The Dig

A group of scientists discovers an asteroid that is on its way to a collision with the Earth. Is there any way to prevent the disaster? Boston Low, a NASA veteran, is sent to command a space expedition on the asteroid. Accompanied by the journalist Maggie Robbins and the archaeologist Brink, Boston investigates the asteroid and finds a strange structure that undoubtedly belongs to an alien civilization. During the course of investigations, the team finds itself on a seemingly deserted planet. They have no knowledge of the planet and no possibility of going back. Will they ever discover the secret of this strange world and find a way to get home?

The Dig is a point-and-click adventure game with a simple one-cursor interface. Most of the puzzles are inventory-based, tending to be somewhat more complex than in most preceding LucasArts' adventure games. There are also a few logic-based puzzles, which require understanding and manipulation of alien technology and life forms on the planet. Traditional branching dialogue system is utilized; however, the game focuses more on puzzle-solving than on conversations to advance the plot.

The game's story is influenced by science fiction literature and movies, and strives to be realistic, departing from the comedy style of LucasArts' adventures. Despite that, humorous elements are present in some of the dialogues and text descriptions. The game utilizes hand-drawn graphics with a few pre-rendered 3D images.

Added March 8, 2020
Published By LucasArts
Developed By LucasArts
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Header Image (Windows) from Steam
IGDB Cover from igdb.com
Title screen (DOS) from mobygames.com
Low, Brink and Robbins in the opening sequence (DOS) from mobygames.com
Boston can use this aptly named "PenUltimate" to communicate with his friends (DOS) from mobygames.com
Conversation topics are displayed as the three astronauts start a seemingly mundane scientific task... (DOS) from mobygames.com
Some of these items are going to be indispensable... (DOS) from mobygames.com
One of the pre-rendered animations early in the game. What is happening?.. (DOS) from mobygames.com
A cutscene showing the flight towards the mysterious planet (DOS) from mobygames.com
The trio's arrival on Cocytus (DOS) from mobygames.com
One of the first locations you'll explore on the planet surface. Looks like it's just a wreck... (DOS) from mobygames.com
One of the first puzzles involves fixing a misplaced lens to restore energy to the Nexus, the game's hub area (DOS) from mobygames.com
The team encounters their first ghost (DOS) from mobygames.com
Maggie Robbins goes off to explore on her own after a tragic accident happens. This location is the Nexus, the game's main hub (DOS) from mobygames.com
Bird's eye view of a central location - you'll visit it fairly early in the game, but its secret will remain unsolved for a very long time... (DOS) from mobygames.com
One of the many strange devices Low deals with in a puzzle early in the game (DOS) from mobygames.com
All aboard! Next stop, the first spire! (DOS) from mobygames.com
Oh, what a cute creature... (DOS) from mobygames.com
A magnificent tram ride! Most major areas ("spires") in this game are connected by this exotic underwater sphere-like vehicle (DOS) from mobygames.com
The famous "bones puzzle" - possibly the hardest in the game. Don't be ashamed if you'll need a walkthrough for this one!.. (DOS) from mobygames.com
Detail of a tablet found in the museum (DOS) from mobygames.com
You'll have to study and match those shapes found on various colored rods a lot. And believe me, this is probably the easiest puzzle in this game (DOS) from mobygames.com
A breathtaking view in the Museum Spire. Purple is a color you'll encounter a lot - it's fittingly mysterious and exotic, indeed (DOS) from mobygames.com
A dialogue with Maggie, who stays in this strange library for much of the game. Yeah, Boston, say something profound... I bet she'll be impressed! (DOS) from mobygames.com
Boston challenges the perception that only Jesus could resurrect the dead. As you'll see, the whole story of the game carries a clear philosophical and even religious message (DOS) from mobygames.com
Underwater journey! Let's see what lies ahead... (DOS) from mobygames.com
Discovered another cavern beneath the Museum Spire. Demonstrating how items are used in the game (just as an example - this is not a puzzle solution!) (DOS) from mobygames.com
Planetarium Tram Station. You are putting away your tusk. Err... that last part sounded a bit strange (DOS) from mobygames.com
Can you even see where Boston is?! Such views impart well the monumental, majestic style of the game (DOS) from mobygames.com
Wee! Riding a wave to get to the other side! I always wanted to do that (DOS) from mobygames.com
You'll have to build several light bridges through such devices. The more of them you find, the harder the corresponding puzzles become (DOS) from mobygames.com
Probably the least exotic location in the game - it almost feels as if we were home... Boston tries to do something with that rod (DOS) from mobygames.com
You'll even need to adjust and align planets in this game! Or are those just images?.. (DOS) from mobygames.com
An example of text feedback when you interact with objects. This is the Command Center, from where trams are controlled (DOS) from mobygames.com
Crystal puzzle - you'll need to "revive" that black crystal (DOS) from mobygames.com
More purple, and more awesome views. You have now discovered the Tomb Sphere (DOS) from mobygames.com
Gorgeous effects in a mysterious ancient tomb (DOS) from mobygames.com
You travel up to the mountains. Your friend Brink is busy doing something... I wonder what that is (DOS) from mobygames.com
More caves, more panels - it can't be denied there is a certain monotony in this game. On the other side, the somewhat "deadly" style is consistent all the way through (DOS) from mobygames.com
The inventory is superimposed on the playing area (DOS) from mobygames.com
To complete our purple collection, how about these beautiful caverns? (DOS) from mobygames.com
The apparition of another ghost (DOS) from mobygames.com
Maggie needs some help here! (DOS) from mobygames.com
Ludger Brink in an awkward position (DOS) from mobygames.com
Brink has lost it (DOS) from mobygames.com
Boston Low and Maggie converse with the alien inventor late in the game (DOS) from mobygames.com
LucasArts logo (Windows) from mobygames.com
Main Title (Windows) from mobygames.com
It all starts as yet another peaceful day at a deep space observatory, and then the sound of alert breaks the silence (Windows) from mobygames.com
Meeting the team of a specially trained people that will go on a mission to try and save the Earth from a collision with an asteroid (Windows) from mobygames.com
The regular F5 key brings in the game's menu (Windows) from mobygames.com
Low uses his communicator to talk to members of his crew that are not in his vicinity (Windows) from mobygames.com
After nuclear explosions made the necessary holes, it's time to explore the belly of the beast (Windows) from mobygames.com
Due to the presence of apparent alien technology, the away team soon finds themselves stranded on an unknown planet and well out of range for any communication with the Earth (Windows) from mobygames.com
First appearance of an alien ghost will trigger many strange ideas in the minds of our heroes (Windows) from mobygames.com
Boston Low, the commander of the team, figuring out some alien devices (Windows) from mobygames.com
When "Open 'o Sesame" doesn't work, it's time for a different approach (Windows) from mobygames.com
You will travel a lot using underwater tram railway until you find a faster across islands (Windows) from mobygames.com
Commander Low is always ready to ponder on situation from an optimistic point of view (Windows) from mobygames.com
Inside an alien museum (Windows) from mobygames.com
Finding Maggie who seemed to end up trapping herself, just a little shy to admit that (Windows) from mobygames.com
Using alien life crystals on Brink will bring someone back to life for sure (Windows) from mobygames.com
When the water is clear out of any monsters, it's good time to check for any underground caverns (Windows) from mobygames.com
Agreeing with Commander Low, this alien place is full of nice views (Windows) from mobygames.com
Stay with the sound of waves, Low, and you'll find your way across (Windows) from mobygames.com
Fixing the lightbridges will provide you with much faster way of traveling across islands (Windows) from mobygames.com
Blue crystal puzzle that once solved will provide the energy for the tram system (Windows) from mobygames.com
This game will require a lot of digging (hm, perhaps hence the title) that many times you'll ask yourself what would happen if you haven't took the shovel with you (Windows) from mobygames.com
Talking to Brink who seems to have lost it ever after the revival session (Windows) from mobygames.com
For a team member who's been awarded with zero credits for ideas, Commander Low seems to be able to solve all of given alien puzzles (Windows) from mobygames.com
Map room, lets you see places by inputting their coordinates on the panel (Windows) from mobygames.com
Boston figuring out the secrets of a hidden tomb (Windows) from mobygames.com
With a forced help of Brink, Boston is pondering the thought of how to save Maggie from the gigantic spider (Windows) from mobygames.com
Sometimes, you can search certain area only after you've been given hints about them, otherwise, they're just another scenery to admire (Windows) from mobygames.com
Maggie might be asking an impossible from Boston, but time will tell (Windows) from mobygames.com
Boston having a bit of a trouble with one of the guard dogs... maybe if lightbridge can be turned off for a moment, hm (Windows) from mobygames.com
Boston Low's PDA has a game. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Maggie Robbins. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Boston Low. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Moving around asteroid. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Nuke explosion on asteroid surface. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Your first puzzle. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Grave digging. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Trying to open door with these weird symbols. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Room with a nice view. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Alien power source. (Windows) from mobygames.com
The shuttle (Windows) from mobygames.com
Reaching the asteroid (Windows) from mobygames.com
Leaving the site before the explosion (Windows) from mobygames.com
Welcome to the new world (Windows) from mobygames.com
Exploring the unknown planet (Windows) from mobygames.com
He died on impact (Windows) from mobygames.com
Tram transport may not be the fastest, but is certainly most beautifully animated (Windows) from mobygames.com
Meeting with an alien (Windows) from mobygames.com
Choices and consequences (Windows) from mobygames.com
Nice to meet you, time to go home now (Windows) from mobygames.com
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Trailer

Year of Release:
1995

Genre(s):
Traditional

Graphic Style:
2D

Camera View:
Third-Person

Control Type:
Point and Click

Setting/Theme:
Sci-Fi

Other Tags:
Speech Subtitles

Available From: