The Beverly Hillbillies

Last updated: January 10, 2026

Overview

The Beverly Hillbillies is a point-and-click adventure game released in 1993 for MS-DOS, developed by Synergistic Software, Inc. and published by Capstone Software¹. The game serves as a tie-in to the 1993 theatrical film of the same name, which itself was an adaptation of the beloved CBS television sitcom that aired from 1962 to 1971². Despite the enduring popularity of the source material—a show that reached number one in Nielsen ratings within three weeks of its premiere and remained a top-rated program for years³—the video game adaptation was met with overwhelmingly negative reception from critics and players alike.

The game places players in control of Jed Clampett following his unexpected discovery of oil on his rural Ozark property, tasking them with helping the simple mountain family build a new life in the glamorous environs of Beverly Hills⁴. Rather than faithfully adapting the 1993 film’s plot, the game follows the basic premise of the early television episodes, with Jed navigating culture shock while discovering that two criminals have targeted him as a blackmail victim¹. This was notably the final game developed by Synergistic Software before the company was acquired by Sierra On-Line, marking an inauspicious end to their independent development history⁵.

Capstone Software, the publisher, had developed a notorious reputation in the gaming industry for releasing poorly designed and programmed titles, earning the derisive nickname “CRAPstone” among gamers unfortunate enough to purchase their products⁶. The Beverly Hillbillies would do nothing to rehabilitate this reputation, with reviewers universally condemning its banal puzzles, frustrating gameplay, and lack of the charm that made the original television series so beloved⁷.

Game Info

Developer: Synergistic Software, Inc.¹ Designer: Robert C. Clardy⁸ Publisher: Capstone Software¹ Engine: World Builder⁸ Platforms: MS-DOS¹ Release Year: 1993 Series: N/A Protagonist: Jed Clampett Sierra Lineage: Sierra Adjacent

Story Summary

The game’s narrative begins in the rural Ozark Mountains, where Jed Clampett, an uneducated but good-natured mountaineer, makes an accidental discovery that will change his family’s life forever⁹. While out hunting near his tumble-down cabin, Jed’s stray bullet drills a hole in the ground from which flows oil—“black gold, Texas tea” as the famous theme song describes it¹⁰. This fortuitous discovery instantly transforms the impoverished Clampett family into millionaires, with their land’s oil rights valued at approximately twenty-five million dollars¹¹.

Following the advice of others, Jed decides to relocate his family to Beverly Hills, California, where the wealthy reside⁴. The player must guide Jed through seven distinct episodes as he navigates this dramatic life change, from his initial discovery of oil through his journey westward and eventual settlement in the lavish surroundings of Beverly Hills¹². The Clampett family includes Jed’s mother-in-law Granny (Daisy Moses), his beautiful but tomboyish daughter Elly May, and his dim-witted but lovable nephew Jethro Bodine³.

Upon arriving in Beverly Hills, the Clampetts find themselves embroiled in complications beyond mere culture shock. Two criminals have identified Jed as a prime target for blackmail, forcing the player to not only help the family adjust to their new surroundings but also thwart these villainous schemes¹. The game’s plot shares only vague similarities with the 1993 film it ostensibly adapts, instead drawing more directly from the original television series’ fish-out-of-water premise².

Throughout the adventure, players encounter the humor and situations that made the original show a phenomenon, though the game’s execution of these comedic elements was widely criticized as falling flat⁶. The story attempts to capture the essence of Paul Henning’s original creation—a show designed to let audiences “laugh with our hillbillies—not at them”¹³—but struggles to translate that warmth and wit into interactive form.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

The Beverly Hillbillies employs a simplified point-and-click adventure interface built on Synergistic Software’s World Builder engine⁵. Players interact with the game world using a mouse-driven control scheme typical of early 1990s adventure games, though the implementation was criticized for unconventional and counterintuitive logic⁶. The interface allows players to examine objects, pick up items, and interact with characters through a combination of clicking and inventory management⁸.

The game supports both keyboard and mouse input devices, offering players flexibility in how they navigate Jed through his adventure⁸. However, the interface logic frequently confounds players—for example, using bullets on a character rather than employing standard point-and-click conventions⁶. This departure from established adventure game norms contributed significantly to player frustration and the game’s negative reception.

Structure and Progression

The game is divided into seven distinct episodes that follow Jed’s journey from poverty to wealth¹²:

• Episode 1: The discovery of oil on Jed’s property and initial decisions about the family’s future
• Episode 2: Preparations for the journey to California
• Episode 3: The westward trek in the family’s iconic jalopy
• Episode 4: Arrival in Beverly Hills and first encounters with city life
• Episode 5: Meeting the neighbors and local characters
• Episode 6: Confronting the criminals targeting the Clampett fortune
• Episode 7: Resolution and establishing the family’s new life

The official walkthrough advises players to explore thoroughly and engage in dialogue with all characters beyond simply following the main path, as many of the game’s “cuter elements and dialog” exist outside the critical path¹².

Puzzles and Mechanics

The puzzle design in The Beverly Hillbillies was universally criticized as obtuse and poorly implemented⁷. Players must solve various challenges to progress through each episode, but the solutions frequently defy logical deduction. Contemporary reviewers specifically called out the “banal puzzles” as one of the game’s primary failings¹⁴.

The game includes inventory-based puzzles typical of the adventure genre, requiring players to collect and combine items to overcome obstacles. However, the logic connecting items to their uses was described as frustrating and unclear¹⁵. Additionally, the game incorporates arcade sequences that break up the adventure gameplay, though these segments feature cryptic billboard clues and confusing road layouts that loop back on themselves with no proper directions⁶.

Pathfinding issues compound the frustration, with characters struggling to navigate even simple open terrain⁶. This fundamental technical failing meant that players spent excessive time wrestling with movement rather than engaging with puzzles or story content.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

The Beverly Hillbillies received scathing reviews from the gaming press upon its 1993 release, with critics nearly unanimous in their condemnation. Computer Gaming World noted the game’s “banal puzzles” and advised adventure game fans to “look elsewhere” for entertainment¹⁴. The review offered no positive qualities to offset this criticism, suggesting the game had failed on virtually every level.

Game Players PC Entertainment was particularly harsh, with reviewer Matthew Firme awarding the game a devastating 0.5 out of 5 stars⁷. Firme called the game “atrocious” and specifically criticized the “obtuse” puzzle design that left players confused and frustrated⁷. The review made clear that even fans of the beloved television series would find nothing to enjoy in this adaptation.

Modern Assessment

Retrospective analysis has been no kinder to The Beverly Hillbillies. The Collection Chamber, a retro gaming preservation site, placed the game among the worst point-and-click adventures ever created: “In all my time playing point-and-click adventures, The Beverly Hillbillies ranks amongst the worst I have ever played”⁶. The review highlighted the publisher’s notorious reputation: “There are few gaming companies with a worse reputation than Capstone. Their output reeked with lazy design and poor programming skills to such an extent they were re-christened ‘CRAPstone’ by anyone with the misfortune to be suckered in by one of their games”⁶.

Computer Gaming World’s retrospective coverage described the game as “lazy, cynical, pointless” and “soulless,” suggesting it was created purely to capitalize on the film’s release with no genuine creative ambition⁷. The Official Australian PlayStation Magazine went further, listing it among the “biggest stinkers of all time”⁷.

The Home of the Underdogs provided a more measured but still lukewarm assessment: “Overall, The Beverly Hillbillies is a thoroughly average adventure that is good for a few laughs, but little else”⁵. This represents perhaps the most charitable contemporary evaluation, acknowledging minor entertainment value while recognizing the game’s significant shortcomings.

Aggregate Scores:

• MobyGames: 36% (critics aggregate)⁸
• Abandonware DOS: 3.47/5.00¹
• MyAbandonware: 3.71/5 (HOTUD review)⁵
• AbandonwareGames.net: 9.48/10 (user rating)⁴

The disparity between professional critical scores and user ratings on abandonware sites likely reflects nostalgia for the source material rather than appreciation for the game’s design merits.

Development

Origins

The Beverly Hillbillies video game was conceived as a multimedia tie-in to the 1993 theatrical film adaptation directed by Penelope Spheeris¹⁶. The film starred Jim Varney as Jed Clampett, Cloris Leachman as Granny, Erika Eleniak as Elly May, and Diedrich Bader as Jethro¹⁶. Despite assembling a talented cast and having Buddy Ebsen—the original Jed Clampett—provide a cameo appearance and blessing for Jim Varney’s performance, the film received poor reviews, earning only 26% on Rotten Tomatoes¹⁶.

The original television series, created by Paul Henning, had been a phenomenon during its nine-year run from 1962 to 1971³. The show was inspired by Henning’s memories of camping trips to the Ozarks during his Missouri youth, and he sought to create characters audiences could laugh with rather than at¹³. The series ran for 274 episodes across nine seasons, spawned spin-offs including Petticoat Junction and Green Acres, and remained in the top twenty of Nielsen ratings for most of its run¹⁷.

Capstone Software, seeking to capitalize on the film’s release, contracted Synergistic Software to develop the game adaptation¹. This would prove to be Synergistic’s final independent project before being acquired by Sierra On-Line⁵.

Production

Development of The Beverly Hillbillies took place at Synergistic Software’s facilities, utilizing their proprietary World Builder engine that had powered previous adventure titles⁵. The game was designed to follow a simplified adventure game formula, adapting the television series’ premise rather than strictly adapting the 1993 film’s plot².

Evidence suggests the game was rushed through development to meet the film’s theatrical release window¹⁸. The Video Game Music Preservation Foundation Wiki notes: “It is likely Capstone rushed the developers, which resulted in a less-than-stellar game”¹⁸. This pressure to ship quickly appears to have compromised virtually every aspect of the final product, from puzzle design to basic pathfinding functionality.

Development Credits:⁸

• Director: Robert C. Clardy
• Executive Producer: Leigh M. Rothschild
• Producer: David Turner
• Programmers: James David Walley, Michael D. Branham
• Artist: Kirt Lemons
• Composer: Christopher Barker

Technical Achievements

The Beverly Hillbillies utilized Synergistic’s World Builder engine, the same technology that powered their Warriors of Legend RPG⁵. While the engine was capable of producing competent adventure games, the rushed development prevented the team from leveraging its full potential.

The game featured VGA graphics appropriate for its 1993 release⁶, though the visual presentation was considered unremarkable even by contemporary standards. The interface was simplified compared to other adventure games of the era, which may have been an attempt to make the game accessible to fans of the television series who might not be experienced gamers⁵.

Technical Specifications

DOS Version:⁸

• Media: 3.5” Floppy Disk
• Input Devices: Keyboard, Mouse
• Players: 1 Player
• File Size: Approximately 2 MB compressed⁵
• DOSBox Compatibility: Supported on version 0.65 (works best on 0.58)⁵

Technical Issues

The game was plagued by fundamental technical problems that made even basic gameplay frustrating. The most damning criticism focused on pathfinding: “When basic pathfinding in an open field is an issue, you’re on to a dud”⁶. Characters would struggle to navigate simple terrain, getting stuck or taking nonsensical routes to reach destinations.

The arcade driving sequences featured confusing road layouts that would loop back on themselves, with only cryptic billboard clues to guide players⁶. The interface logic was inconsistent with adventure game conventions of the era, leading to player confusion even for experienced adventure game fans⁶.

Numerous bugs throughout the game compound these issues, with reviewers noting that the game felt incomplete or inadequately tested before release⁷.

Easter Eggs and Trivia

• The game includes dialogue and situations drawn from the original television series, though the execution was criticized as lacking the charm of the source material⁶
• Players can explore environments and engage in conversations beyond the critical path to discover additional comedic content¹²
• The game was released concurrently with the 1993 film soundtrack, which featured country artists including Joe Diffie, Lorrie Morgan, and The Oak Ridge Boys performing songs related to the franchise¹⁹

Voice Cast

The Beverly Hillbillies video game does not appear to have featured significant voice acting based on available research. The game relied primarily on text-based dialogue for character interactions, typical of many adventure games of its era and budget level.

For reference, the original television series featured the following principal cast³:

Character	Television Actor
Jed Clampett	Buddy Ebsen
Granny (Daisy Moses)	Irene Ryan
Elly May Clampett	Donna Douglas
Jethro Bodine	Max Baer Jr.
Milburn Drysdale	Raymond Bailey
Jane Hathaway	Nancy Kulp

The 1993 film, which the game was designed to promote, featured Jim Varney as Jed Clampett, Cloris Leachman as Granny, Erika Eleniak as Elly May, and Diedrich Bader as Jethro¹⁶.

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

Specific sales figures for The Beverly Hillbillies video game are not available in the research data. Given the overwhelmingly negative critical reception and Capstone’s poor reputation, it is likely the game failed to achieve significant commercial success beyond initial sales driven by the film’s marketing and the franchise’s name recognition.

The game’s failure did not impact Synergistic Software’s future, as the company was already in the process of being acquired by Sierra On-Line at the time of release⁵. For Capstone, the game represented another entry in their catalog of poorly-received licensed titles.

Collections

The Beverly Hillbillies has not been included in any known compilation releases or digital distribution platforms. As of the research date, the game is not available on GOG.com despite user requests (219 wishlist votes)²⁰. The game has not been released on Steam or other major digital storefronts²¹.

The game is primarily preserved through abandonware distribution sites and the Internet Archive, where it remains available for historical preservation purposes²².

Fan Projects

No significant fan projects, remakes, or modifications have been documented for The Beverly Hillbillies. The game’s poor reception and relative obscurity have not inspired the fan community engagement seen with more beloved adventure games of the era.

Related Publications

Game Manual/Walkthrough:¹²

• An official walkthrough was published by Capstone, providing step-by-step instructions for completing all seven episodes
• The walkthrough advises players to “explore the vicinity and talk to everyone you can” beyond following the critical path

Source Material Related Publications:

• Dell Comics published comic book adaptations of The Beverly Hillbillies television series in the 1960s, illustrated by Henry Scarpelli²³
• The 1993 film soundtrack was released on CD by Fox Records and BMG, featuring country music artists²⁴

Critical Perspective

The Beverly Hillbillies represents a cautionary tale about licensed game development in the early 1990s. The game exemplifies the era’s tendency to rush tie-in products to market to capitalize on film releases, often sacrificing quality in the process. Capstone Software’s reputation for “lazy design and poor programming skills”⁶ made them an unfortunate choice for adapting a beloved franchise with genuine comedic potential.

The game’s failure is particularly notable given the source material’s strength. Paul Henning’s original television series succeeded because he “was more interested in characters than gags”²⁵ and genuinely respected his rural characters rather than mocking them¹³. The video game adaptation captured none of this warmth or wit, instead delivering a technically flawed adventure with obtuse puzzles and frustrating gameplay.

Historically, The Beverly Hillbillies joins a long list of licensed games from the early 1990s that failed to translate popular properties into engaging interactive experiences. The game serves as Synergistic Software’s final independent release before their Sierra acquisition, ending their independent development history on an inauspicious note⁵. For adventure game historians, it stands as an example of how not to adapt beloved source material, and as evidence of the creative bankruptcy that characterized much of Capstone’s output during this period.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

• GOG Dreamlist - Community wishlist

Download / Preservation

• Internet Archive – Playable MS-DOS version²²
• MyAbandonware – Download with DOSBox configuration⁵
• Abandonware DOS – Game files and information¹
• ClassicReload – Browser-playable version²⁶

Manuals & Extras

• Game Manual/Walkthrough – Complete episode walkthrough¹²

Series Continuity

The Beverly Hillbillies video game stands alone as a single release with no sequels or prequels. The game exists within the broader Beverly Hillbillies multimedia franchise, which includes:

• Original Television Series: 274 episodes aired on CBS from September 26, 1962 to September 7, 1971³
• TV Movie: “The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies” (1981)²⁷
• Theatrical Film: The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), directed by Penelope Spheeris¹⁶
• Card Game: Set Back: The Beverly Hillbillies Card Game (1963)²⁸

The video game adaptation loosely follows the premise of the original television series’ early episodes rather than directly adapting the 1993 film’s plot². While the game was marketed as a tie-in to the theatrical release, its story more closely parallels the television show’s foundational “fish out of water” narrative established by creator Paul Henning¹⁷.

References

Footnotes

1. Abandonware DOS – The Beverly Hillbillies – developer, publisher, release date, platform, user rating ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹

2. Wikipedia – The Beverly Hillbillies (video game) – film adaptation context, plot differences, critical reception ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

3. Britannica – The Beverly Hillbillies – television series history, cast, Nielsen ratings ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

4. AbandonwareGames.net – The Beverly Hillbillies – game description, player role, user rating ↩ ↩² ↩³

5. MyAbandonware – The Beverly Hillbillies – Synergistic/Sierra acquisition, engine, HOTUD review, DOSBox compatibility ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³

6. Collection Chamber – The Beverly Hillbillies – Capstone reputation, interface criticism, pathfinding issues, comprehensive negative review ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴

7. Wikipedia – The Beverly Hillbillies (video game) – Game Players review score, CGW criticism, retrospective assessments ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

8. MobyGames – The Beverly Hillbillies – development credits, composer, technical specifications, aggregate score ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

9. Classic-TV – The Beverly Hillbillies – premise, oil discovery narrative ↩

10. Songfacts – The Ballad of Jed Clampett – theme song lyrics, cultural references ↩

11. TheMovieDB – The Beverly Hillbillies Episode Guide – property value, episode details ↩

12. Abandonware DOS – Game Manual – seven episodes, walkthrough, gameplay advice ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

13. ClickAmericana – Beverly Hillbillies Theme Song – Paul Henning quotes, creative philosophy ↩ ↩² ↩³

14. Wikipedia – The Beverly Hillbillies (video game) – Computer Gaming World review quotes ↩ ↩²

15. Wikipedia – The Beverly Hillbillies (video game) – frustrating puzzles, bugs ↩

16. Rotten Tomatoes – The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) – film cast, director, critical score, box office ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

17. Cord Cutters News – Beverly Hillbillies Final Episode – episode count, spin-offs, cultural impact ↩ ↩²

18. Video Game Music Preservation Foundation Wiki – rushed development theory, Capstone criticism ↩ ↩²

19. Amazon – Beverly Hillbillies Soundtrack – soundtrack artists, customer reception ↩

20. GOG.com Dreamlist – The Beverly Hillbillies – wishlist votes, unavailability ↩

21. Steam Store Search – game not available ↩

22. Internet Archive – The Beverly Hillbillies – preservation, file size, MobyGames description ↩ ↩²

23. Lambiek Comiclopedia – Henry Scarpelli – Dell Comics adaptations ↩

24. Discogs – Beverly Hillbillies Soundtrack – soundtrack details, label, tracks ↩

25. Joel Francis – Paul Henning Interview – creative philosophy quotes ↩

26. ClassicReload – The Beverly Hillbillies – browser playability ↩

27. 50PlusWorld – Donna Douglas Biography – TV movie, series timeline ↩

28. Geeky Hobbies – Beverly Hillbillies Card Game – card game details, 1963 release ↩