Ringworld Revenge of the Patriarch vs Return to Ringworld
Revenge of the Patriarch came out in 1993 and Return to Ringworld followed in 1994. Here is how the two compare and which one to start with.
In this article
Start with Ringworld: Revenge of the Patriarch, then move on to Return to Ringworld, if you want the story in order. Revenge of the Patriarch is the 1993 DOS adventure game by Tsunami Games [1]. For most readers, it's the right first pick.
Return to Ringworld is its 1994 sequel [1]. Unless you only want the sequel, leave it for after the first game, so you meet the series in the order it was released.
This article compares the two games side by side, looks at whether you need to play them in order, and helps you pick the one that fits your evening. Read on for the details of each game.
How do the two games compare side by side?
The main difference is timing. Ringworld: Revenge of the Patriarch came out in 1993, and Return to Ringworld followed in 1994 as its sequel [1]. Both games are set in Known Space, so the real question is which one to start with.
The key differences
Criterion | Revenge of the Patriarch | Return to Ringworld |
|---|---|---|
Series position | First game | Sequel |
Setting | Known Space adventure | Known Space adventure |
The table gives you the quick view when you are comparing store pages or download listings.
The first game was made for DOS, which is the platform listed for it [1]. That detail matters if you are checking whether an older title will run on your system, because the platform tells you what the game was built to run on.
Both games are adventure games set in Known Space [2]. The sequel is based on Larry Niven's Known Space novels, so if you have read those books, the setting will feel familiar [3]. If you have not, you do not need to know the novels to follow either game.
A helpful way to think about it is a book and its sequel on a shelf. The first book introduces the world, and the second one builds on it.
They share the same Known Space setting and adventure format. The table above covers the comparison at a glance, so you can see the differences without digging through the details.
Do you have to play them in order?
You don't have to play them in order, but starting with Revenge of the Patriarch is the easiest way to follow the story. Return to Ringworld is the direct sequel, so the first game gives you the setup the second one builds on. To go further, see How to Play Ringworld.
What the first game sets up
In Revenge of the Patriarch, you travel to the Ringworld to uncover information that could stop the Kzinti from starting another war [4]. That mission introduces the place and the stakes before the sequel begins.
Think of it like watching the first season of a show before the second. You'll recognize the characters and understand why they're on the Ringworld when the second game opens.
How much time passes between them
The sequel doesn't pick up right after the first game. Twenty years have elapsed since the human Louis Wu and the Kzin Speaker-to-Animals returned from the Ringworld [5]. The sequel starts in that later period.
That gap is the reason skipping ahead can confuse you. The characters carry two decades of history you never saw on screen, so you may not know why they act the way they do.
When starting with the sequel makes sense
You can start with Return to Ringworld if you already know the first game's events, perhaps from a friend's recap or from playing it years ago. The sequel was released as a follow-up to the original game [1]. If you're new to the series, though, you'll be walking into the story partway through.
For most new players, the simplest route is to play Revenge of the Patriarch first, finish its story, and then move on to Return to Ringworld. You'll meet the characters in the order their history unfolds, and the sequel will feel like a continuation rather than a puzzle about what came before.
What does each game ask you to do?
Revenge of the Patriarch asks you to travel to the Ringworld and uncover information that could stop a new war [4]. You are an investigator in that story, so your progress depends on finding clues and working out what they mean. Most of your time goes to exploring, talking with people, and following leads.
Return to Ringworld is the next chapter
Return to Ringworld is the second adventure in the same series, and it continues the story [3]. It is also a point-and-click adventure with puzzles, so you move forward by solving problems as you go [3].
The sequel opens with a problem created by the first game. Quinn and Miranda Rees are searched as fugitives by all three major species, so they go to the Ringworld to hide [3]. They need to find evidence that clears their names, but they run into a new plot [3].
That plot is led by U.N. general Carson Teal, who is out to rule the universe by uncovering the Ringworld's secrets [3]. Your job is to stop him, which gives the sequel a clear goal from the start [3].
How the sequel plays differently
The sequel is much larger than the first game. It has hundreds of screens and mazes, and you play as all three characters throughout the game [3]. The story moves between their viewpoints, so you see each part of the plot from a different character's position [3].
In practice, you might spend one stretch on the ship with Miranda and then head out with Quinn and Seeker to explore. Miranda stays on the ship for most of the game, while Quinn and Seeker go off together [3]. Switching characters is a big part of the experience, not a side feature [3].
Where to find puzzle help
Return to Ringworld is a point-and-click puzzle game, so expect to get stuck at some point in it [3]. Detailed solutions live in the separate walkthrough articles in this series. Start with the Revenge of the Patriarch walkthrough for the first game, then use the Return to Ringworld walkthrough once you reach the sequel.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Revenge of the Patriarch if you want the story from the beginning, and pick Return to Ringworld if you already know what happened in the first game.
Start with Revenge of the Patriarch if the story is new to you
If you have never played either game, start here. The first game introduces the characters and the trip to the Ringworld, so you don't need any prior knowledge to follow it. The story is built on Louis Wu, a Human, and Speaker-to-Animals, a Kzin, who returned from the Ringworld [5]. Knowing that from the first game makes the sequel's plot easier to follow.
Go to Return to Ringworld if you already know the first game
If you finished Revenge of the Patriarch years ago and only remember the broad plot, Return to Ringworld is your next step. You can jump in without replaying the opening. For example, if you remember the Kzin and the Ringworld but not the exact details, you'll have enough context to start the sequel.
If you skip the first game entirely, expect to miss setup that the sequel takes for granted. Playing the first game later won't hurt, but it's easier to play in order.
Use the walkthroughs when you get stuck
Both games have puzzles that can stall you, and you don't have to solve them alone. For Revenge of the Patriarch, the walkthrough article in this series covers the main puzzles and story beats in order. For Return to Ringworld, use the Return to Ringworld walkthrough, which goes step by step through its puzzles.
If you're new to point-and-click adventures, the beginner tips article for Revenge of the Patriarch covers exploring, talking to characters, and avoiding dead ends. Read the walkthrough only for the puzzle you're stuck on, so you keep the story spoiler-free for the rest of the game.
So which Ringworld game comes first?
Start with Revenge of the Patriarch. It is a 1993 DOS game, and its sequel, Return to Ringworld, came out in 1994. [1]
That order matters because the sequel builds on the first story. If you jump straight to the sequel, you miss the setup, so the characters and their history won't make sense. Playing in release order keeps the story easy to follow.
When you finish the first game, move on to Return to Ringworld. If you get stuck along the way, the walkthrough articles in this series can help.