Jabbertalky (1981) is an inventive and quirky word-based puzzle game developed by Automated Simulations for the Apple II, TRS-80, and MS-DOS platforms. Billed as a “programmable word game,” it merges educational content with classic code-breaking and grammar challenges, offering a thoughtful departure from the action-heavy titles of its era. The game features four distinct modes: Free Verse serves as a non-interactive demo, cycling through computer-generated sentences to give players a feel for how the vocabulary and difficulty levels affect the structure of challenges. Alphagrammar tasks the player with deciphering a hidden sentence using clues from the alphabet. Each letter in the sentence is represented by a blank, while a tally at the top of the screen reveals how many times each letter appears. Cryptogrammar offers a more intense mental workout. Here, players solve a scrambled sentence where letters have been substituted in a cryptographic fashion. Swapping, flipping, and repositioning letters are key tactics in decoding the message. Jabbergrammar allows customization by letting players input new vocabulary lists for use in the other modes—a novel concept for 1981, blending personalization with replayability. Although reviews were mixed—some found the learning curve steep or the concept too niche—Jabbertalky was ahead of its time in encouraging linguistic exploration and logic puzzles. Its blend of educational utility and cerebral challenge made it a unique title in the Epyx lineup, and a standout for fans of wordplay and cryptographic conundrums.

Word puzzles are all the rage these days, and we think entering the market with the clever and creative gameplay this offered in a modern framework might be a delightful distraction for many casual gamers.  Especially if there was a modern and retro mode switch, and if you could pick from a series of contemporaneous or legacy vocabulary lists.  Our favorite game in this product is Cryptogrammer, but the other three are also charming.  And fun fact, it’s based on the Jabberwock from Through the Looking Glass.  Check out this great article about the title.