Revolution Software’s Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars begins with an explosion outside a Paris café and pulls American tourist George Stobbart into a much larger mystery. With journalist Nico Collard, he follows clues across Europe and the Middle East through conversation, observation and object-based puzzles. The hand-drawn adventure was released in 1996.
Why It Mattered
Broken Sword made investigation feel like travel through an animated thriller. Its characters, locations and slowly widening conspiracy gave point-and-click puzzles narrative weight, helping the adventure remain strong enough to receive a full Reforged edition in 2024.
Investigation structure
- George Stobbart and Nico Collard investigate a trail of mysteries and a Knights Templar conspiracy.
- The story moves from Paris to locations elsewhere in Europe and the Middle East.
Point-and-click play
- Players explore scenes, gather clues and interact with a cast of characters.
- Puzzles use observation, deduction, code-solving and object manipulation.
- The game uses fully voiced dialogue.
Reforged edition
- Revolution lists the original version as 1996 and Reforged as 2024.
- Reforged adds 4K remastered visuals and enhanced audio to the original adventure.
- The official catalogue retains links for both the 1996 legacy version and the newer edition.
- Revolution Software, founded in 1990 and based in York, identifies the series with its adventure-game work.
Associated With
Revolution Software - creator or operator
Defining Feature
Point-and-click investigation led by George Stobbart and Nico Collard
Status
Reintroduced - Original 1996 version remains catalogued; Revolution released the Reforged edition in 2024
- All one image sources are not yet verified — editorial review required.
Rights Notice
Images are included for historical and archival reference.
Rights holders may contact Forgotten Archive through the publishing account to request a credit correction or removal.
Broken Sword game artwork: Revolution Software; reproduced by Wikipedia
Licence
Historical Ephemera
Displayed for commentary and research. Fair dealing under the UK CDPA 1988 applies only where its conditions are met. No permission for reuse is granted.
Caption
Broken Sword's cover presents its adventure through mystery and danger, introducing the historical and conspiratorial themes that frame George Stobbart's investigation.
