Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego is the first game in what was to become a hugely popular edutainment franchise, spinning off into television series, a Netflix imprint and even a possible movie. Yet it all started with a small DOS release aimed mostly at public school teachers in the US. Carmen Sandiego Days became hugely popular, and children soon began asking their parents for home copies of the game. A whole generation grew up learning about geography by following VILE henchmen across the world, memorising flags, landmarks and bits of cultures. The game even came with an encyclopaedia as copy protection.

The player starts off in ACME Detective Agency headquarters as a Rookie Detective. They must then solve cases to earn promotions, and finally catch the head of the gang, Carmen Sandiego herself. Each case starts with the player flying to an exotic locale, where a gang member has stolen a priceless treasure from the locals. They must track the thief down via a series of plane trips to their hideout and arrest them.

In the process the player gathers points of information to submit to Interpol to get a warrant, without which the case can’t proceed. Once the player has been promoted all the way to the final case, and has caught Carmen, he or she goes into the Hall of Fame as an example to all the other hard working detectives.

TRIVIA

REMAKE

WALKTHROUGH

DOCUMENTS

• This game created the Carmen Sandiego character which spawned many more computer games as well as TV shows, books and even board games.
• Later titles in the series included USA, Time, America’s Past, Europe, Space, and Junior Detective.
• This game received several updated releases over the years including the Deluxe version.

Deluxe release (1992)

In 1992 the game was re-released with much improved graphics, sounds and music. Check out this game here.

• Guide (copyright The Whip)

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Longplay – Copyright Old Classic Retro Gaming