Fabulous Wanda and Secret of Life Universe and Everything

Fabulous Wanda and the Secret of Life, the Universe and Everything - the 1989
comedy text adventure for Commodore 64 from Zenobi Software.

Play as Wanda, an eccentric heroine stumbling through absurd dimensions in a
quest for cosmic enlightenment and misplaced accessories.

Core loop
- explore surreal locations by text command
- collect and combine bizarre items
- solve logic and wordplay puzzles to advance scenes

Systems and items
- parser interface - recognizes full-sentence input
- humor-driven puzzles - parodying sci-fi and fantasy tropes
- inventory limit - forces selective carrying and planning

Level design and feel
Classic British text adventure structure with interconnected hubs, unexpected
teleports, and pun-filled descriptions. Tone alternates between satire and
nonsense.

Why it is notable
- cult title from Zenobi’s late-1980s adventure lineup
- known for its Douglas Adams–style humor and meta jokes
- one of few C64 adventures with female protagonist and overt parody tone

Tips
- examine every item; descriptions often hide key clues
- think laterally—solutions are often jokes themselves
- save often before experimenting with odd commands

At a glance
Year - 1989
Developer - Zenobi Software
Design and programming - John Wilson
Publisher - Zenobi Software
Genre - Interactive fiction
Players - 1
Controls - Keyboard