We are thrilled that Episode 1 is finally released and in your hands to enjoy, and we’ve been getting some great feedback on it so far from both fans and the media. Here’s what some of our reviewers (and creators) have had to say!

“I am deeply honored that a group of devoted fans have dedicated themselves to reviving the characters, lands and quests of my adventure game series, King’s Quest. Without the bravery and persistence of these volunteers – and it should be stressed that this game was developed by fans over ten long years without pay and in their own free time — it is almost certain that King’s Quest would have been relegated to a forgotten obscurity – its story left untold. Now, there is a chance that many can truly find out what happens to the royal family of the Kingdom of Daventry.

This game is very true to the original series and features many of the storylines and characters, especially, of King’s Quest VI. I found it beautiful and fun to play. I, too, like many other fans, would like to see how this story unfolds!” – Roberta Williams (King’s Quest Series Creator)

“We are amazed that your group has done this!” – Ken Williams (Founder of Sierra On-Line)

“It’s the detail in the writing that is most impressive (….) And extraordinarily for such a project, it’s all voice acted. And even more extraordinarily, it’s voiced extremely well (…) That there are such impressive cutscenes, huge amounts of dialogue, and piles of love poured in, is a remarkable achievement. The team deserve enormous congratulations.” – Rock Paper Shotgun

“The world looks better than what Telltale has done for Sam and Max. The script is professionally written, and the voice-acting professional and crisp — even the narrator is brought to life by a new female voice and some of the jokes, while contrived, are at least somewhat funny feeding off nostalgia of old King’s Quest games (…) The Silver Lining is worth every minute of your time.” – Asian Girl Gamer

“”All in all, the worth of The Silver Lining is tremendous despite its shortcomings. Its nostalgic and sentimental value is first on the list, along with its testament to the ability of fans to resurrect what they truly love. The symbolic meaning is there as well, since this game will always serve as a reminder of how gamers can stand up to major publishers and emerge victorious. The game’s own merit is not to be dismissed either, especially considering that it was made by people with no previous development experience. Finally, the return on your investment is overwhelming, since TSL costs exactly zero dollars and zero cents. Go and download it right now.” – The Adrenaline Vault

“Once you start playing, it will not take long for nostalgia to set in. The developers did not get the license to use the King’s Quest name, but apart from that, this is a true sequel to the classics in every sense (…) If you like adventure games, you should go get this game right now.” – ClassicGameRoom

“It’s all quite playable for fans of the genre, and quite frankly it’s better than some fully professionally produced PC adventure games I’ve played recently.” – Wired

“If you are a fan of King’s Quest, this fan-created continuation will not let you down. Aimed at King’s Quest connoisseurs, if you will, this game includes nice references to the story line that it follows. It also is fun in the nostalgic jokes that it jabs at you, the player, and even at Graham, the hero.” – Impulse Gamer

“To King’s Quest fans, or even those curious about the series to whatever extent, this ’teaser episode’ shows a lot of promise. It’s clear that the developers have all of the framework for a good King’s Quest game, and it’s equally clear that this is a labor of love. If you go in with realistic expectations, knowing that this episode is meant to build interest for the rest of the set and get players introduced to the story, then you’ll probably be quite happy after you check this out. The potential is there, so here’s hoping the rest of The Silver Lining builds on an excellent start!” – Gamers Daily News

“The cutscenes are well-done from a directorial standpoint: the camera is always artfully placed, and some of the imagery does a lot with a little bit of processing power. (…) The compositions are all original, and we hope the musicians responsible for them get paying work as a result of the great job they did here. (…) The Silver Lining could be a real contribution to retro adventure gaming. Episode 1 is far from a masterpiece, but it could be the prelude to one. And as far as price goes, you can’t beat free.” -CheatsCC

“Everything seemed so familiar, but strangely different. That is due in part to everything being rendered in 3D. The creators took great pains to plan their shots and camera movements in cut scenes, which you’ll see a lot of in this chapter.” — Just Adventure

“The game is driven by a strong narrative (…) It’s not perfect by any means…but it’s a free game made by fans and it’s a damn good effort. You can hear the love that’s gone into it as the narrator describes things and makes her little asides. ” ReadyUp

“It’s definitely worth a look for anyone with fond memories of classic graphic adventures. When you first start up the game, you’re likely to be surprised by how great the game looks and sounds, given its “fan project” history. ” – Gamers With Casts

“The graphics are very good, bringing King’s Quest into the 3D world while somehow keeping the essential atmosphere of the original games. Some of the animation is quite jerky but otherwise it’s very impressive visually. The music is very good, voice-acting too is good quality. I’m not entirely convinced that having descriptions narrated instead of shown as text is a great idea, but both the characters’ dialogue and cheesy jokes in the narration are done in true King’s Quest style.” – Captain D

“The Great: After all these years, it’s fantastic to have a new King’s Quest. The good:You can do anything with the proper effort. Major credit must go out to the developers, Phoenix Online, because they’ve proven that the impossible is possible with enough determination. Congratulations guys; you have accomplished your dream.” – Project C.O.E.

“The game is highly cinematic and the opening sequence sets the stage for the quest on which you are about to embark. The cinematics are done well and draw you into the story.” – Family Friendly Gaming

“It’s pretty, it’s free, and it has a ton of promise. Why look a gift horse in the mouth? Give it a try, if only to be wowed by just how dedicated and talented these fans/developers are.” – GamesRadar

“It is a good first step and a positive move forward for a long dead series.” – Colony of Gamers