Onion House

About

Onion House is a 1983 adventure game that mashes command-line puzzle solving with real-time urgency. You navigate a crumbling factory crawling with aliens while high-voltage grids tick toward disaster. Your only ally is Papicon, a computer that scans environments but needs constant power to function. Every action eats into a shrinking timer, blending text-based exploration with frantic time management. The factory’s maze-like layout and cryptic puzzles demand precision, missteps trigger instant failure. The game’s hybrid mechanics made it polarizing even in its era. Its original ¥980 price tag (about $7 at release) and cassette tape distribution reflect its niche ambitions. Casual players found it punishing; hardcore fans praised its sharp design. With no modern ports and a 1983 release date, it remains a buried relic for retro enthusiasts. The factory’s collapsing infrastructure and time-sensitive objectives create tension rarely seen in early adventure games.

Storyline

The story centers on the theft of the legendary diamond from Onion Planet, said to be the largest diamond in the world. The jewel has been stolen by the mysterious Phantom Thief Onion, and despite an extensive search by the authorities, its whereabouts remain unknown. Eventually, it is discovered that the thief has hidden the diamond inside the power room of an abandoned factory. The facility has been left unused for a long time and is partially damaged, and to make matters worse, it is now occupied by aliens. High-voltage electricity is still flowing through the walls, making the location extremely dangerous. The player’s mission is to infiltrate the factory, locate the diamond, and escape as quickly as possible. To assist in this task, the player is accompanied by Papicon, a support computer that helps search for the diamond. However, Papicon requires electrical power to operate, which places a strict time limit on the mission. The game begins in one of the factory’s rooms. While Papicon can scan and display information about the immediate surroundings using short-range sensors, its limited memory prevents it from providing detailed information about areas beyond that.