Based on Isaac Asimov’s sci-fi detective novel, Robots of Dawn (1984) is a text-based interactive fiction game where players assume the role of Elijah Baley, a renowned Earth detective summoned to the Spacer world of Aurora. Tasked with solving the mysterious “death” of Dr. Han Fastolfe, a pioneering roboticist, Baley must navigate social hostility, political intrigue, and his own crippling agoraphobia as he searches for the truth. Gameplay centers around interrogation and logical deduction rather than inventory-based puzzles. The case involves four main suspects, and each playthrough can vary—changing the murderer’s identity, item placement, and suspect responses—adding replayability. To succeed, players must determine the killer’s motive, means, and opportunity, then present convincing evidence to the Auroran Chairman. Set in Asimov’s iconic universe, the game includes detailed documentation to support its narrative depth and was praised for its commitment to faithfully adapting the source material’s intellectual complexity and character-driven mystery.

We’d actually love to introduce the current generation to Isaac Asimov and revive this title in a meaningful way.  If you are interested, let us know and we can reach out to his estate.