's breath, attacked by a cyclops, sucked into outer space through a broken mirror, dissolved by acidic slime, eaten by sharks, mauled by a wolf-woman, and suicide. Virtually any action taken by the player which is not the correct solution to a puzzle will result in a fatality. These deaths are often graphically described in the game's text (along with frequent sardonic and humorous comments), even in the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] version (in spite of [[Nintendo]]'s policy of censorship at the time). Many of the game's puzzles rely on a system of trial and error, requiring the player to frequently save their game to avoid losing progress. Subtle hints can be found in books and the descriptive game texts. In the NES version, these are replaced by a hint feature which gives vague clues about what is noteworthy in any given room.

==Plot==
''Shadowgate'' begins as the protagonist finds himself standing at the entry to the Castle Shadowgate, remembering that he had been tasked by the wizard Lakmir with defeating the evil Warlock Lord before he can raise the Behemoth from the depths and destroy the world.<ref name="Shadowgate-Computer">{{cite video game| source = Shadowgate| title = Shadowgate| developer = [[ICOM Simulations]]| publisher = [[Mindscape (company)|Mindscape]]| date = March 11, 1987| scene = Shadowgate Entrance}}</ref>

The protagonist then enters Castle Shadowgate and begins to solve its puzzles, while surviving its many traps and defeating various monsters along the way. During the journey, he collects three sacred artifacts which together form the Staff of Ages, a holy weapon capable of stopping the Warlock Lord once and for all. 

The protagonist eventually enters the Warlock Lord's chamber just as he succeeds in opening the gates of Hell and summoning the Behemoth. The protagonist assembles the Staff and uses it to mortally wound the Behemoth. As it dies, the Behemoth then drags the Warlock Lord with him into Hell. The protagonist returns victorious, where he is betrothed to the King's daughter and entitled High Lord of the Westland.

==Ports==
''Shadowgate'' was originally released for [[Macintosh]] in 1987 and ported to other computers, including a color version for the [[Amiga]] later the same year. It was released for the [[Atari ST]] and [[MS-DOS]] in 1988, and for the [[Apple IIGS]] in 1989. It made its first console appearance later that year for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]. The success of ''Shadowgate'' on the NES prompted [[ICOM Simulations]] to have [[Kemco]] port the other MacVenture titles to the console, including ''[[Déjà Vu (video game)|Déjà Vu]]'' and ''[[Uninvited (video game)|Uninvited]]''. The NES version of ''Shadowgate'' is one of the few NES games with a Swedish language version. In 1992, an enhanced version of the game was released for [[Windows 3.1x]]. 

The NES port was re-released in October 2017 (alongside ''Déjà Vu'' and ''Uninvited'') for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Xbox One]], and [[PlayStation 4]] in a collection called ''8-Bit Adventure Anthology: Volume 1'', developed by Abstraction Games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gilyadov |first1=Alex |title=PS4, Xbox One Getting 3 NES Adventure Games Soon |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/10/12/ps4-xbox-one-getting-3-nes-adventure-games-soon |website=IGN |access-date=14 December 2024 |date=12 October 2017}}</ref>

In 2024, a port for the [[Playdate (console)|Playdate]] handheld console was announced.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.pocketgamer.com/playdate/official-port-of-shadowgate-2024/ | title = An official port of Shadowgate is coming to the Playdate in 2024 | last = Gregson-Wood | first =  Stephen | publisher = [[pocketgamer]] | date = 2023-10-05 | access-date = 2024-05-08}}</ref> This port, titled ''Shadowgate PD'', was released as part of the Season 2 pack on June 18, 2025.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
|GR = 67.14% (GBC)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/198609-shadowgate-classic/index.html | title = Shadowgate Classic for Game Boy Color | publisher = [[GameRankings]] | access-date = 2013-03-08}}</ref>
|Allgame = {{Rating|4|5}} (PC)<ref>{{cite web |archive-date=2014-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114164519/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=41584| url = http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=41584 | title = Shadowgate (PC) - Overview | publisher = [[Allgame]] | access-date = 2013-03-08}}</ref><br/>{{Rating|3|5}} (MAC)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14347&tab=review|archive-date=2014-11-15|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141115123828/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14347&tab=review | title = Shadowgate | publisher = Allgame | access-date = 2015-05-05|last=Baker|first=Christopher Michael}}</ref><br/>{{Rating|4.5|5}} (NES)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14347&tab=review | title = Shadowgate (NES) - Review | last = Baker | first = Christopher Michael | publisher = Allgame | access-date = 2013-03-08 | archive-date = 2014-11-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141115123828/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14347&tab=review | url-status = dead }}</ref><br/>{{Rating|2.5|5}} (GBC, Pocket PC)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18434&tab=review | title = Shadowgate Classic (GBC) - Review | last = White | first = Jason | publisher = Allgame | access-date = 2013-03-08 | archive-date = 2014-11-14 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141114212107/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18434&tab=review | url-status = dead }}</ref>
|GSpot = 5.8 out of 10 (GBC)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/shadowgate-classic/reviews/shadowgate-classic-review-2537194/ | title = Shadowgate Classic Review | last = Davis | first = Cameron | publisher = [[GameSpot]] | date = 2000-01-28 | access-date = 2013-03-08}}</ref>
|IGN = 6 out of 10 (GBC)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/02/02/shadowgate-classic | title = Shadowgate Classic | last = Cleveland | first = Adam | publisher = [[IGN]] | date = 2000-02-01 | access-date = 2013-03-08}}</ref>
|NP = 7.3 out of 10 (GBC)<ref>{{cite magazine | title = Shadowgate Classic | magazine = [[Nintendo Power]] | date = February 1999}}</ref>
}}

''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' gave the game a very positive review, noting the game uses the same superior interface as prior MacVenture games. The difficulty was noted as a step up from ''[[Déjà Vu (video game)|Deja Vu]]'' and ''[[Uninvited (video game)|Uninvited]]'', but ''Shadowgate'' was also said to be more flexible, allowing more than one solution to some puzzles.<ref name = "CGW">{{Cite magazine | date = November 1987 | url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_41/page/n40/mode/1up?view=theater | last = Hines | first = Tracie Forman | magazine = [[Computer Gaming World]] | title = Shadowgate: Inside the Castle Shadowgate  | pages = 41, 57 }}</ref>

The game was reviewed in 1987 in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #128 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers stated "''Shadowgate'' is a great adventure game in that you must continually be aware of what’s already been accomplished to complete subsequent puzzles". The reviewers gave the game 5/5 stars.<ref name="Dragon128">{{cite journal
|title=The Role of Computers |last1=Lesser|last2=Lesser|last3=Lesser|first1=Hartley|first2=Patricia|first3=Kirk |journal=Dragon |issue=128 |date=December 1987|pages=92–96}}</ref>

Keith McCandless of ''[[Macworld]]'' reviewed the Macintosh version of ''Shadowgate'', praising its extensive gameplay, stating "so much is jammed into these two disks that nearly everyone should find this game appealing ... ''ShadowGate'' plays easily and instinctively". McCandless also praised ''Shadowgate's'' graphics and sound, calling the graphics "expertly crafted", despite "[lacking] originality", and called the sound effects "far better than those of most adventure games". He further called ''Shadowgate'' "technically, visually, and aurally superior to most of its competition", but criticized the game's mood, stating that it doesn't "take itself seriously enough to create a mood of mystery", and also lacks the 'tongue-in-cheek' humor of other adventure games, creating a feeling of something "lacking".<ref>{{cite magazine|last = McCandless|first = Keith|title = More Castle Hassles: ShadowGate 1.0 Review|date = September 1987|url = https://archive.org/details/MacWorld_8709_September_1987/page/n173 |magazine = Macworld|publisher = Mac Publishing|page = 168}}</ref>

==Legacy==
{{Video game timeline
| compressempty = yes
| 1987 = ''Shadowgate''
| 1993 = ''[[Beyond Shadowgate]]''
| 1999a = ''[[Shadowgate Classic GBC]]''
| 1999b = ''[[Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers]]''
| 2005 = ''Shadowgate Classic''
| 2014 = ''Shadowgate''
| 2021 = ''Shadowgate VR: The Mines of Mythrok''
| 2024 = ''[[Beyond Shadowgate (2024)]]''
| 2025a = ''[[Shadowgate II]] ''
| 2025b = ''[[Shadowgate PD]] ''
}}

In 1996, Infinite Ventures acquired from [[Viacom (1952–2005)|Viacom]] the rights to ''Shadowgate'' and other games originally developed by ICOM Simulations. ICOM Simulations had been acquired by Viacom in 1994, but had published no updates to the original products. After the acquisition, Infinite Ventures ported the game to other operating systems such as [[Windows 9x]], as well as portable systems including [[Windows CE]] and [[Palm OS]], under the name of ''Shadowgate Classic''. These versions had a new interface and menu layout, with artwork based on the 1996 Windows versions.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

In 1999, Infinite Ventures licensed the NES version of ''Shadowgate'' to Kemco, and it was ported to the [[Game Boy Color]] with enhanced sprites and animations, also under the name of ''Shadowgate Classic''.

In 2005, a [[mobile phone]] version of the game was released by Vindigo Entertainment. Once again using the name of ''Shadowgate Classic'', this version featured new graphics, puzzles, challenges, and areas.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}

In 2006, Infinite Ventures licensed the rights to the ICOM Simulations portfolio to [[Zojoi|Zojoi, LLC]], a company formed by ''Shadowgate''{{'}}s original game designers, Dave Marsh and Karl Roelofs. In October 2012, Zojoi launched a [[Kickstarter]] campaign to secure funding for a remake of ''Shadowgate''.  Original game creators Dave Marsh and Karl Roelofs appeared in the pitch video and showed pre-production footage of the game in development. They set a [[crowd-funding]] goal of $120,000.<ref name="Shadowgate Kicktraq">{{cite web |url=https://www.kicktraq.com/projects/zojoi/shadowgate/ |title=Shadowgate |others=Additional content provided by Zojoi |date=2012-11-28 |publisher=Kicktraq |access-date=2012-11-28}}</ref> In the second update of the Kickstarter campaign, the Black Axe, an item and quest that had been cut from the original game due to size constraints, was announced to be reintroduced in the new version of ''Shadowgate''.<ref name="Shadowgate_Update_02">{{cite web |url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zojoi/shadowgate/posts/338043 |title=Seek Ye the Black Axe! |author=Zojoi, LLC |date=2012-10-29 |publisher=[[Kickstarter]] |id=338043 |access-date=2012-11-05 |author-link=Zojoi}}</ref> Those who pledged $2,500 or more received a replica Staff of Ages. The campaign finished successfully, earning $137,232 in pledges by November 2012 and reaching its first stretch goal.<ref name="Shadowgate Kicktraq" /> The remake was completed and released for Windows in 2014. In 2019, it was ported to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://venturebeat.com/2019/03/29/classic-castle-crawling-adventure-game-shadowgate-comes-to-switch-ps4-and-xbox-one/ | title = Classic castle-crawling adventure game Shadowgate comes to Switch, PS4, and Xbox One | last = Minotti | first = Mike | publisher = Venturebeat | date = 2019-03-29 | access-date = 2019-05-18 | archive-date = 2019-03-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190330103257/https://venturebeat.com/2019/03/29/classic-castle-crawling-adventure-game-shadowgate-comes-to-switch-ps4-and-xbox-one/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Sequels===

In 1991, a novel written under the pen name "F.X. Nine" called ''Before Shadowgate'' was published by [[Scholastic Corporation]] as part of the ''[[Worlds of Power]]'' series of video game novelizations of third party Nintendo Entertainment System games. The novel acts as a prequel to the game, and featured contributions from ''Shadowgate'' co-creators [[Dave Marsh (game developer)|Dave Marsh]] and [[Karl Roelofs]], who provided important details and information to the book's author.

There have been two sequels to the game. The first, ''[[Beyond Shadowgate]]'', was released for the [[TurboGrafx-16]] in 1993 and the second, ''[[Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers]]'', for the [[Nintendo 64]] in 1999. Another N64 sequel, ''[[Shadowgate 64: Trials of the Four Towers#Sequel|Shadowgate Rising]]'', was well into development, but the project was scrapped when [[Nintendo]] announced a new console which became the [[GameCube]].

On September 16, 2021, 317 Games launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for ''Shadowgate, The Living Castle'', a board game based on the ''Shadowgate'' series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.317films.com/shadowgate-the-living-castle |title=Shadowgate, The Living Castle is coming to Gencon 2021!! |publisher=317 Games |date=2021-09-16 }}</ref>

In October 2021, Zojoi and Azure Drop Studios released ''Shadowgate VR: The Mines of Mythrok'', an exclusive [[Oculus Quest]] title.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vrfocus.com/2021/08/shadowgate-vr-the-mines-of-mythrok-coming-to-oculus-quest-in-october/ |title=Shadowgate VR: The Mines of Mythrok Coming to Oculus Quest in October |publisher=VR Focus |date=2021-08-26 |access-date=2021-11-03 |archive-date=2021-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926170521/https://www.vrfocus.com/2021/08/shadowgate-vr-the-mines-of-mythrok-coming-to-oculus-quest-in-october/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On January 22, 2023, Zojoi announced a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for ''[[Beyond Shadowgate (2024)|Beyond Shadowgate]]'', an official sequel to the NES version of ''Shadowgate''. A video from series co-creator Dave Marsh notes this project uses the original design documents from 1990, and is unrelated to the 'TurboGrafx-16 game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beyond Shadowgate |url=https://www.zojoi.com/beyond-shadowgate/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Zojoi |language=en-US}}</ref> It was released on Steam and GOG on September 19, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yarwood |first=Jack |date=2024-08-16 |title='Beyond Shadowgate' Is A Sequel To The NES Classic Based On A 34 Year Old Design |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/08/beyond-shadowgate-is-a-sequel-to-the-nes-classic-based-on-a-34-year-old-design |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=Time Extension |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.zojoi.com/shadowgate/}}
*{{moby game|id=/shadowgate|name=''Shadowgate''}}
*''[https://ifdb.tads.org/viewgame?id=ylu1ii2vwpwx5gcc Shadowgate]'' at Interactive Fiction Database
*{{Internet Archive game|msdos_Shadowgate_1987}}
*{{ISFDB title|2210421|Before Shadowgate}}

{{MacVentures}}
{{Shadowgate}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Shadowgate| ]]
[[Category:1987 video games]]
[[Category:Adventure games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Apple IIGS games]]
[[Category:Atari ST games]]
[[Category:CD-i games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Dark fantasy video games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:First-person adventure games]]
[[Category:Game Boy Color games]]
[[Category:Horror video games]]
[[Category:ICOM Simulations games]]
[[Category:Mindscape games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Switch games]]
[[Category:Palm OS games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 4 games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games about witchcraft]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games set in castles]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows Mobile Professional games]]
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