Caper in the Castro
Caper in the Castro is the first LGBTQ game, created by C.M. Ralph and released in 1989. It’s a point-and-click murder mystery made with HyperCard. Ralph also made a straight version of the game called Murder on Main Street, without the LGBTQ themes. That version was sold to Heizer Software who distributed it through mail order catalogs.
In Caper in the Castro, you play as “world famous lesbian private detective, Tracker McDyke”, looking for your friend Tessy LaFemme who’s gone missing in an apparent kidnapping. As you search for her you start to uncover evidence of a sinister plot, and your life is increasingly in danger.
If you enjoy Caper in the Castro, Ralph asks you to make a donation to the AIDS-related charity of your choice, for an amount you feel is appropriate. I donated to Transgender Law Center, whose work includes support for transgender people living with HIV.
- Caper in the Castro on Internet Archive
Play it in your browser, or download it to play on a classic Mac. - Murder on Main Street on Internet Archive
Play it in your browser, or download it to play on a classic Mac. - Caper in the Castro on LGBTQ Video Game Archive
Details about the game’s creation and history. - A Q&A; With The Designer of the First LGBT Computer Game
Luke Winkie interviews C.M. Ralph in June 2014 for Paste Magazine, when the game was thought to be lost. Note: Ralph is non-binary; the pronouns in this article are incorrect. - Answering Some Questions About Caper in the Castro
The National LGBTQ Task Force interviews C.M. Ralph in June 2020, after the game was recovered. - How the first LGBTQ+ video game was given a second life
Manoush Zomorodi interviews C.M. Ralph in January 2023 for NPR. - Caper in the Castro on Wikipedia
- The developer notes, “this game includes scenes of violence and other material which may be inappropriate for persons under the age of 18. Please use discretion.”
Caper in the Castro
Tonight I’m playing the first known LGBTQ game, Caper in the Castro by C.M. Ralph! It’s a point-and-click murder mystery made in HyperCard, released in 1989 via BBS. “It’s not just a game… it’s a Gayme!”