Charles Cecil
Broken Sword's creator
The British game designer who founded Revolution Software and created the beloved Broken Sword series, keeping point-and-click adventures alive through industry changes.
Charles Cecil is a British game designer and founder of Revolution Software, the studio behind Beneath a Steel Sky and the Broken Sword series. When American studios abandoned adventure games, Cecil kept the genre alive from York, England, creating critically acclaimed titles that proved point-and-click adventures could thrive in the modern era.
Fast facts
- Born: 1962, UK
- Company: Revolution Software (founded 1990)
- Headquarters: York, England
- Key series: Broken Sword (5+ games)
- Style: Story-driven, historical settings
Revolution Software
Founded after working at Artic Computing and US Gold:
| Game | Year | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Lure of the Temptress | 1992 | Amiga, DOS |
| Beneath a Steel Sky | 1994 | Amiga, DOS |
| Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars | 1996 | PC, PlayStation |
| Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror | 1997 | PC, PlayStation |
| Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon | 2003 | PC, consoles |
| Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse | 2014 | Multi-platform |
Beneath a Steel Sky
Revolution’s breakthrough:
- Cyberpunk dystopia in Australia
- Art by Dave Gibbons (Watchmen)
- Critical acclaim
- Later released free on GOG.com
- Sequel released 2020 (Beyond a Steel Sky)
The Broken Sword Series
Cecil’s signature achievement:
- Protagonist George Stobbart
- Historical conspiracy plots
- Templar mysteries
- European settings
- Mix of drama and humour
The first game remains one of the best-reviewed adventures ever.
Virtual Theatre
Revolution’s technology:
- NPCs with independent routines
- Characters moved around environments
- World felt alive
- Influenced by text adventure techniques
- Advanced for early 1990s
Keeping Adventures Alive
When LucasArts and Sierra abandoned adventures:
- Cecil continued making them
- Found new platforms (mobile, consoles)
- Used Kickstarter for Broken Sword 5
- Proved audience still existed
- Maintained genre during dark years
Industry Contributions
Beyond his games:
- BAFTA recognition
- Speaks at industry events
- Advocates for narrative games
- Mentors new developers
- Preserves adventure game legacy
Design philosophy
Cecil’s approach:
- Story comes first
- Characters must be compelling
- Puzzles should feel logical
- Settings should be researched
- Quality over quantity