Posted on: September 20, 2025

Prah

Games: 1210 Reviews: 97

A cult classic worth playing today!

Phantasmagoria is a horror point and click adventure with FMV-elements. Considered a controversial piece of media back in its hey days, it still holds up today for its uniqueness in theme. You play as Adrienne who, together with her husband Don, has moved into what more or less looks like a haunted mansion. At least that's what the townspeople keeps telling her. Not long after moving in, Adrienne finds a hidden room and releases something unknown... around the same time Don is getting more agitated and closed off, often spending time in his newly renovated dark room. This game is very interesting as it is the first more mature/adult-oriented games from Roberta Williams, previously known for games such as King's Quest and Mother Goose. I won't get too much into the history of te game, but it was to say the least controversial due to the gorey cutscenes and certain events that occurs in-game. What has aged the most with the age is unfortunately the 3D-graphics. The FMV cutscenes holds up - although the acting is perhaps a bit cheesy at times. The puzzles are pretty straight forward and the game is forgiving at times with checkpoints if you were to die (in comparison to previous Sierra titles). It is clearly that the game was made to tell a story, something quite unique at the time of release - at least in the western part of game industry. Overall, I would recommend FMV- and point n click fans to play this game, a cult classic that has definitely helped shaping the FMV genre into what it is today!

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Posted on: December 14, 2010

JJHardison

Verified owner

Games: 48 Reviews: 2

Still my favorite.

This was (and is still) my favorite game of all time. I could write an entire review, but it's just something that you have to experience for yourself. Take your time and enjoy it. Look, read, and watch everything for the full effect.

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Posted on: March 4, 2011

BrianCJ1123

Verified owner

Games: 62 Reviews: 2

Surprisingly Very Good

I hesitated for quite some time in getting this game, and even when I did finally purchase it, I felt at first that I wouldn't play it for very long (esp. since it was from 1995). Once the first chapter passed, I continued playing the game with an ever growing interest. First of, the main turn off in any point and click game (in my opinion) is sub-par and campy acting, which was the exact opposite of what this featured. The acting was believable, creating some very memorable character such as Harriet and Cyrus. The heroine was someone to easily feel sympathy for, esp. in the final chapter. Overall the acting and storyline is what won me over. It was like playing an enjoyable B horror movie. One thing I didn't like is the way the last chapter is formulated such that once the climax starts, you can't go back to any saved game prior to it; it keeps you in the chase scene until you make all the correct choices. This however is minor. Oh, and as far as gruesomeness, some parts were pretty DISGUSTING! Trying not to be a spoiler, but some of the nastiest scenes occur in the last chapter if you make incorrect choices.

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Posted on: July 25, 2012

Neonivek

Games: 121 Reviews: 3

Phantasmagoria

If you are looking for a game that captures you from the start and enthralls you in total horror... then you should look for another game. Phantasmagoria doesn't so much shock you as lets its little tendrils seem in slowly over the course of the game. Then once it gets outright scary it has some of the most chilling scenes of almost any videogame. Impatient players should stay away but patient players will find the pacing to be almost ingenius.

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Posted on: April 6, 2014

Puttelutt

Games: Reviews: 2

Written by a writer

If you want to enjoy this game you have to consider the climate that it was originally released in. One of the lines used to promote the game was that it was "Written by a writer" and while you wont hear me say that there were not any well written games from this period, see Loom and The Secret of Monkey Island for instance, but there was a lack of it. Phantasmagoria was thrilling and "edgy" when it came out but does not hold up without the paintjob of nostalgia or a desire to study and understand the period that it came out in. Give it a miss if you want to play an actually good game but it is an interesting insight into the game industry of yore. Good for it's time but not much else.

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