Tauno 3

Tauno 3, released in 1997, is a curiosity: an unofficial sequel to the popular Finnish adventure Tauno, made not by the original author but by an impatient fan. The period blurb admits as much without embarrassment: "I couldn't wait for a new sequel to Tauno, so I made one myself!" The game is signed by Zizio Games.

The same blurb explains the hurry to newcomers — Tauno, it says, is among the very best of Finnish text adventures. The third instalment is thus a fan tribute of a kind that could only appear in the 1990s BBS world, where games spread for free and the line between player and author was thin.

Little gems like this from the Finnish home scene slip past international retro catalogues entirely. You can judge the fan sequel for yourself — Tauno 3 runs right in your browser on OldGame.cz.