Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh

Last updated: January 9, 2026

Overview

Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh is a psychological horror adventure game released by Sierra On-Line in 1996¹. Though technically a sequel to Roberta Williams’ 1995 game Phantasmagoria, A Puzzle of Flesh shares no connections with its predecessor in plot or characters, as Sierra initially intended the Phantasmagoria title to be a horror anthology, with each installment featuring a different story and style². The game follows Curtis Craig, a young technical writer who begins experiencing disturbing hallucinations and supernatural events while struggling to maintain his sanity and uncover the truth about his identity³.

Developed on a budget of $4.5 million with a cast of more than 30 professional actors⁴, A Puzzle of Flesh represents one of Sierra’s most ambitious interactive movie productions. The game was filmed over six months in and around Seattle, Washington, using high-quality movie sets built specifically for the production rather than relying on blue screen technology⁵. While not a commercial success, the game is remembered for its controversial violent and sexual content, which led to heavy censorship or outright bans in several European and Oceanic countries⁶.

Game Info

Developer: Sierra On-Line⁷ Designer: Lorelei Shannon⁸ Publisher: Sierra On-Line⁷ Platforms: DOS, Windows 95, Macintosh⁹ Release Year: 1996 Series: Phantasmagoria Sierra Lineage: Core Sierra

Story Summary

Curtis Craig is a quiet young man working as a technical writer for WynTech Industries corporation who has been out of a mental hospital for exactly one year¹⁰. Despite having a steady job and a lovely girlfriend named Jocilyn, Curtis begins experiencing strange and terrifying events around him - photographs bleed, rats speak, and his computer develops a vicious mind of its own¹¹. As Curtis begins to doubt his own sanity and the very fabric of reality, a series of brutal murders begins to occur¹².

Following a trail of hallucinations, blood, sex and murder victims, Curtis discovers he is not who he always thought he was¹³. The title “Puzzle of Flesh” refers to the puzzle of who Curtis really is, and the fact that his flesh is not his own¹⁴. Throughout his journey, Curtis encounters various characters including his therapist Dr. Marek, his co-worker Trevor Barnes, and the mysterious demonic entity known as the Hecatomb¹⁵. The game explores themes of identity, mental illness, sexuality, and supernatural horror as Curtis unravels the truth about his past and confronts the forces seeking to control him¹⁶.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh uses Sierra’s traditional point-and-click adventure interface based on a single cursor¹⁷. Players move the cursor over the screen, and when passed over an interactive object or location, the cursor highlights, allowing interaction with a left mouse click¹⁸. The game alternates between two modes: interactive sequences with video sprites on filmed backgrounds, and non-interactive full-motion video sequences that advance the narrative¹⁹.

The game follows Sierra’s traditional chapter-by-chapter structure, divided into five distinct chapters that can be completed in approximately 5-6 hours of gameplay²⁰. Players explore a limited number of locations including Curtis’s apartment, the WynTech office, a therapist’s office, various bars and clubs, and supernatural environments²¹. The interface emphasizes cinematic storytelling over complex puzzle-solving, with the game functioning more like an interactive movie than a traditional adventure game²².

Structure and Progression

The game spans five chapters, each focusing on different aspects of Curtis’s deteriorating mental state and the supernatural events surrounding him²³. Players progress through the story by triggering specific plot events and completing relatively simple puzzles, though reviewers noted that many puzzles felt arbitrary or illogical²⁴. The therapy sessions with Dr. Marek serve as a unique gameplay element where inventory objects are used to bring up discussion topics, providing backstory and character development²⁵.

Unlike traditional Sierra adventures, A Puzzle of Flesh features minimal inventory management and focuses heavily on narrative progression through full-motion video sequences²⁶. The game includes multiple possible endings based on player choices, though the overall story arc remains largely fixed²⁷. Easter eggs are scattered throughout the game, with a total of 480 possible Easter Egg points that can be discovered through exploration²⁸.

Puzzles and Mechanics

The puzzle design in A Puzzle of Flesh received significant criticism from reviewers, with many describing the challenges as illogical or frustrating²⁹. One reviewer specifically cited “one of the most irrational puzzles I’ve ever seen” involving Curtis’s wallet being found under his sofa³⁰. The game prioritizes cinematic presentation over traditional adventure game mechanics, leading to complaints that it felt more like watching a movie than playing a game³¹.

The inventory system is simplified compared to earlier Sierra adventures, with most objects having obvious and immediate uses rather than requiring complex combinations or lateral thinking³². Interactive elements are clearly highlighted by cursor changes, reducing the pixel-hunting that plagued some earlier adventure games³³. However, this streamlined approach contributed to criticism that the game lacked the intellectual challenge expected from Sierra’s adventure titles³⁴.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh received largely negative reviews from critics upon release. GameSpot gave the game a harsh 3.7/10, with reviewer Ron Dulin stating, “As the credits rolled, all I felt was regret—regret that I had spent a good chunk of my life in this ugly world, with annoying, unappealing characters and their silly problems”³⁵. The review particularly criticized the story quality, noting that “technical achievements don’t amount to much when it seems like the story was written for the Halloween issue of a junior high school newspaper”³⁶.

Publication	Score	Notes
GameSpot	3.7/10	Harsh criticism of story and characters35
GameRankings	55.88%	Aggregate score37
Computer Gaming World	2/5	Petra Schlunk, March 199737
PC Games	C+	Peter Olafson38
Game Revolution	C-	Described as “short and meaningless”39
Adventure Classic Gaming	2/5	Called it a “failed effort”40
Just Adventure	B-	Acknowledged as “guilty pleasure”41

Modern Assessment

Modern retrospective reviews have been more appreciative of the game’s progressive elements and historical significance. GLAAD commemorated the game’s 25th anniversary in 2021, noting that “Curtis is canonically and identifiably bisexual in the game, making him arguably the first playable LGBTQ protagonist in gaming history (among commercial games, at least)“⁴². The organization praised the game’s “remarkably progressive” LGBTQ representation for its time period⁴³.

Adventure Gamers provided a more balanced retrospective assessment, giving the game 2.5 stars and describing it as “a near-equal balance of good and bad that can make a game either fall disappointingly short of its evident potential or be mildly entertaining despite its many failings”⁴⁴. Bloody Disgusting published a 20-year retrospective calling the game “wildly ahead of its time” and praising its willingness to tackle taboo subjects like BDSM and bisexuality without judgment⁴⁵. User reviews on platforms like MobyGames range from highly positive to extremely negative, with some players praising the acting quality and mature themes while others criticize the limited gameplay and questionable story choices⁴⁶.

Development

Origins

The game originated when Sierra decided to continue the Phantasmagoria franchise as a horror anthology series rather than a direct sequel⁴⁷. Roberta Williams stepped out of the project and passed development responsibilities to Lorelei Shannon, who had previously co-designed King’s Quest VII: The Princeless Bride in 1995⁴⁸. Shannon drew inspiration from authors Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Beaumont, and Shirley Jackson, as well as visual influences from photographer Joel-Peter Witkin and the film Seven⁴⁹. She also cited fondness for the psychological horror film Jacob’s Ladder and admiration for Clive Barker’s work⁵⁰.

The project was conceived during the peak popularity of interactive movie games, when Sierra was heavily investing in full-motion video productions⁵¹. Originally, Sierra had considered involving Stephen King in the development process, though this collaboration never materialized⁵². The game was designed to be Sierra’s most explicit and mature title, deliberately pushing boundaries in terms of sexual content and psychological horror themes⁵³.

Production

Development took place at Sierra On-Line’s headquarters in Bellevue, Washington, with filming occurring in and around Seattle from February to September 1996⁵⁴. The production was directed by Andy Hoyos, working with a crew of young USC film school graduates⁵⁵. The game was shot on Digital Betacam, producing nearly four and a half hours of video from a script over 200 pages long⁵⁶. Unlike many contemporary FMV games, A Puzzle of Flesh used real sets and locations rather than blue screen technology, with high-quality movie sets built specifically for the production⁵⁷.

The casting process proved challenging, with the main actor Paul Morgan Stetler being cast very late after the original Los Angeles-based actor dropped out over a contract dispute⁵⁸. The production employed Screen Actors Guild talent, with actors receiving a minimum of $522 per day for interactive media projects⁵⁹. The game featured a cast of more than 30 professional actors, including Ragna Sigrunardottir as Therese, Monique Parent as Jocilyn, and Paul Mitri as Trevor⁶⁰. Composer Gary Spinrad created what reviewers described as a “haunting score” for the game⁶¹.

Technical Achievements

A Puzzle of Flesh was built using Sierra’s Creative Interpreter version 3 (SCI3) engine, representing the final Sierra game to use the SCI engine entirely⁶². The game utilized TrueMotion video compression to provide near 30 frames per second video playback⁶³. Rather than simply blurring violent or sexual content for censorship purposes, the developers shot alternate clips specifically for the parental lockout setting⁶⁴. The video files were stored as DuckMotion (DUK) files, which are playable in modern media players like VLC⁶⁵.

The game required multiple CD-ROMs due to the extensive full-motion video content, shipping as a seven-CD-ROM title⁶⁶. Technical specifications required a 486DX2/66 processor, 8MB RAM, and a double-speed CD-ROM drive for the DOS version⁶⁷. The Windows 95 version included enhanced features but proved problematic for modern compatibility, leading GOG to release only the DOS version despite fan requests for the Windows Enhanced edition⁶⁸. Editing was performed on Macintosh Quadra 950 systems, though the game was never released for Mac platforms⁶⁹.

Legacy

Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh holds historical significance as one of the first commercial video games to feature a canonically bisexual protagonist, with Curtis Craig’s sexuality portrayed authentically rather than as a plot device or source of humor⁷⁰. The game’s frank depiction of LGBTQ themes, BDSM, and mental health issues was groundbreaking for its time, though it also contributed to widespread censorship and controversy⁷¹. GLAAD noted that “Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh might not have changed the world overnight, but its authentic LGBTQ storytelling absolutely helped move the needle for acceptance, at a time when it was desperately needed”⁷².

The game’s commercial failure and negative critical reception contributed to Sierra’s movement away from full-motion video adventures toward other genres⁷³. The planned Phantasmagoria 3 was never developed, effectively ending the anthology series after only two installments⁷⁴. Despite its controversial nature, the game developed a cult following among horror game enthusiasts and LGBTQ gaming communities who appreciated its willingness to tackle mature themes⁷⁵. The game’s influence can be seen in later horror adventures that incorporated psychological themes and mature content, though few matched its explicit approach to sexuality and violence⁷⁶.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

• GOG Dreamlist - Community wishlist
• Available on GOG.com (DOS version only)⁷⁷

Download / Preservation

• My Abandonware⁷⁸
• Internet Archive - DOS Version⁷⁹
• Internet Archive - Compatibility Patch⁸⁰

References

Footnotes

1. https://www.abandonwaredos.com/abandonware-game.php?abandonware=Phantasmagoria:+A+Puzzle+of+Flesh&gid=3475 - Basic metadata and user rating ↩

2. https://absolutehorror.fandom.com/wiki/Phantasmagoria:_A_Puzzle_of_Flesh - Plot summary and relationship to predecessor ↩

3. https://freegogpcgames.com/1927/phantasmagoria-2-a-puzzle-of-flesh/ - Plot synopsis and character information ↩

4. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-30-ca-4190-story.html - Production budget and cast size details ↩

5. https://web.archive.org/web/20200724154851/http://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-30-ca-4190-story.html - Production location and filming details ↩

6. https://absolutehorror.fandom.com/wiki/Phantasmagoria:_A_Puzzle_of_Flesh - Commercial performance and censorship information ↩

7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantasmagoria:_A_Puzzle_of_Flesh - Developer and publisher information ↩ ↩²

8. https://web.archive.org/web/20080224014444/http://la-aventura.net/entrevistas/lorelei-en - Designer interview and development details ↩

9. https://www.mobygames.com/game/1216/phantasmagoria-a-puzzle-of-flesh/specs/ - Platform and technical specifications ↩

10. https://freegogpcgames.com/1927/phantasmagoria-2-a-puzzle-of-flesh/ - Character background information ↩

11. https://web.archive.org/web/19961219235404/http://www.sierra.com/entertainment/phantas2/ - Official promotional description of supernatural events ↩

12. https://freegogpcgames.com/1927/phantasmagoria-2-a-puzzle-of-flesh/ - Basic plot progression description ↩

13. https://www.sierrachest.com/index.php?a=games&id=41&fld=general - Detailed plot summary ↩

14. https://web.archive.org/web/20080224014444/http://la-aventura.net/entrevistas/lorelei-en - Title meaning explanation from creator ↩

15. https://alchetron.com/Phantasmagoria:-A-Puzzle-of-Flesh - Character details and cast information ↩

16. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/PhantasmagoriaAPuzzleOfFlesh - Thematic analysis and character information ↩

17. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=755591421 - Interface description from walkthrough ↩

18. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=755591421 - Control system explanation ↩

19. https://web.archive.org/web/20120625140629/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18190 - Technical analysis of gameplay modes ↩

20. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/198286-phantasmagoria-a-puzzle-of-flesh/reviews/75559 - Chapter structure and completion time ↩

21. http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/11/ - Location and exploration details ↩

22. http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/11/ - Gameplay criticism and movie comparison ↩

23. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/198286-phantasmagoria-a-puzzle-of-flesh/faqs/2194 - Chapter structure from complete walkthrough ↩

24. https://web.archive.org/web/19971022230858/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/pc/p2.htm - Puzzle design criticism ↩

25. https://the-spoiler.com/ADVENTURE/Sierra/phantasmagoria2.1.html - Therapy session mechanics description ↩

26. https://adventuregamers.com/article/phantasmagoria_a_puzzle_of_flesh - Inventory management analysis ↩

27. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/PhantasmagoriaAPuzzleOfFlesh - Multiple endings information ↩

28. https://sierrachest.com/index.php?a=games&id=41&title=phantasmagoria-2&fld=eggs - Easter egg documentation and point system ↩

29. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/phantasmagoria-2-a-puzzle-of-flesh-review/1900-2545835/ - Puzzle design criticism ↩

30. https://web.archive.org/web/19970711131644/http://www.pcgames.com/reviews/adventure/phant.html - Specific puzzle criticism example ↩

31. http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/11/ - Movie vs game experience criticism ↩

32. https://adventuregamers.com/article/phantasmagoria_a_puzzle_of_flesh - Inventory system analysis ↩

33. https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Phantasmagoria:_A_Puzzle_of_Flesh - Interface and interaction details ↩

34. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/198286-phantasmagoria-a-puzzle-of-flesh/reviews/75559 - Challenge level criticism ↩

35. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/phantasmagoria-2-a-puzzle-of-flesh-review/1900-2545835/ - GameSpot review score and negative assessment ↩ ↩²

36. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/phantasmagoria-2-a-puzzle-of-flesh-review/1900-2545835/ - Story quality criticism ↩

37. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantasmagoria:_A_Puzzle_of_Flesh - Aggregate review scores ↩ ↩²

38. https://web.archive.org/web/19970711131644/http://www.pcgames.com/reviews/adventure/phant.html - PC Games review score ↩

39. https://web.archive.org/web/19971022230858/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/pc/p2.htm - Game Revolution review criticism ↩

40. http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/11/ - Adventure Classic Gaming negative review ↩

41. https://web.archive.org/web/20061128002940/http://www.justadventure.com:80/reviews/Phantasmagoria_2/Phantasmagoria_2_Review.shtm - Just Adventure review score ↩

42. https://glaad.org/commemorating-piece-lgbtq-gaming-history-phantasmagoria-puzzle-flesh/ - GLAAD analysis of LGBTQ representation ↩

43. https://glaad.org/commemorating-piece-lgbtq-gaming-history-phantasmagoria-puzzle-flesh/ - Progressive representation assessment ↩

44. https://adventuregamers.com/article/phantasmagoria_a_puzzle_of_flesh - Modern retrospective review ↩

45. https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3416238/20-years-later-overlooked-genius-phantasmagoria-puzzle-flesh/ - 20-year retrospective analysis ↩

46. https://www.mobygames.com/game/1216/phantasmagoria-a-puzzle-of-flesh/reviews/ - User review compilation ↩

47. https://absolutehorror.fandom.com/wiki/Phantasmagoria:_A_Puzzle_of_Flesh - Anthology series concept ↩

48. https://web.archive.org/web/20120625140629/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18190 - Designer transition information ↩

49. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantasmagoria:_A_Puzzle_of_Flesh - Creative influences documentation ↩

50. https://web.archive.org/web/20120625140629/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18190 - Additional creative influences ↩

51. https://web.archive.org/web/20200724154851/http://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-30-ca-4190-story.html - Interactive movie context ↩

52. https://www.resetera.com/threads/controversial-point-and-click-horror-classic-phantasmagoria-is-30-years-old-today.1279260/ - Stephen King involvement consideration ↩

53. https://sierra.fandom.com/wiki/Phantasmagoria:_A_Puzzle_of_Flesh - Mature content design intent ↩

54. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantasmagoria:_A_Puzzle_of_Flesh - Development location and filming timeline ↩

55. https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3416238/20-years-later-overlooked-genius-phantasmagoria-puzzle-flesh/ - Director and crew information ↩

56. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantasmagoria:_A_Puzzle_of_Flesh - Technical filming details ↩

57. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-30-ca-4190-story.html - Set construction vs blue screen ↩

58. https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3416238/20-years-later-overlooked-genius-phantasmagoria-puzzle-flesh/ - Casting process details ↩

59. https://web.archive.org/web/20200724154851/http://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-11-30-ca-4190-story.html - SAG talent payment information ↩

60. https://alchetron.com/Phantasmagoria:-A-Puzzle-of-Flesh - Cast details and character assignments ↩

61. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/phantasmagoria-2-a-puzzle-of-flesh-review/1900-2545835/ - Composer credit and score assessment ↩

62. https://www.mobygames.com/game/1216/phantasmagoria-a-puzzle-of-flesh/ - Engine information ↩

63. https://web.archive.org/web/20120625140629/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18190 - Video compression technology ↩

64. https://web.archive.org/web/20120625140629/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18190 - Censorship implementation approach ↩

65. https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Phantasmagoria:_A_Puzzle_of_Flesh - Video file format information ↩

66. https://web.archive.org/web/20000817201336/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-338,00.html - CD-ROM count ↩

67. https://www.mobygames.com/game/1216/phantasmagoria-a-puzzle-of-flesh/specs/ - System requirements ↩

68. https://www.gog.com/forum/phantasmagoria_series/please_add_the_windows_enhanced_version_of_phantasmagoria_a_puzzle_of_flesh - Windows version compatibility issues ↩

69. https://web.archive.org/web/20120625140629/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18190 - Editing platform information ↩

70. https://glaad.org/commemorating-piece-lgbtq-gaming-history-phantasmagoria-puzzle-flesh/ - LGBTQ protagonist significance ↩

71. https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3416238/20-years-later-overlooked-genius-phantasmagoria-puzzle-flesh/ - Mature themes analysis ↩

72. https://glaad.org/commemorating-piece-lgbtq-gaming-history-phantasmagoria-puzzle-flesh/ - Historical impact assessment ↩

73. http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/11/ - Impact on Sierra’s future development ↩

74. https://web.archive.org/web/20120625140629/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18190 - Phantasmagoria 3 cancellation ↩

75. https://www.reddit.com/r/HorrorGames/comments/18g14j6/phantasmagoria_a_puzzle_of_flesh/ - Cult following discussion ↩

76. https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3416238/20-years-later-overlooked-genius-phantasmagoria-puzzle-flesh/ - Influence on later horror games ↩

77. https://www.gogdb.org/product/1207658841 - GOG availability information ↩

78. https://www.myabandonware.com/search/q/Phantasmagoria%3A+A+Puzzle+of+Flesh - Abandonware availability ↩

79. https://archive.org/details/msdos_Phantasmagoria_2_-_A_Puzzle_of_the_Flesh_1996 - Internet Archive DOS version ↩

80. https://archive.org/details/P2DOSPAT - Compatibility patch archive ↩