Denis Through the Drinking Glass

Denis Through the Drinking Glass is a satirical text adventure game in which players control Denis Thatcher, husband of then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, as he attempts to escape 10 Downing Street to reach the Gravedigger's Arms pub. The game parodies British political life, incorporating references to contemporary figures and events.

Players navigate through various locations by entering verb-noun commands, such as "GO NORTH" or "TAKE GIN." The game's descriptions are written in rhymed verse, providing humorous commentary on the settings and situations encountered. A unique gameplay mechanic requires Denis to consume alcohol at regular intervals; failure to do so results in game over. The game also features mock newspaper headlines that comment on the player's actions, adding to the satirical tone.

Notably, Denis Through the Drinking Glass was the first commercially released game created using The Quill, a popular adventure game development system. The BBC Micro version was adapted from the original ZX Spectrum release and includes both a BASIC version and a faster machine code version developed by Ian Bishrey. The game's distinctive style and political satire have made it a memorable title among early text adventures.