# The Pawn by Magnetic Scrolls — Interactive Fiction > Remastered 1985 text-based adventure game with modern mobile features. (iPhone/iPad app by Voidware.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-pawn-by-magnetic-scrolls/id1265982535 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Voidware](https://appshunter.io/developer/484086711) - Category: Games, Adventure, Puzzle - Price: $1.99 - Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 10 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 11.0 · 54 MB - Released: 2017-08-31 - Data updated: 2026-08-15 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-pawn-by-magnetic-scrolls/id1265982535/reviews.md ## What is The Pawn by Magnetic Scrolls? The Pawn is a text based adventure game originally released by Magnetic Scrolls in 1985 to wide acclaim. Set in the mythical world of Kerovnia, it is an amusing and complex tale. You, the player, are there by total accident. The adventurer is meant to rescue his Princess, not you. Can you escape, back to your own world? If so, not easily and certainly not without leaving an indelible mark on the history of Kerovina and its somewhat unusual inhabitants. Magnetic Scrolls was a British video game developer active between 1984 and 1990. A pioneer of audio-visually elaborate text adventure games, it was one of the two largest and most acclaimed interactive fiction developers of the 1980s. The original game has been remastered and improved by Stand Games (with permission) and adapted for mobile and modern PCs. No need to type anymore! (but you can if you want). Features include: * Touch-Text Commands Tap "links" in the text to perform commands without typing. * Sidebar Inventory All your things are conveniently listed in a sidebar. Drag and drop to use them or to apply them to things in the main text. * Dynamic Map No need to draw out the map, we do it for you. As you explore the game, the map page will expand. Tap any previous room on the map to "fast-goto" that location. * Compass Rose Quickly navigate with a handy compass gadget. It shows the available exits at all times, simply tap to move. The new facilities make the original game fun and entertaining to play on modern mobiles. No more dead ends; the remaster has multi-level undo, save/load game and automatic undo from dying! There's also the original artwork and new music score. See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pawn http://ifdb.tads.org/viewgame?id=a3ege93gjofe5q0m http://msmemorial.if-legends.org/games.htm/pawn.php ## Key features - Touch-Text Commands - Sidebar Inventory - Dynamic Map with Fast-Goto - Compass Rose Navigation - Multi-level Undo - Save/Load Game - Original Artwork and New Music ## Chart rankings - #192 in Top Paid · Puzzle (US App Store) ## Recent user reviews (10 of 10) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-pawn-by-magnetic-scrolls/id1265982535/reviews.md ### 5/5 — A classic game from a memorable era *2025-10-19* I remember playing this game in the 80’s on the C64. Back then there was no walk-throughs so I always regretted not finishing it back then. Fast forward and with a little help, I’ve managed to explore the game further and seeing the graphics is a lovely trip down memory lane. The people behind this have brought 80’s nostalgia to live. Thank you. Highly recommended! ### 1/5 — Broke it for me *2021-12-29* Unfortunately, the game does not work with VoiceOver. You took the one game genre that's blind-accessible from the get-go and made it inaccessible. 5 stars if this can be addressed. ### 5/5 — Another Classic! *2020-11-16* I originally played this on my Apple II+/IIe. Lovingly updated! ### 1/5 — No VoiceOver Support *2020-01-18* Very unfortunately, but perhaps unsurprisingly, these Magnetic Scrolls games have no support for the iOS built-in screen reader, VoiceOver. The games are thus unplayable by blind players. Given that the primary interface remains essentially textual, the original games have been playable in Magnetic on Windows or glkmagnetic in macOS. Please either make the remakes fully playable or else allow the game files to be exported for use by the other interpreter programs. ### 5/5 — Great to see Magnetic Scrolls games back with excellent remastering. *2018-03-18* I've just written a separate review for Strand Games's other Magnetic Scrolls title 'The Guild of Thieves'. Unlike that game, I never played The Pawn when it originally came out (I was a bit too young at the time) so I am really looking forward to playing it now. Like all Magnetic Scrolls adventure games it will have wonderful puzzles, great writing, a very enjoyable atmospheric world, and lots of humour. I'm very pleased that Strand Games are bringing back these classic Magnetic Scrolls games and remastering them so we can now play them on tablets and mobile phones. The remastering has added great playing benefits like auto-mapping and easy text entry functions. Also the graphics look better than ever and the sound is great too. I would recommend Magnetic Scrolls games to anyone who likes a good story with logical puzzles that really make you think, they are good value for money as they include a lot of gameplay. I am looking forward to further Strand Games releases, I believe the next one is 'Jinxter'. ### 5/5 — Finally someone has ported this classic *2018-02-27* I noticed that Guild of Thieves is here too. Please do the rest: Corruption, Fish, Myth, Jinxter, Wonderland ### 5/5 — Fantastic! *2018-02-24* Finally! The old Magnetic Scrolls masterpiece on iPad, with fantastic enhanced user interface. Thank you so much. And please give us more of these old Magnetic Scrolls gems... ### 5/5 — Sehr gute Umsetzung eines Klassikers *2017-10-26* Top Umsetzung eines meiner Lieblingsgames... Warte jetzt auf The Guide of Thieves.... sehr empfehlenswert für die Fans von guten Adventure Games. Mir hat das Nachspielen viel Spaß gemacht. ### 5/5 — More a request list than a review *2017-10-13* Loved this game when it was first released and it’s good to see fresh life breathed into it. All I need to make a perfect world are Guild of Thieves, Wonderland, Fish and the Red Moon trilogy. ### 5/5 — Great to see The Pawn *2017-09-03* I've regularly searched the App Store for magnetic scrolls adventure games so great to see this here. A classic and well worth the price. The Pawn was a good game back in the day and, while games are different these days, you'll find this very playable once into the mode of playing. ## Frequently asked questions about The Pawn by Magnetic Scrolls ### What is The Pawn? The Pawn is a remastered version of a classic 1985 text-based adventure game. It features a complex story set in the mythical world of Kerovnia, adapted for modern mobile devices with new controls and features. ### Does The Pawn have ads? No, The Pawn does not contain advertisements. It is a premium game that you purchase outright. ### What are the new features in The Pawn remaster? The remaster includes touch-text commands, a sidebar inventory, a dynamic map with fast travel, a compass rose for navigation, multi-level undo, save/load functionality, and automatic undo from dying. ### Can I play The Pawn offline? Yes, The Pawn is a single-player game that can be played offline once downloaded, as it does not require an internet connection for gameplay. ### What devices is The Pawn available on? The Pawn is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed for iOS devices. ### How much does The Pawn cost? The Pawn is a paid application, available for $1.99. This one-time purchase grants you access to the full game. ### Is The Pawn suitable for children? The Pawn has an age rating of 4+, indicating it is suitable for younger players. The game's content is generally appropriate for a wide audience. ### How often is The Pawn updated? The latest version of The Pawn was released on November 18, 2019. Updates are not frequent, but the game is stable and well-established. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 1.3.3.9 — 2019-11-18 Remastered from The Pawn original source code Ambient sounds with new adjustable volume Item icons Option to put text below graphics Savegame import fixed Performance improvements ### 1.0.7.6 — 2017-09-25 * NEW! Share save games to iTunes. * Improved map clarity. * Fixed game bugs and crashes. ### 1.0.4.4 — 2017-08-31 No release notes. ## Apps similar to The Pawn by Magnetic Scrolls | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Lowlander II: Lowerlander](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lowlander-ii-lowerlander/id1211784030) | 4.9 (89) | $2.99 | Games | | [The Quest - Hero of Lukomorye2](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-quest-hero-of-lukomorye2/id1294087761) | 5.0 (11) | $2.99 | Games | | [The Quest - Hero of Lukomorye](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-quest-hero-of-lukomorye/id1248777537) | 5.0 (7) | $2.99 | Games | | [Saboteur II: Avenging Angel](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/saboteur-ii-avenging-angel/id1590436557) | — | $4.99 | Games | | [The Quest - Hero of Lukomorye3](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-quest-hero-of-lukomorye3/id1407418585) | 5.0 (5) | $2.99 | Games | | [Wumpus Cave](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wumpus-cave/id6475701023) | 4.8 (6) | Free | Games | ## More apps by Voidware - [The Guild of Thieves](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-guild-of-thieves/id1341785644) - [Jinxter by Magnetic Scrolls](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jinxter-by-magnetic-scrolls/id1440654170) All apps by Voidware: https://appshunter.io/developer/484086711 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-15.*