Loom 1990

Released: 1990
Genres: Point-and-click · Puzzle · Simulator · Strategy · Adventure
Platforms: Linux · Atari ST/STE · PC · Mac · DOS · FM Towns · Amiga · Turbografx-16/PC Engine CD
Developer: Lucasfilm Games
More info: Wikipedia IGDB

Where to buy

Digital: GOG Steam
In a collection: LucasArts Adventure Pack

Steam
Physical: Search on Amazon

Affiliate links: GOG, Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, ININ Games and Amazon

Is it still worth playing?

A serious and complex fantasy story, told without the usual interface of graphical adventures, drives this 1990 fantasy adventure for MS-DOS, led by Brian Moriarty. Play centers on magical four-note tunes called drafts, which the young Bobbin Threadbare plays on his distaff. Each draft is a spell of a certain type, such as Opening or Night Vision. Some can be reversed by playing the notes backward, so the Dye draft becomes Bleach, while others, like Terror, are palindromes and cannot be reversed. Bobbin learns a draft by observing an object that has its qualities, for example by watching a blade being sharpened to learn Sharpening. An adventure played by humming spells is still a distinct way to play today.