1949-2023
Game designer Mike Berlyn, known for his work on theBubsygames and others likeZork, died earlier this week at age 73.
Digital Eclipse president Mike Mika shared the sad news viaTwitter:
Shattered to hear that game designer, programmer and writer Mike Berlyn has passed away. Suspended, Cutthroats, Infidel (Infocom) as well as games like Bubsy, and Busy 3D. Oo-topos, Tass Times in Tonetown, and many more games. RIP.pic.twitter.com/vAIJlQPe4D
— Mike Mika (@MikeJMika)June 02, 2025
While Mike Berlyn isbest known fordesigning 1993 platformerBubsy: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kindand the maligned 1996 titled,Bubsy 3D, I feel that those gamescarry a negative connotationand overshadow what was a fruitful career. He should, perhaps, be better known for the swaths of interactive fiction he created, including 1983’sSuspendedand 1997’sZork: The Undiscovered Underground.
Mike co-founded Eidetic Studios with Mark Blank (then known as Blank, Berlyn, and Co) but decided to exit the video game industry entirely during the creation of 1999’sSyphon Filter. At the time, heexpressed frustrationwith those at the top of the industry. He always seemed to be someone who stuck to his guns, and that’s commendable.
He will be remembered for the incredible work he did in the early days of the industry, and we at Destructoid offer our sincere condolences to his friends and family.
