The Count

The Count is an adventure game designed by Scott Adams and originally released in 1979. There are versions for numerous computer systems including the TRS-80, TI-99/4A, Commodore 64, Apple II, Atari Home Computers, and many more. It is Adventure #5 in the Scott Adams Adventure series and features a similar interface and text parser as other games in the series.

At the start of The Count, players wake up in Dracula's castle which is located somewhere in Transylvania; who you are and why you are there are unknown. As can be learned from a mob of angry people outside the castle, the goal of the game is to locate Dracula and kill him before becoming the next victim. Players need to explore the castle and solve numerous puzzles in order to both locate Dracula and successfully kill him. There are many ways to die in the game, and it is also possible to get stuck in an unwinnable situation; the game allows progress to be saved, so saving often is advisable. The game takes place over several days time and features a corresponding day-night cycle; certain puzzles in the game can only be solved at certain times, and players need to worry about keeping their inventory of items safely hidden throughout the night.

Like other Scott Adams adventures, The Count features a simple text parser to interact with the game. The game uses a split screen; the top provides a brief description of the current location or situation along with notable items that are visible while the bottom of the screen allows players to enter two word commands consisting of a verb and noun (such as READ SIGN).