
Retro terminal mystery: explore a live IBM PS/2, decode corrupted logs, and learn who waits behind the blinking prompt.
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About
While exploring an abandoned industrial district you stumble across a mysterious, faceless building. Inside, among rusty shelving and forgotten folders, you find a dusty office. In the middle of the room sits an old IBM PS/2 computer that is still on. Its phosphor‑green screen blinks like a heartbeat from another era and the analog modem emits a periodic beep – someone or something seems to be waiting for input.
You have uncovered a portal to a digital past that was never meant to be reopened. Access the old terminal, explore its file system and interact with a text‑based interface reminiscent of DOS. Navigate corrupted files, decipher encrypted logs, access forbidden programs and uncover who — or what — was behind that screen. Every command you type reveals fragments of a buried story, one clue after another. A retro‑digital investigation where the only interface is you… and the truth lies hidden in a prompt that was never supposed to respond again.

Authors' note:
This "Retro terminal mystery" is a tiny personal project we put together over a weekend using Python, then enhanced and integrated into Unity. Don’t expect the game to guide you — there are no instructions, no tutorials. It’s up to you to observe, experiment, and figure things out. Your goal is to make sense of what you find on the computer: who used it, for what purpose, and what can still be done with it today. It doesn't aim to be anything fancy — it’s short, completely free, and we just hope you enjoy the experience :)
Genres
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Languages: English, Italian
Engagement
Reviews
<Unknown_Terminal> is a nostalgic story-based game that compels the player to dig deep within terminal files. The nostalgia is brought from the realism of the MacDOS terminal interface, and a curious urge to explore is delivered from the nuances of the lore and story that is embedded within every file. [h1]Strengths[/h1] - Story has depth and nuance told through detailed log files - Strong sense of 70/80s MacDOS terminal level realism - Small puzzles are sprinkled through game play - If you read the story takes 80-90 minutes to complete - Achievements all manegable I would definitely recommend it if you have 1.5 hours worth of your time. I would have liked maybe a few more puzzles but the detailed lore and terminal realism was enough for me to have an enjoyable experience with this game!
Truly nostalgic. I took my time and still managed to unlock everything after 80 minutes. I'd love a much bigger version with more content.
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Concurrent players on Steam, sampled daily since tracking started.
Hours played at review time, across 20 reviews with recorded playtime.
Retro terminal gizemi: Çalışır durumdaki bir IBM PS/2'yi keşfedin, bozuk günlükleri çözün ve yanıp sönen komut isteminin arkasında kimin beklediğini öğrenin.
Nice and well structured, wish it was longer or with more articulated puzzles
Good
Un petit jeu fun. [spoiler]Il aurait été sympa que le sujet donne des indices sur ce qu'il est possible de lui poser comme question, cela aurait été plus simple en plus de pouvoir discuter de manière plus naturelle[spoiler/]
I loved this game for how simple it is. I got stuck once but after rereading I was able to continue and finish the game. Great game, recommended for anyone looking for some nostalgia on an older system.
i dont get it
Molto bello: non punta ad essere nientìaltro al di fuori di quello che è: semplice ma comunque appassionante ed intrigante. Molto consigliato per metterlo su e perdersi per un paio d'ore. Non direi complicato ma comunque ti costringe a ragionarci su per carpire indizi utili.
It is built on a great concept. I’ve always enjoyed terminal-style games, and this one captures that feeling quite well. That said, it probably won’t be for everyone. The story is interesting and intriguing, but the available commands feel somewhat limited. At times the game can also feel quite text-heavy, and I occasionally found myself skipping parts of the reading just to search for the next hint or step forward. Still, for a small weekend project, it’s impressive. It offers a breath of fresh air and a unique experience that you don’t often see. Considering that it’s free, kudos to the developer and best wishes for upcoming projects.
Audience
Estimated from the language of this game's reviews — a proxy for where players are, not official Steam demographics.