QBasic Gorillas
Hacker ApprovedThe most recommended of 4 terminal games
Recommended as a fun, nostalgic game that got many people into programming through its source code. Caveat: the wind and round text overlaps buildings.
Recommended as a fun, nostalgic game that got many people into programming through its source code. Caveat: the wind and round text overlaps buildings.
21 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 19
- criticize it
- 2
- approval share
- 90%
Recommended in 5 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: not recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: recommended
- June 2026: recommended
- July 2026: recommended
- August 2026: recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it carries the badge
- 19 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, met.
- 9.5 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 5 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Childhood memories playing at school
“Sneaking into the library computer at school to play and later edit and remix that game was a formative experience for me.”
Comment from 9 May 2026 in “Cartoon Network Flash Games” “i think QBasic Gorillas is the first graphics game i have memory of playing as a child”
Comment from 16 Jul 2026 in “Show HN: QBasic Gorillas (Repeeled)” “was a fun little game you could play in those computers”
Comment from 13 Aug 2026 in “Donkey.bas is 45 Years Old – 131 line of Glory” - Comment from 17 Jul 2026 in “Show HN: QBasic Gorillas (Repeeled)”
- Comment from 14 May 2026 in “Scorched Earth 2000 is back”
Inspired programming through its source code
“Fun times going through the source code without understanding anything”
Comment from 17 Jul 2026 in “Show HN: QBasic Gorillas (Repeeled)” “Opening up the QBasic source code was eye opening for me”
Comment from 16 Jul 2026 in “Show HN: QBasic Gorillas (Repeeled)” “Whoever created that game changed my life immeasurably.”
Comment from 12 Aug 2026 in “Worms: The Future of Yesterday's Worms Today” - Comment from 13 Aug 2026 in “Donkey.bas is 45 Years Old – 131 line of Glory”
- Comment from 21 Jun 2026 in “David Ahl's Basic Computer Games Ported to C”
Fun, time-wasting gameplay
“Great terminal game as was GORILLAS.bas”
Comment from 21 Jun 2026 in “David Ahl's Basic Computer Games Ported to C” “I could clearly waste time on this.”
Comment from 16 Jul 2026 in “Show HN: QBasic Gorillas (Repeeled)” “QBasic Gorillas was poggers”
Comment from 8 May 2026 in “Cartoon Network Flash Games”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Wind and round text overlap buildings
“Can also play the original as well online”
Comment from 16 Jul 2026 in “Show HN: QBasic Gorillas (Repeeled)”
Other terminal games people recommend
The three most recommended other terminal games, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QBasic GorillasThis page | 19 | 2 | 90% | 5 | — | Approved |
| Duskers | 8 | 0 | 100% | 1 | — | — |
| Termcraft | 6 | 2 | 75% | 2 | — | — |
| Nibbles (QBasic game) | 5 | 0 | 100% | 4 | — | — |
What people said
18 of the 23 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“GORILLA.BAS got me into programming decades ago.”
“was a fun little game you could play in those computers”
“Whoever created that game changed my life immeasurably.”
“Fun times going through the source code without understanding anything”
“Amazing, better than when I was a kid”
“the filter that is there now looks great to my eyes”
“Opening up the QBasic source code was eye opening for me”
“i think QBasic Gorillas is the first graphics game i have memory of playing as a child”
“I could clearly waste time on this.”
“Trying to aim with the mouse immediately shows me "made by a fucking clanker"”
“The arrow length does not represent power accurately”
“the wind/round text should NOT be placed over buildings because”
“Can also play the original as well online”
“Great terminal game as was GORILLAS.bas”
“I learnt to program by fiddling with these.”
“Lots of fun back in computer class!”
“Sneaking into the library computer at school to play and later edit and remix that game was a formative experience for me.”
“QBasic Gorillas was poggers”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.