Engine Index
Last updated: February 2, 2026
Complete listing of Sierra games organized by engine, with technical specifications and compatibility information. Use ScummVM for most adventure games, DOSBox for simulations and sports titles.
Quick Reference
| Engine | Years | Resolution | Colors | Interface | Best Emulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGI | 1984–1989 | 160×200 | 16 (EGA) | Text parser | ScummVM |
| SCI0 | 1988–1990 | 320×200 | 16/256 | Text parser + mouse | ScummVM |
| SCI1 | 1990–1992 | 320×200 | 256 (VGA) | Point-and-click | ScummVM |
| SCI1.1 | 1992–1993 | 320×200 | 256 (VGA) | Point-and-click | ScummVM |
| SCI2/32 | 1993–1998 | 640×480 | 256/16-bit | Smart cursor | ScummVM |
| DGDS | 1990–1992 | 320×200 | 256 (VGA) | Point-and-click | ScummVM |
| 3-Space | 1989–1999 | Various | VGA/SVGA | Sim controls | DOSBox |
Sierra Adventure Engines
AGI (Adventure Game Interpreter) — 1984–1989
Sierra’s first standardized engine, created for King’s Quest I on the IBM PCjr.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 160×200 (displayed 320×200) |
| Colors | 16 (EGA/CGA) |
| Interface | Text parser |
| Audio | PC Speaker, Tandy 3-voice, Apple IIgs |
| RAM | 256KB required |
Play with: ScummVM (recommended), DOSBox
SCI0 (Sierra Creative Interpreter) — 1988–1990
First SCI version, doubling AGI’s resolution with professional sound card support.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 320×200 |
| Colors | 16 (EGA) or 256 (VGA) |
| Interface | Enhanced text parser + mouse movement |
| Audio | PC Speaker, AdLib, Roland MT-32, Game Blaster |
| RAM | 640KB required |
Play with: ScummVM (recommended), DOSBox
SCI1 — 1990–1992
First true VGA engine with 256 colors and point-and-click interfaces.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 320×200 |
| Colors | 256 (VGA) |
| Interface | Point-and-click icon bar |
| Audio | AdLib, Sound Blaster, Roland MT-32, General MIDI |
| CD Audio | Supported (first CD-ROM games) |
| RAM | 640KB conventional |
Play with: ScummVM (recommended), DOSBox
SCI1.1 — 1992–1993
Improved scripting with better CD audio integration and enhanced animation support.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 320×200 |
| Colors | 256 (VGA) |
| Interface | Point-and-click (refined) |
| Audio | Sound Blaster, General MIDI, CD audio |
| New Features | Better scripting, lip-sync support |
Play with: ScummVM (recommended), DOSBox
| Game | Year |
|---|---|
| EcoQuest 2 | 1993 |
| Freddy Pharkas | 1993 |
| Gabriel Knight | 1993 |
| Hoyle Volume 5 | 1993 |
| Leisure Suit Larry 6 | 1993 |
| Pepper’s Adventures in Time | 1993 |
| Quest for Glory IV | 1993 |
| Space Quest V | 1993 |
SCI2 / SCI32 — 1993–1998
Windows-native 32-bit engine with SVGA graphics and full-motion video support.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 640×480 (SVGA) |
| Colors | 256 or 16-bit |
| Interface | Smart cursor, context-sensitive |
| Audio | Windows sound system, CD audio, FMV |
| Platform | Windows 3.1/95 native |
| New Features | FMV cutscenes, higher resolution |
Play with: ScummVM (recommended), Windows compatibility mode
| Game | Year |
|---|---|
| Police Quest: Open Season | 1993 |
| King’s Quest VII | 1994 |
| Mixed-Up Mother Goose Deluxe | 1995 |
| Phantasmagoria | 1995 |
| Police Quest: SWAT | 1995 |
| Shivers | 1995 |
| Space Quest 6 | 1995 |
| Gabriel Knight 2 | 1995 |
| Lost Mind of Dr. Brain | 1995 |
| Torin’s Passage | 1995 |
| Leisure Suit Larry 7 | 1996 |
| Phantasmagoria 2 | 1996 |
| RAMA | 1996 |
| Time Warp of Dr. Brain | 1996 |
| Shivers II | 1997 |
| Quest for Glory V | 1998 |
Later Sierra 3D Engines
| Game | Year | Engine |
|---|---|---|
| King’s Quest: Mask of Eternity | 1998 | 3Space (modified) |
| Gabriel Knight 3 | 1999 | G-Engine (Gracie) |
Dynamix Engines
DGDS (Dynamix Game Development System)
Point-and-click adventures. Play with: ScummVM
| Game | Year |
|---|---|
| Rise of the Dragon | 1990 |
| Heart of China | 1991 |
| The Adventures of Willy Beamish | 1991 |
| Quarky & Quaysoo’s Turbo Science | 1992 |
3-Space Engine (Flight & Combat Sims)
Play with: DOSBox
| Game | Year |
|---|---|
| A-10 Tank Killer | 1989 |
| Red Baron | 1990 |
| Stellar 7 | 1990 |
| Nova 9 | 1991 |
| Aces of the Pacific | 1992 |
| Red Baron: Mission Builder | 1992 |
| Aces Over Europe | 1993 |
| Betrayal at Krondor | 1993 |
| Aces of the Deep | 1994 |
| Metaltech: Battledrome | 1994 |
| Metaltech: Earthsiege | 1994 |
| Earthsiege 2 | 1996 |
| Silent Thunder: A-10 Tank Killer II | 1996 |
| Red Baron II | 1997 |
| Red Baron 3D | 1998 |
| Curse You! Red Baron | 1999 |
3-D Ultra Series
Play with: DOSBox, Windows compatibility mode
| Game | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 3-D Ultra Pinball | 1995 | Pinball |
| 3-D Ultra Pinball: Creep Night | 1996 | Pinball |
| 3-D Ultra Pinball: Lost Continent | 1997 | Pinball |
| 3-D Ultra MiniGolf | 1997 | Minigolf |
| 3-D Ultra MiniGolf Deluxe | 1998 | Minigolf |
| 3-D Ultra NASCAR Pinball | 1998 | Pinball |
| 3-D Ultra Cool Pool | 1999 | Pool |
| 3-D Ultra Lionel TrainTown | 1999 | Trains |
| 3-D Ultra RC Racers | 1999 | Racing |
| 3-D Ultra Pinball: Thrill Ride | 2000 | Pinball |
| 3-D Ultra RC Racers Deluxe | 2000 | Racing |
| 3D Ultra MiniGolf Adventures | 2006 | Minigolf |
Dynamix Sports Engine
Papyrus Racing Engines
Play with: DOSBox (early), Windows compatibility (later)
| Game | Year | Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis 500 | 1989 | Custom 3D |
| IndyCar Racing | 1993 | Racing 1.0 |
| NASCAR Racing | 1994 | Racing 1.0 |
| IndyCar Racing II | 1995 | Racing 2.0 |
| NASCAR Racing 2 | 1996 | Racing 2.0 |
| CART Racing | 1997 | Racing 2.0 |
| Grand Prix Legends | 1998 | Custom Physics |
| NASCAR Racing 3 | 1999 | NASCAR 3 |
| NASCAR Racing 4 | 2001 | NASCAR 4 |
| NASCAR Racing 2002 | 2002 | NASCAR 4 |
| NASCAR Racing 2003 | 2003 | NASCAR 4 |
Impressions Engines
City-Building Engine
Play with: DOSBox (Caesar I-II), Windows (Caesar III+)
| Game | Year |
|---|---|
| Caesar | 1993 |
| Caesar II | 1995 |
| Caesar III | 1998 |
| Pharaoh | 1999 |
| Cleopatra: Queen of the Nile | 2000 |
| Zeus: Master of Olympus | 2000 |
| Poseidon: Master of Atlantis | 2001 |
| Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom | 2002 |
| Caesar IV | 2006 |
Strategy Engine
Coktel Vision / Gob Engine
Play with: ScummVM
| Game | Year |
|---|---|
| Geisha | 1990 |
| Fascination | 1991 |
| Gobliiins | 1991 |
| Bargon Attack | 1992 |
| Gobliins 2 | 1992 |
| Inca | 1992 |
| Ween: The Prophecy | 1992 |
| Goblins Quest 3 | 1993 |
| Inca II | 1993 |
| Lost in Time | 1993 |
| Woodruff and the Schnibble | 1995 |
| The Last Dynasty | 1995 |
| Urban Runner | 1996 |
Valve / GoldSrc Engine
| Game | Year |
|---|---|
| Half-Life | 1998 |
| Half-Life: Opposing Force | 1999 |
| Team Fortress Classic | 1999 |
| Counter-Strike | 2000 |
| Gunman Chronicles | 2000 |
| Half-Life: Blue Shift | 2001 |
| Counter-Strike: Condition Zero | 2004 |
Homeworld Engines
| Game | Year | Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Homeworld | 1999 | Homeworld |
| Homeworld: Cataclysm | 2000 | Homeworld |
| Homeworld 2 | 2003 | Homeworld 2 |
| Homeworld Remastered | 2015 | Homeworld 2 |
| Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak | 2016 | Unity 5 |
| Homeworld 3 | 2024 | Unreal Engine 4 |
LithTech Engine (Monolith)
| Game | Year |
|---|---|
| No One Lives Forever | 2000 |
| No One Lives Forever 2 | 2002 |
| Contract J.A.C.K. | 2003 |
Unreal Engine
| Game | Year | Version |
|---|---|---|
| SWAT 4 | 2005 | Unreal 2 (Vengeance) |
| SWAT 4: Stetchkov Syndicate | 2006 | Unreal 2 |
| LSL: Box Office Bust | 2009 | Unreal 3 |
| King’s Quest (2015) | 2015 | Unreal 3 |
| Homeworld 3 | 2024 | Unreal 4 |
Adventure Game Studio (Fan Projects)
Unity Engine (Modern Projects)
Darkstar Engine (Tribes/Starsiege)
| Game | Year |
|---|---|
| Starsiege: Tribes | 1998 |
| Starsiege | 1999 |
| Tribes 2 | 2001 |
Quick Reference
| Engine Type | Best Emulator/Runtime |
|---|---|
| AGI (1984–1989) | ScummVM |
| SCI (1988–1998) | ScummVM |
| Dynamix Adventures (DGDS) | ScummVM |
| Coktel/Gob | ScummVM |
| DOS Flight/Racing Sims | DOSBox |
| Windows 95/98 Games | dgVoodoo2 + Compatibility Mode |
| GoldSrc (Half-Life) | Native Steam |
| Modern Unity/AGS | Native Windows/Mac/Linux |