https://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/188864691640/retrocgads-usa-1985
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is an interactive fiction game based on the book of the same name. This was Infocom’s 14th release and it followed the general pattern of other similar games that they produced. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was released initially for the Commodore 64, Apple II, Macintosh, CP/M, DOS, Amiga, Atari 8-bit and Atari ST. Since Infocom’s games were based on a parser that was ported to many platforms, this game eventually found its way to other systems, including modern ones.
Since this game is based on the book, if you have read the book than it kind of gives some of it away. On the other hand, there are certain thing that you must do in the game that would probably make no sense unless you have read the book. At any rate, it is a harder game if you have not read the book. Still, having said that, for those that like interactive fiction (a.k.a. text adventures) then this is an excellent example. It was one of the best selling games of its time.
Web based versions of the game were released for both the 20th and 30th anniversaries. These were enhanced with graphics though commands still had to be typed. There is also a Java version on Douglas Adams’ website. There are also various Z-Machine interpreters than can be used with the data files to play the game. Fortunately, there is no shortage of ways to play this game.
Screen shots above are from the Commodore 64 version of the game and the ad is from 1985.