Loom
Loom is a 1990 adventure game developed by LucasArts. Designed by Brian Moriarty, it tells the story of Bobbin Threadbare, a young member of the reclusive Guild of Weavers, who sets out on a lyrical quest through a world unraveling into chaos after his guild mysteriously vanishes.
The game replaced the usual inventory and verb interface with a unique system of musical spells called drafts, played on a distaff by matching sequences of four notes; harder difficulty settings hid the notes on the staff, demanding a keener musical ear. This elegant, accessible design, combined with a fairy-tale narrative loosely inspired by Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and packaged with an audio drama that set up the story, gave Loom an artful, dreamlike quality unlike anything else of its era. Though shorter than many adventures and never given the planned sequels, it is remembered fondly for its atmosphere and innovation.
Loom remains available through digital re-release collections that adapt the classic for modern systems.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Loom, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
Samorost 3 Indie
€ 19,99A wordless, music-led adventure from Amanita, solved by listening as much as looking.
Samorost 3 runs on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. Not available on Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Creaks Indie
€ 19,99A hand-painted puzzle adventure with no dialogue at all, atmosphere carrying everything.
Creaks runs on PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Machinarium Indie
€ 19,99A wordless indie adventure with hand-drawn art and inventive puzzles.
Machinarium runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Botanicula Indie
€ 9,99A whimsical indie point-and-click adventure full of playful puzzles.
Botanicula runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Verified.
Loom
€ 5,99The classic musical adventure, packaged for modern systems.
Loom runs on PC, Mac. Not available on Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. It is Steam Deck Untested.
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