Venture – Nostalgia Central

Venture (from Exidy) challenged a lone treasure hunter named Winky to explore a monster-filled dungeon armed only with a bow and arrow. Our hero was swift, brave, and determined.

Despite his cheerful red smiley face, Winky faced grave danger, and players had to guide him through increasingly perilous rooms, avoiding the patrols of giant ‘HallMonsters’ that roamed the corridors.

Because Winky’s bow was ineffective in hallways, quick escapes from room to room were essential for survival.

Inside each chamber, in a magnified view, Winky had to shoot or evade a variety of enemies – including goblins, serpents, trolls, spiders, genies, bats, and more – while trying to snag treasure and leave before a HallMonster appeared.

Some rooms were monster-free but booby-trapped with dangers like moving walls.

As players advanced, levels grew even more unpredictable, with monsters appearing after taking treasure and walls shifting unexpectedly.

Once a room was looted, Winky had to move to one of the other rooms on the map to continue.

The challenge intensified over time, with new, more dangerous levels emerging until all 36 treasures were recovered.

Venture’s fantasy world and constant threats made it a favourite among adventure game enthusiasts.