>>brayth+(OP)
If you like text adventures with something easier than Zork, try Anchorhead. Then, Curses.
Yes, alike-passages are clunky and old-school cool,
but nowadays since Anchorhead the games are long
and good enough to be both enjoyed and
not get lost by design in several places (if any, just
several ones as a single or two puzzles, not as
a mechanic).
Curses can be unbearabily difficult, but
not on the "unwinnable by design"
as the others, at least not as
the old Infocom games.
Vicious Cycles is cool too albeit short.
And Slouch over Bedlam is damn poetry made
into a text adventure. Pure steampunk.