The Silver Lining is a free, fan-made King’s Quest sequel that picks up the story of Daventry’s royal family where Sierra left off. King Graham is back in his adventurer’s cap. During the wedding of Princess Rosella and Prince Edgar of Etheria, a mysterious cloaked figure curses Rosella and her twin brother Alexander. Graham sets off through the Land of the Green Isles to save them, and along the way he uncovers a thousand-year-old prophecy, the secrets of the Black Cloak Society and some dark truths about his wife, Valanice.
Phoenix Online Studios began work in October 2000, and at its peak the volunteer team numbered about 70 people. The project was originally called King’s Quest IX: Every Cloak Has a Silver Lining. Then the lawyers arrived. Vivendi, which owned the series, sent a cease-and-desist in September 2005, then granted a fan license that November on condition that “King’s Quest” came out of the title. After Activision absorbed Vivendi, it revoked that license in early 2010, only to reverse course in June 2010 under heavy fan pressure. The deal required the game to stay free and clearly unofficial.
Episode 1 arrived on July 10, 2010. Episodes 2 and 3 followed in September 2010 and February 2011, and Episode 4 in November 2011. Episode 5 was never released. Phoenix has promised it more than once, but as far as we can tell it’s still unfinished, so this is a four-chapter story with no ending.
Is an unfinished fan sequel worth your time? See where it fits in our best free point-and-click adventure games list.
Is The Silver Lining Free?
Yes. The Silver Lining is freeware, with no price and no microtransactions. Staying free is a condition of Activision’s permission, so Phoenix can’t charge for it. It’s also an unofficial fan project, and King’s Quest remains Activision’s property.
Gameplay & Features
It’s a classic point-and-click adventure played in full 3D, with a voiced cast. You explore the Green Isles, talk to familiar faces and solve inventory puzzles. Reviews of Episode 1 were mixed. Critics found it short, light on puzzles and let down by uneven voice acting, though many still said they’d try the next episode. Phoenix listened, and later chapters brought more puzzles and a more traditional Sierra feel.
- Four free episodes: What Is Decreed Must Be, Two Households, My Only Love Sprung From My Only Hate, and ‘Tis in My Memory Locked.
- A story that follows King’s Quest VI and VII and nods to the rest of the series, with returning characters like Mannanan and Pan.
- Improvements from Episode 2 onward, including a choice of shorter or longer narration, better pathfinding, a run mode and widescreen support.
- Episode 3 is the most puzzle-heavy, so keep a notebook handy and revisit areas as they change.
- A free soundtrack volume and bonus concept art alongside the episodes, according to the developer’s description.
For a finished King’s Quest fan project, try King’s Quest II: Romancing the Stones. AGD Interactive’s Quest for Glory II remake and the Space Quest II remake bring other Sierra classics up to date, and Heroine’s Quest is a complete fan-made quest in the same tradition.
PC System Requirements
We couldn’t confirm official system requirements for the episodes, so treat this as a general guide for a Windows 3D game from 2010 and 2011. Any modern PC should clear the hardware bar easily.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows | Windows 10 or 11 |
| Processor | Not confirmed | Any modern CPU |
| Memory | Not confirmed | Any modern PC |
| Graphics | 3D-capable graphics card | Any modern GPU |
| Storage | Not confirmed | Several GB free |
It’s a Windows-only game. Because it dates from 2010 and 2011, try Windows compatibility mode if it won’t launch on Windows 10 or 11. Mac and Linux players run it through Wine or CrossOver, and Lutris offers an install script that uses the official installer.
How to Download & Play The Silver Lining for Free
Activision’s permission says the game may only be hosted on the developer’s own website, so Phoenix Online’s site is the one legitimate source. It isn’t on Steam, GOG or Epic. Mirror sites exist, but we don’t recommend them. Our guide to safe free PC game download sites explains what to look for.
- Go to the official page and download The Silver Lining free from Phoenix Online Studios.
- Download Episode 1, then the later episodes you want. They’re separate downloads, and Episode 5 doesn’t exist.
- Run each installer, starting with Episode 1. If the installer stalls, skip the configuration utility during setup and adjust settings afterwards.
- Launch the game and play the episodes in order.
FAQ
Is The Silver Lining legal?
Yes, under conditions. Activision gave Phoenix Online permission in 2010 as long as the game stays free, is clearly unofficial, and is hosted only on Phoenix’s own website.
Is The Silver Lining finished?
No. Four of five planned episodes were released, and Episode 5 has never appeared despite several promised dates.
Do I need to play King’s Quest first?
It helps. The story follows King’s Quest VI and VII, and it leans on characters and lore from the whole series. The Silver Lining is still playable for newcomers, though they’ll miss many references.
Does it work on Mac and Linux?
Not natively. It’s a Windows game, so you’ll need Wine or CrossOver.
