The Abbey of Crime Extensum

The Abbey of Crime Extensum is a faithful and carefully expanded homage to the 1987 Spanish classic La Abadía del Crimen, developed and published on Steam by Manuel Pazos and Daniel Celemín. Deeply inspired by Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose, the game places players in the role of Fray William of Occam and his young novice Adso of Melk as they arrive at a remote Benedictine abbey to investigate a series of mysterious deaths. Rather than reimagining the original as a modern action-adventure, Extensum embraces its roots, preserving the contemplative pacing, strict monastic routines, and methodical investigative structure that defined its predecessor, while modernizing visuals and usability for contemporary audiences. At its core, the game is an isometric adventure built around exploration, observation, and deduction. The abbey itself functions almost as a living character, governed by a rigid daily schedule that players must respect. Bells ring to summon monks to prayer, meals, or study, and failing to attend mandatory activities can result in reprimands or even expulsion from the abbey. This mechanic adds a layer of tension distinct from combat or timed action sequences. Instead…

I recommend The Abbey of Crime Extensum if you enjoy [b]slow‑burn puzzle adventures [/b]that reward patience, observation and a willingness to get lost—literally. It’s an old classic that runs in [b]DOS[/b], and the age shows in both charm and clunk. The abbey is enormous, confusing and deliberately disorienting; during the first few hours you’ll wander in circles, second‑guess every corridor, and wonder whether you’ve accidentally stepped into a medieval maze. The story, however, is compelling enough to pull you through the confusion, and the atmosphere is rich in that unmistakable early‑PC way. The game moves at [b]a very slow pace[/b]. You will get lost often, but there’s no need to panic. Aside from a few timed sequences—mainly rushing to meals and church to maintain your combined reputation and health meter, the [b]obsequium[/b]—the days won’t advance until you trigger the required events. Outside those moments, you’re free to explore the abbey at your own rhythm. It’s a game that asks for patience, but if you’re in the mood for something thoughtful, methodical, and steeped in old‑school design, it’s absolutely worth your time.

So much potential wasted :( This game presents itself as very charming, but refuses to let you enjoy it. It looks good, the music is great, it's mysterious... The problem is the gameplay itself. Everything is designed to make you not want to play the game. You walk very slowly. The controls are confusing. You can't make text go faster even though it is very slow. Each time you switch screens, the camera angle changes and make you confused about your new position/location. There is seemingly no map to help either. I really don't understand why the devs decided to make that game so unfriendly to users. I am in favor of designing a game that doesn't hold the hand of the player, but this is just way too much. I have no patience to play this game. In 14 minutes, I accomplished almost nothing.... Unfortunate.

This game is a relic to me. Back in the late 80s, I played its MSX version. It was a challenging game that introduced me to very distinctive mechanics. I was amazed to discover that things were happening in that Abbey at night; if I arrived early at the church or the refectory, a cinematic sequence would start, showing other monks in their routines. The game was so hard to finish (I got stuck when I managed to enter the library) that I first watched the movie to look for hints. Then, finally, I was inspired to read the book. I have that game to thank for that. It ended up becoming the book of my life (I have read it at least four times). Now, this enhanced version of the game has given me the opportunity to experience that feeling again and, FINALLY, finish it nearly 40 years later.

Great old school experience.

good