Sherlock

Everett Kaser is a legend in the world of "thinking man's" logic puzzles, and Sherlock (1991) is arguably his most famous masterpiece. If you enjoy games like Minesweeper or Sudoku, you’ve likely spent hours staring at this one.
The goal is to determine the exact location of 36 different images arranged in a 6×6 grid.
The images are divided into 6 categories (for example: faces, numbers, signs, fruits, etc.), with 6 items in each category. Through a process of elimination and deduction based on a series of visual clues, you must figure out which item belongs in which specific square.
The game doesn't tell you the answer directly; instead, it provides a panel of clues at the bottom of the screen. These clues represent spatial relationships:
- Adjacent Clues: Showing that two items are next to each other (either horizontally or vertically).
- Columnar Clues: Showing that two items are in the same vertical column.
- Directional Clues: Showing that one item is somewhere to the left or right of another.
By clicking on the grid, you "eliminate" possibilities. For example, if a clue shows that the "Apple" is in the same column as the "Number 1," and you know the Apple is in the first column, you can eliminate "Number 1" from all other columns.
Unlike many DOS games, there is zero luck involved. Every puzzle is generated to be solvable using only the clues provided. While it’s a purely abstract logic puzzle, the naming and the icon of Sherlock Holmes gave it a sophisticated, intellectual feel that appealed to a more "mature" PC audience in the early 90s. It was a very small program, making it a staple on "100 Games in 1" shareware discs. It was the perfect "coffee break" game.

What is abandonware ?