 | |
Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | September 1994 |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington |
Key people | Jeff Vogel |
| Products | Geneforge Avernum |
| Website | spiderwebsoftware.com |
Spiderweb Software is an independent video game developer founded in 1994 by Jeff Vogel in Seattle, Washington. Its primary focus is on creating demoware games for the Mac, Microsoft Windows, Android and the iPad. The games emphasize storytelling and turn-based gameplay and use a retro style of graphics.[1]
Games
editDeveloped games
edit| 1995 | Exile I: Escape from the Pit |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Exile II: Crystal Souls |
| 1997 | Exile III: Ruined World |
| Blades of Exile | |
| 1998 | Nethergate |
| 1999 | |
| 2000 | Avernum |
| Avernum 2 | |
| 2001 | Geneforge |
| 2002 | Avernum 3 |
| 2003 | Geneforge 2 |
| 2004 | Blades of Avernum |
| 2005 | Geneforge 3 |
| Avernum IV | |
| 2006 | Geneforge 4: Rebellion |
| 2007 | Nethergate: Resurrection |
| Avernum V | |
| 2008 | Geneforge 5: Overthrow |
| 2009 | Avernum 6 |
| 2010 | |
| 2011 | Avadon: The Black Fortress |
| Avernum: Escape From the Pit | |
| 2012 | |
| 2013 | Avadon 2: The Corruption |
| 2014 | |
| 2015 | Avernum 2: Crystal Souls |
| 2016 | Avadon 3: The Warborn |
| 2017 | |
| 2018 | Avernum 3: Ruined World |
| 2019 | Queen's Wish: The Conqueror |
| 2020 | |
| 2021 | Geneforge 1 - Mutagen |
| 2022 | Queen's Wish 2: The Tormentor |
| 2023 | |
| 2024 | Geneforge 2 - Infestation |
| 2025 | Avernum 4: Greed and Glory |
Spiderweb Software is most notable for the following RPG video games:
- The Exile trilogy of underground adventures (1995-1997).[2]
- Blades of Exile, a non-canonical continuation featuring a scenario creation kit.
- Nethergate, a fantasy game based upon the Roman occupation of Britain (1998). The game was eventually revamped under the title Nethergate: Resurrection (2007).
- The first Avernum trilogy, which are expanded remakes of the Exile series, using the Nethergate game engine, with several enhancements to the visual design and gameplay (2000-2002).[3]
- Blades of Avernum, a non-canonical continuation featuring a scenario creation kit.
- The five-part Geneforge series, notable for its unique gameplay involving the creation of creatures to assist the player (2001-2008).
- The Second Avernum trilogy, continuing and ultimately finishing the story of Avernum, using a variation of the Geneforge game engine (2005-2009).
- Avadon: The Black Fortress, the first game in a new trilogy (2011). Avadon features a new game setting, interface, and combat system.[4][5]
- Avadon 2: The Corruption. The second game released in the Avadon trilogy (2013).[6]
- Avadon 3: The Warborn. The third game released in the Avadon trilogy (2016).
- Avernum: Escape From the Pit (2011), Avernum 2: Crystal Souls (2015), and Avernum 3: Ruined World (2018), remakes of the first Avernum trilogy, with reworked game mechanics, and new graphics and sound effects.[7][8][9]
- Queen's Wish: The Conqueror, the first game in a new fantasy series (2019). This series focuses on capturing and building fortresses and explores the mechanics and morality of building empires.[10]
- Queen's Wish 2: The Tormentor. The second game released in the Queen's Wish trilogy. It was released on August 24, 2022.
- Geneforge 1 - Mutagen (2021) is a remake of the first Geneforge game.[11] It was released on February 24, 2021.[12]
- Geneforge 2 - Infestation (2024) is a remake of the second Geneforge game.[13] It was released on March 27, 2024.[14]
- Avernum 4: Greed and Glory (2025) is a remake of the first game of the second Avernum trilogy.[15]
Published games
editThe company previously provided distribution services and other support for other shareware developers, Chromite Software (Richard White),[16] Crystal Shard, and Dragon Lore. The games included:
- Galactic Core (developed by Chromite Software).[17][18]
- Lost Souls (developed by Chromite Software).[19]
- Ocean Bound (developed by Chromite Software).[20][21]
- SubTerra (developed by Crystal Shard).
- Homeland: The Stone of Night (developed by Dragon Lore).
In June 2007, Jeff Vogel announced that the company would no longer be supporting games by other developers, and they are no longer available for download through Spiderweb's main site.[22]
Awards
edit- Exile II: Crystal Souls – 1996 "Shareware Game of the Year" (Honorable Mention), Wasson, Gregory (October 1996). "1996 MacUser Shareware Awards". MacUser.
- Exile III: Ruined World – "Shareware Game of the Year", "1998 Shareware Award Winners". Computer Gaming World. October 1998.
- Nethergate – "RPG of the Year" (Honorable Mention), Computer Games Magazine
- Geneforge 4: Rebellion – "Indie RPG of the year" GameBanshee[23]
References
edit- ^ The Bottom Feeder: How Many Games I Sell, Part Two
- ^ Spiderweb Software Older Games
- ^ Avernum Series Main Page
- ^ "Spiderweb Software's homepage". Retrieved March 24, 2010.
- ^ Vogel, Jeff (February 26, 2010). "Avernum 6 For Windows Released". Retrieved March 24, 2010. "I am making a whole new game world, game engine"
- ^ "Spiderweb Software Inc". Retrieved October 30, 2013.
- ^ RPGamer Interview
- ^ PC Gamer Article
- ^ Avernum 3 Press Release
- ^ "VentureBeat Interview"
- ^ Geneforge at Spiderweb Software
- ^ Spiderweb Software forums
- ^ "Geneforge 2 - Infestation". www.spiderwebsoftware.com. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ^ "Geneforge 2 - Infestation on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ^ "Avernum 4: Greed and Glory on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ "Chromite Software". Archived from the original on August 6, 2003. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
- ^ "Inside Mac Games News: Galactic Core Coming Soon". Inside Mac Games. October 19, 2001. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
- ^ Mariann Krizsan. "Galactic Core Home Page". Spiderwebsoftware.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
- ^ Mariann Krizsan. "Lost Souls". Spidweb.com. Archived from the original on 2006-03-29. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
- ^ "Ocean11.hqx". Info-Mac. 1998-10-31. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
- ^ Mariann Krizsan. "Ocean Bound". Spidweb.com. Archived from the original on 2007-12-10. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
- ^ Announcement of end of SubTerra distribution from Spiderweb Software's website
- ^ Inside Mac Games Article
