The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary (2025)

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DOS - 1992

Also available on: Mac

Year1992
PlatformDOS
Released inUnited States
GenreEducational, Puzzle
ThemeCards, Horror, Math / Logic
PublisherMECC
DeveloperMECC
PerspectivesSide view, Fixed / Flip-screen, Diagonal-down
Dosbox supportSupported on current version (works best on 0.65)

4.13 / 5 - 46 votes

Download 2 MB

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Description of The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary

One of the quirkiest edutainment titles ever made, The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary is a fun educational adventure game for kids ages 8 and up.

The plot is a wacky combination of science and superstition: while playing a carnival game at a mysterious circus, you are sucked into a carnival doll by the evil Dr. Quandary. To escape the toy's body, you must beat Dr. Quandary at his own game by solving the myriad of puzzles on his island.

Gameplay is similar to Sierra's classic Castle of Dr. Brain: inventory-based adventure game with educational bent to most puzzles. The quality of the puzzles varies widely, though-- some, such as Acid Test, purely are arcade mini-games with very little "education" content, while others (such as "programming" a frog to get through a gate, and algebra-related puzzls) are very well implemented.

The game as a whole is arguably a bit inferior to Museum Madness, MECC's other adventure game for kids, but the photorealistic backgrounds and wide variety of puzzles should keep kids entertained for days on end. Ironically, the funny witty and sarcastic dialogue had to be toned down for the school version of this game :) Recommended.

Review By HOTUD

External links

Captures and Snapshots

  • DOS

Comments and reviews

Pearlite 2020-02-09 -1 point

A neat game for when I want my goofy puzzle fix. And you know it's from MECC because it comes with Troggles.

I've managed to complete the game on all three difficulty levels. The toughest part for me is playing DiscAppear. I'm familiar with certain types of counting-out games, and I know there's a trick to forcing your opponent to take the last, unwanted piece. But I still don't quite know how the trick works. It took me loads of tries on Difficult to win, and after I did I discovered that I didn't actually need the prize to finish the game that time around.

Debo 2018-12-02 1 point

Thank you so much

Iwin95 2018-09-07 0 point DOS version

runs great in dosbox, brings me back to gradeschool when we used to play this in the computer lab in the late 90's.

Poet 2018-03-02 0 point

Mands:

To beat the tax collector, start by choosing the largest odd number that is not divisible by any other numbers. He will always choose numbers that are factors of the number you choose, so, for instance, if the numbers range from one to 21, choose 19 as your first choice and he only gets 1 on that turn. Once 1 is gone, if you choose 9, he only gets 3. Factor the numbers before you pick them to see what he will get vs. what you will get.

ZeroThompson 2017-02-12 0 point

Thank you so much Abandonware! What a blast from the past.

mandsxoxo 2016-10-21 0 point

Someone beat the tax collector,dude? Boyfriend and I been trying for days and still are having trouble just on that part so if anyone has any specific way to beat it or make it easier please inform us!
Thanks!

emma watson rachael nygaard 2015-10-09 0 point DOS version

I like playing this old game

shy 2015-03-19 0 point DOS version

one of my favs getting it for me and the kids

Shawn 2013-01-25 1 point DOS version

survival horror?

Nikki 2012-11-27 0 point DOS version

Finished the first two dolls as a kid and could never win it with the third doll. Miss this game so much!

steeve 2012-11-18 1 point DOS version

pro jared sent me
here

rsmystical 2012-10-31 1 point DOS version

i finished it as a kid, just downloading it for my son now lol

westicles 2012-07-13 1 point DOS version

me too

veggie 2011-10-19 0 point DOS version

Loved this game as a kid. never finished it, will now LOL

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Download The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary

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DOS Version

DownloadCD version
PC/Mac hybrid CD The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary (19) 16 MB
DownloadFloppy version The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary (20) 2 MB

Mac Version

  • Year: 1996
  • Publisher: SoftKey Multimedia Inc.
  • Developer: MECC

Visit MacintoshGarden for more details about Mac version

Download 3 MB

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The Secret Island of Dr. Quandary (2025)

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