Classic DOS Series

Series: 1984 - 1998
Wikipedia: King's Quest
Listal: King's Quest series

This very popular series that started the whole 'adventure game' phenomenon in early DOS gaming. It was designed by famed programmer Roberta Williams, co-founder of Sierra. The classic King's Quest was very primitive, but was later remade to EGA graphics and once again to VGA 256 colors (unofficially). Versions I through to VI were most similar, while VII made an attempt to go after the younger audiences with Disney-like graphics. With adventure games dying off, the last King's Quest was an attempt to get the series migrated into a 3D action-adventure RPG style similar to Elder Scrolls series, but it failed, putting an end to one of the longest-running series of games in PC history. In 2002, a team of fans decided to make a sequel called 'King's Quest IX' but where served with a 'cease and desist' letter from Vivendi in 2005, just a few months shy of their release. An agreement was finally reached where the group could continue their game but without any association with the name 'King's Quest'. The fan-made game will be part of a trilogy called 'The Silver Lining' and is close to completion.

More info on 'The Silver Lining' at their website.

Series: 1986 - 1995
Wikipedia: Space Quest
Listal: Space Quest series

A very popular sci-fi adventure series from Sierra went thru six different versions before it faded off to space. What made this series so popular was it's milk-out-of-your-nose level of humor found thru each game, as well as hundreds of easy ways for our janitor hero to die. If you're a fan of sci-fi movies, you'll really appreciate all the parodies throughout the series. Sierra tried to revive the series with 'Space Quest VII: Return to Roman Numerals' - a pun at the sixth game using '6' rather than a roman numeral as the other games in the series. But due to poor sales of 'Grim Fandago' at LucasArts, Sierra worried a comic adventure game was no longer viable, and when Vivendi bought out Sierra, the seventh installment was canceled. Another attempt at SQ7 was attempted in 2002 with a completely different plot and game style, with an Xbox-only version, but that was also canceled after a year and a half of development.

Series: 1987 - 1995
Wikipedia: Police Quest
Listal: Police Quest series

This police-themed adventure series from Sierra was designed by former cop Jim Walls and was praised for its story line and puzzles featuring proper police procedures. For many, this popular series died off after Police Quest 3 when Jim Walls left Sierra for unknown reasons and Daryl F. Gates took over the game series. Police Quest IV and and its sequel, Police Quest: SWAT, were failed experiments made during the short-lived boom of mid 90s when 'interactive multimedia' was the fad in gaming. Sierra however spun-off to series into a tactical shooter which became the successful SWAT series, although there is nothing in common between the original Police Quest and the current SWAT games short of the 'police' theme.

Series: 1987 - 1996, 2004 - present
Wikipedia: Leisure Suite Larry
Listal: Leisure Suit Larry series

This recently-reborn series had its roots in classic DOS adventure gaming, with the hilarious in 'Land of Lounge Lizards'. This adult-theme adventure series was created by Al Lowe, who also was the lead programmer for Police Quest I and King's Quest III. After the first three very popular games, Al Lowe told press there would never be a 4th. So a few years later, he released Leisure Suite Larry 5 instead. Beginning with 5 as well, Larry took on a lot more cartoonish and shorter appearance which he still carries to this day.

Series: 1989 - 1998
Wikipedia: Quest for Glory
Listal: Quest for Glory series

Originally called Hero's Quest, Sierra failed to trademark the name and when the board game HeroQuest put out an video game, Sierra was forced to rename the series, even reprints of the original game, as 'Quest for Glory'. The series was created by husband-wife team of Cory and Lori Ann Cole, and took on a hybrid adventure/RPG style of gameplay. It was originally meant to be a tetralogy with each of the 4 games taking on a different them, such as earth/water/fire/wind as well as a different mythology per game. But when writing for the 3rd part was conceptualized, the Coles decided they needed one more intermediate stage so the character can properly develop more skills before going thru 'Shadows of Darkness', so the 3rd game became an African-themed 'Wages of War' and the series became a 5-game set.