Phantasmagoria (PC) Playthrough

A playthrough of Sierra On-line's 1995 horror FMV adventure game for PC, Phantasmagoria.

3:09 Chapter 1
1:06:18 Chapter 2
1:46:41 Chapter 3
2:28:46 Chapter 4
3:07:37 Chapter 5
3:49:06 Chapter 6
4:28:36 Chapter 7
4:37:22 Chapter 7 Finale
4:55:28 Chapter 7 Finale, extended route
5:22:58 Sierra Windows installer, Sierra game trailers, and a "Making of" promo

Please note that the game is being played in the uncensored mode, and though it's nothing worse than an R-rated horror movie, there are a few graphic bits if you're sensitive to that kind of thing.

Phantasmagoria was one of the first games I ever uploaded when I started the channel back in 2013, and with Halloween coming up, I thought it could use an update. The resolution and bitrate of the video is better this time, the screen tearing is (mostly) gone, the music is being played back with a (still faithful to 1995) Sound Blaster AWE32 instead of an FM-based Sound Blaster 16, and I show pretty much everything there is to see in the game this time. I didn't use a modern updated installer, either. Since I'm using the game CDs, you'll see all of the original disc-swap prompts.

This seven CD behemoth of a game made a huge splash in its time. It was designed by Roberta Williams, the creator of the King's Quest series, its cutting-edge tech was backed by an enormous budget (appx. $6 million in 1995), and it ended up becoming the best-selling game Sierra had ever released up to that point.

Perhaps most important of all was that it was aimed at mature audiences at a time when such a thing was virtually unheard of in the mainstream gaming market, though it's fairly tame by modern standards. It ignited a firestorm of controversy in the media that led to record-breaking sales. Several retailers refused to carry the game, and it was outright banned by the Australian government.

The reviews were mixed at the time, but time has been kind to the perception of Phantasmagoria, and it's still regarded as a major PC classic. It's certainly one of my favorites.

You can also check out my video of the Japan-only

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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.

[TheDustcloud]

Thanks for this... played when I was 17, in 1996. Didn't see the ending until tonight, at 45 yeas old. Mission accomplished.

[NintendoComplete]

Phantasmagoria was one of the first games I ever uploaded when I started this channel, and an update was long overdue. Hope you enjoy the playthrough of this fantastic game!

[dreamca]

I played the hell out of this as a kid. I was more fascinated by the CD technology then the story itself. A game that was 7 disks in size was wildly fascinating to me.

[rjcupid]

This was such an amazing time in PC gaming. Every time I see this game it also reminds me of Warcraft II, Quake, Duke Nukem 3D, Red Alert and all of the incredible games we played at that time. Some of my favourite memories.

[googelle]

What a new experience it was when this came out. I thought 7th Guest was creepy. The painting that gradually became more completed throughout the game was one of the most unsettling things I had ever seen.

[spoonshiro]

Don will forever be the campiest villain in gaming. And I love him for it.

[PeekaPeep]

My goodness, some of the most truly DISTURBING scenes in VG history came from this very game right here 😱! And to think it all originated from the mind of the same woman that gave us that oh-so-beloved King's Quest series (thanks for the unexpected nightmare fuel back during my adolescent days, Roberta 😅👏)...

[lucyferratto]

Point and Click games era! 🤟 Phantasmagoria was my first PC game ❤! 2023 I still have the CDs, the booklet, and the box's snip that had the memorable words "I feel its presence, the icy fingers upon my throat. I hear its eerie sounds, unsettling my every thought. I try in vain to slumber, my reveries gripped by violent terror. My only salvation, the shock of awakening. Something is very, very wrong here." ❤

[merlinthegray]

This started slow but it's actually kind of a compelling story for one of these point and clicks. The live action characters really help given the era technology.

[mistersurrealist]

I'm friends with the actor who plays Don in this game (David Homb).
He has recently released an interesting book of poetry, based on his character from Phantasmagoria.

[serlingband]

One of the best games from the 90's ❤

[ygmogm]

I remember back in 1995 when this game came out. I couldn’t stop playing. It was magical. The graphics and the CDs. Loved it. I used the name Zoltan in all chat rooms for a while afterwards. I was 17 and sitting in a London appartment with freezing temp outside and me getting thrilled by Zoltan escapades and Adrienne s awesome beauty.

[pureo_nikku]

Cool timing for this — the actor for Adrienne and Curtis (Phantas2) played the game together for the first time a few months ago on his channel.

And good to have more people check this out during spooky season 🎃

[WalterRexAndSofie]

This actually brought back that feeling of...MAGIC when I first saw "Phantasmagoria" and "The 7th Guest" and other games with this format. Just spectacular. Thank you so much!

[velvetpilot]

It was your original long play that made me really start watching these videos. It's also the reason I got the Saturn version and eventually the GoG version. Although I was disappointed to see the graphics weren't updated.

They could really use some tender love and care.

Thank you for doing these.

[TheRiockman]

Thank you for uploading the upscaled version!

Whoa, this sure is a real slow burn experience. It feels like almost nothing happened for 2/3 part of the story itself, but I'm still intrigued somehow lol

Too bad Harriet and Cyrus died off-screen, I kinda hoped they ran away safely.

Also I wish there was more interactions with the people in the village, or maybe more inclusion of them in the story, and they're not there just for giving us some hint about the mansion.

[green-]

This game is actually underrated I really enjoyed it myself

[Pamven]

I remember watching your old playthrough! Glad for this new recording 😃

[jav]

I played this as a kid, I got stuck in the guillotine chair and got frustrated, never picked it up again. This playthrough gave me closure like 30 years in the making LOL.

[MegaMan]

The Most Epic and Sinister Horror Game ever and this is my first time seeing it as it is your first playthrough of the channel for this game!

Thanks for Bringing this up for this time of Halloween Month!