The Guild of Thieves

Magnetic Scrolls

Industry	Video game development
Founded	1980s
Products	The Guild of Thieves, The Pawn

The Guild of Thieves is a text-based adventure created by Magnetic Scrolls and released by Rainbird Software in 1987. Set within Kerovnia—the same setting as the earlier title The Pawn—this game caters to enthusiasts of narrative-driven puzzle adventures.

Gameplay

In this experience, players take on the role of a novice member of the infamous Guild of Thieves, with the objective of pilfering treasures from a fortified island stronghold. The game is distinguished by its richly detailed and immersive descriptions, complemented by 30 illustrations depicting significant locations, which contribute to its appeal through visual immersion. The original packaging included thematic materials such as a mock newsletter named What Burglar that provided guidance and hints, a Bank of Kerovnia Trading Account Card, a formal guild agreement defining player obligations, and dice—elements that reinforced branding and enhanced player involvement.

Reception

At the Golden Joystick Awards, The Guild of Thieves earned the accolade for Best Adventure Game Of The Year. Critical acclaim highlighted its clever writing, impressive graphical presentation, and intellectually engaging puzzles. Dragon described it as an "exciting sequel" featuring exceptional visuals and humor. Computer Gaming World praised its advanced command interpreter and quintessentially British wit, drawing favorable comparisons to leading titles from Infocom. While some reviewers felt the puzzle design was competent yet not groundbreaking, the overall consensus recognized its strong standing within the interactive fiction genre. Additionally, Antic lauded the Atari version’s graphics, acknowledging minor color constraints but affirming its aesthetic quality.

Legacy

In 1992, the title was reissued as part of the Magnetic Scrolls Collection, which introduced an enhanced user interface along with an art poster showcasing the island setting.

By June 2017, Magnetic Scrolls had retrieved the original source code for The Guild of Thieves and other games to remaster and re-release them. The updated edition became available in December 2017, offering an improved experience compatible with contemporary systems.

External links

• The Guild of Thieves at Atari Mania (Atari 8-bit)
• (Atari ST)