External Links


Full original version and special edition demo
anchor.z8
Requires a Z-Code interpreter. Visit IFWiki for download links.
AnchorheadDemo.gblorb
"Special Edition"
Requires a Glulx interpreter. Visit IFWiki for download links.
anchmap.zip
map in GUEmap format
GUEmap file. Requires the GUEmap viewer - visit http://www.cjmweb.net/GUEmap for information. (Compressed with ZIP. Free Unzip tools are available for most systems at www.info-zip.org.)
anchor.sol
solution

Have you played this game?

You can rate this game, record that you've played it, or put it on your wish list after you log in.

Playlists and Wishlists

RSS Feeds

New member reviews
Updates to external links
All updates to this page

Anchorhead

by Michael Gentry

Lovecraftian
1998

About the Story

From wikipedia:

"It is loosely based on the Cthulhu mythos. Anchorhead takes place in a New England town by the same name that bears a resemblance to Innsmouth, Arkham, and other fictional towns created by H.P. Lovecraft."


Game Details

Off-Site Reviews

Play This Thing!
Anchorhead is a rare achievement in interactive fiction, a well-designed puzzle-rich game that nonetheless leaves you mostly remembering the story.

Michael Gentry's game is based on the locations and ideas of H. P. Lovecraft, but the result has its own unique vision and integrity.
See the full review

Necessary Games
Overall, the experience of playing Anchorhead was incredibly rich and memorable—not for the difficulty navigating, or for the puzzles, but for the immersive experience it provided. It compared very well with any interactive experience I have ever had, and came in well ahead of the graphical adventures I have played (with the possible exception of Myst). My distaste for horror in general may have curbed my appetite slightly, but only slightly: this game manages to rise above horror, and the experience of playing it is beautiful as often as it is frightening. I would highly recommend the game, though if you have no previous IF experience beware: read the help, use the map, use a walkthrough when needed, and stick with it if you feel overwhelmed early on. It’s worth it.
See the full review

IF-Review
Aweighing an Anchorhead
As IF goes, though, this is a deeply beautiful piece. (Not what you were expecting me to say, hunh?) There's lots of disgusting, unpleasant imagery, but first -- and en route to that imagery -- is a masterful build-up of setting and mood unparalleled by almost any other game I have ever played. The scenery descriptions take into account very particular and yet very evocative features: the dull light through the pebbled glass in the courthouse building, suggesting offices inhabited by apathetic people doing dull jobs on a rainy day (if there was anyone in there at all); the changing weather, variable yet always gloomy; the disturbing drifts of ash; the wind-blown leaves, the slapping of waves against the shore. Every sense is called into play. There are odors, sounds, textures, variations in temperature and air quality, and the overall effect is an environment that becomes almost oppressively real. (Emily Short)
See the full review

Page Update History

v.52: 30-Jan-2013 11:47 - JTN (Current Version) - Edit Page - Normal View
v.51: 05-Feb-2024 13:50 - Cerfeuil
Changed download links
v.50: 24-Jun-2023 21:38 - JTN
v.49: 24-Jun-2023 21:35 - JTN
v.48: 24-Jun-2023 21:34 - JTN
v.47: 24-Jun-2023 21:34 - JTN
Changed description
v.46: 24-Jun-2023 21:04 - JTN
Changed description
v.45: 24-Jun-2023 21:02 - JTN
Changed IFIDs
v.44: 24-Jun-2023 20:22 - JTN
Changed description
v.43: 07-Dec-2022 15:26 - RonFromPgh
Changed Web site URL
v.42: 02-Sep-2022 19:15 - Zach Harper
Changed publication date
v.41: 10-Aug-2022 00:23 - Dan Fabulich
Changed download links
v.40: 20-Jan-2021 16:09 - Dan Fabulich
Changed download links
v.39: 20-Jan-2021 16:08 - Dan Fabulich
Changed download links
v.38: 29-Jun-2020 15:47 - Zape
Changed external review links
v.37: 28-Feb-2020 22:55 - Zape
Changed download links
v.36: 28-Feb-2020 22:49 - Zape
Changed download links
v.35: 28-Feb-2020 22:46 - Zape
Changed download links
v.34: 03-Feb-2019 05:20 - Dan Fabulich
Changed download links
v.33: 29-Aug-2018 13:19 - Michael Gentry
Changed description
v.32: 29-Aug-2018 13:19 - Michael Gentry
Changed description
v.31: 07-Mar-2018 10:26 - Pegbiter
Changed publication date, version number
v.30: 30-Jan-2018 19:06 - Michael Gentry
v.29: 29-Jan-2018 19:11 - Michael Gentry
Changed download links
v.28: 29-Jan-2018 11:31 - Michael Gentry
v.27: 29-Jan-2018 11:29 - Michael Gentry
Changed description
v.26: 29-Jan-2018 11:27 - Michael Gentry
v.25: 29-Jan-2018 11:26 - Michael Gentry
Changed IFIDs
v.24: 29-Jan-2018 11:25 - Michael Gentry
Changed cover art, publication date, version number, license type, development system, description, genre, Web site URL, download links
v.23: 30-Nov-2015 09:34 - mjhayes
Changed download links
v.22: 16-Nov-2015 01:49 - mjhayes
Changed download links
v.21: 12-Nov-2015 08:01 - Michael Gentry
Changed author
v.20: 12-Nov-2015 08:00 - Michael Gentry
Changed description
v.19: 09-Oct-2015 15:16 - Michael Gentry
Changed description
v.18: 04-Mar-2015 23:36 - Matt W
Changed forgiveness
v.17: 08-Nov-2013 16:48 - Michael R. Bacon
Changed download links
v.16: 23-Sep-2013 15:43 - Edward Lacey
Changed external review links
v.15: 22-Sep-2013 16:35 - Edward Lacey
Changed external review links
v.14: 18-Mar-2013 13:01 - Edward Lacey
Changed external review links
v.13: 24-Feb-2013 09:25 - Edward Lacey
Changed external review links
  v.12: 30-Jan-2013 11:47 - Edward Lacey
Changed external review links
v.11: 19-Aug-2009 06:01 - Jordan Magnuson
Changed external review links
v.10: 16-Dec-2008 02:50 - Jacob Gunness
Changed download links
v.9: 10-Nov-2008 04:19 - Ghalev
Changed publication date, version number
v.8: 16-Oct-2008 13:33 - Michael Gentry
Changed cover art
v.7: 02-Jun-2008 14:56 - Michael Gentry
Changed cover art, forgiveness
v.6: 05-Apr-2008 11:41 - Emily Short
Changed external review links
v.5: 25-Oct-2007 02:52 - Michael R. Bacon
Changed description, download links
v.4: 25-Oct-2007 02:48 - Michael R. Bacon
Changed description, download links
v.3: 22-Oct-2007 15:04 - Michael Roberts
Changed download links
v.2: 21-Oct-2007 00:23 - Michael R. Bacon
Changed title, description, download links
v.1: 16-Oct-2007 01:49 - IFDB
Created page