Future Wars

Future Wars, released in 1989 by Delphine Software, is a cinematic point-and-click adventure that blends science fiction with time travel. Players assume the role of a humble janitor who unexpectedly stumbles upon an alien conspiracy threatening humanity. What begins as an ordinary day soon turns into a quest across different eras, from medieval times to a distant future.

The game uses Delphine’s “Cinematique” interface, one of the earliest mouse-driven systems for adventure games. Instead of relying on text parsers, players interact with the world through a menu of commands, making exploration and puzzle-solving more intuitive. The story unfolds through richly illustrated backgrounds and a strong narrative focus, laying the groundwork for Delphine’s later cinematic adventures.

With its imaginative settings, challenging puzzles, and ambitious scope, Future Wars stood out as an early example of storytelling-driven design on MS-DOS. Its mix of humor, suspense, and science fiction themes helped establish Delphine Software’s reputation, paving the way for classics like Another World and Flashback.