Die Kathedrale
German interactive fiction with time-travel puzzles and historical revenge plot.
Die Kathedrale (English: *The Cathedral*) is a German interactive fiction game released in 1991 for Amiga and MS-DOS. It was developed by Weltenschmiede and published by Software 2000. The game is the second in a trilogy of time-travel text adventures, following *Das Stundenglas* (1990) and preceding *Hexuma* (1992). Each game in the trilogy has its own setting, protagonist, and goal, with no overarching plot connecting them, so they can be played independently. The game was inspired by St. Paul's Church in Munich, Germany. In 1993, writer Harald Evers adapted the game into a novel titled *Die Kathedrale: Das Geheimnis einer Rache* (English: *The Cathedral: The Secret of Revenge*).
**Plot** The protagonist tours St. Pauls Kathedrale in the fictional town of Schönau during its 850th anniversary, which also marks the cathedral’s 666th anniversary. There, they meet former classmate Dani, also visiting. After visiting hours end, the two are locked inside. Exploring the cathedral, they find 15th-century letters from Bernardo da Molina, assistant to architect Victor Paz. The letters reveal that Paz hid fifteen deadly traps in the cathedral to take revenge on the Catholic Church, specifically against Bishop Sebastian of Altenburg, who had a relative of Paz killed during the Inquisition. It is later revealed that Paz is the half-brother of Jan Hus, a historical figure burned at the stake for heresy. The protagonist must travel to three different years—1992, 1881, and 1437—and disarm five traps in each era. If all fifteen traps are not disarmed within 56 in-game hours, a demon is summoned and kills the protagonist as part of Paz’s revenge.
**Gameplay** The game features 120 images of locations that accompany the text. Backgrounds can be interacted with in a point-and-click style, while object interactions use text commands. A grid of icons for common commands (like climbing stairs or picking up items) can also be clicked. The time limit is 56 in-game hours; after that, a demon appears and kills the player, ending the game. There are 150 rooms and over 300 pages of text. Dani, the protagonist’s friend, can sometimes provide puzzle input or solve them outright, and she asks questions to guide the player’s thinking.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Die Kathedrale
- Platforms
- Amiga, MS-DOS
- Released
- August 1991
- Developer
- Weltenschmiede
- Writer
- Harald Evers
- Programmer
- Andreas Niedermeier
- Artist
- Harald Evers / Werner Frankowsky (uncredited)
- Publisher
- Software 2000
- Genre
- Interactive fiction
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Die Kathedrale follows a protagonist touring St. Pauls Kathedrale in the fictional town of Schönau during its 850th anniversary and the cathedral's 666th anniversary. The protagonist and their former classmate Dani become locked inside after hours and discover letters from Bernardo da Molina, assistant to architect Victor Paz, revealing that Paz hid fifteen deadly traps to enact revenge on the Catholic Church and specifically Bishop Sebastian of Altenburg. The player must travel to three different years—1992, 1881, and 1437—and disarm five traps in each era within a 56-hour time limit, or a demon is summoned and kills them.
Reader's Guide
Die Kathedrale was developed by Weltenschmiede and published by Software 2000 in 1991 for Amiga and MS-DOS. It features 120 graphical locations, 150 rooms, and over 300 pages of text, with a hybrid interface combining point-and-click backgrounds and text commands. A grid of icons for common actions (e.g., ascending stairs, picking up items) supplements text input. The game includes a companion character, Dani, who can provide puzzle hints or solve puzzles, and key phrases in dialogue can be clicked for further information. Die Kathedrale was bundled with feelies—a poster, blueprints, a brochure, and 15th-century letters—which served as copy protection. A hint book was available via mail order. The game was only released in German and received positive reviews in German gaming magazines, with Amiga Joker scoring it 87% and PC Joker 86%, both calling it the best German text adventure so far. Reviewers praised its intuitive text input, atmospheric graphics, and immersive feelies, though noted the absence of music beyond the title screen. Die Kathedrale was adapted into a novel in 1993 by its writer Harald Evers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Die Kathedrale?
Die Kathedrale is a 1991 German text adventure that blends interactive fiction with graphical elements and time-travel puzzles set against a historical backdrop. It was crafted by the studio Weltenschmiede and distributed by Software 2000.
What platforms was Die Kathedrale released on?
The title launched exclusively for the Amiga and MS-DOS in 1991. No native ports to modern operating systems exist, so playing it today typically requires emulation.
Do I need to play Das Stundenglas before Die Kathedrale?
No. Although Die Kathedrale sits as the second entry in a trilogy alongside Das Stundenglas and Hexuma, each game features a distinct protagonist, setting, and objective. There is no shared narrative thread, so the titles can be experienced in any order.
What real-world location inspired Die Kathedrale's setting?
The game's architecture and atmosphere are modeled on St. Paul's Church in Munich, Germany. That historical site anchors the story's time-travel mechanics and revenge-driven plot.
Who wrote Die Kathedrale and did it become a book?
Harald Evers authored the game's narrative for Weltenschmiede. In 1993 he expanded that same story into a standalone novel adaptation, broadening the reach of the original 1991 release.
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