Martian Memorandum

Martian Memorandum is the second game in the Tex Murphy series, following 1989's Mean Streets, but you do not strictly need to play the first game to understand the plot. The game functions as a standalone cyberpunk detective adventure. Access Software designed it so newcomers could easily jump straight into the mystery.

It is a point-and-click adventure game that relies heavily on interrogating suspects and collecting inventory items. Unlike later games in the series, it does not feature 3D movement, using a traditional 2D interface with text parser and icon-based commands instead. Players must carefully combine clues to solve the murder mystery.

You play as private investigator Tex Murphy, who is hired to find a missing person in a dystopian 2039 San Francisco. This 1991 title is notable for establishing the campy, film-noir personality of the iconic detective. It laid the character foundation that would later be expanded upon in Under a Killing Moon.

The game was originally released for MS-DOS computers in 1991. Later, it was made available on modern computers through GOG.com as part of Tex Murphy collection bundles. The GOG release ensures it runs smoothly on modern operating systems without requiring emulation setup.