A Provisional Canon, Pt. I

Based on the reading I have done so far, I have collected a list of what seem to be the most esteemed and influential games. I will present the list in two parts (i.e. according the the First and Second "Wave" of IF) with a few historical notes where it seems worthwhile.

The First Wave of IF was characterized by a number of companies, so I have tried find representative works from each of them for this timeline.

1982
Zork III (Commercial/Infocom) by Marc Blank and Dave Lebling
Starcross (Commercial/Infocom) by Dave Lebling
Deadline (Commercial/Infocom) by Marc Blank

1983
Suspended (Commercial/Infocom) by Mike Berlyn
Enchanter (Commercial/Infocom) by Marc Blank and Dave Lebling
Snowball (Commercial/Level 9) by Mike/Nick/Pete Austin
Planetfall (Commercial/Infocom) by Steve Meretzky

1984
Mindwheel (Commercial/Synapse) by Robert Pinsky, Steve Hales and William Mataga
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Commercial/Infocom) by Douglas Adams and Steve Meretzky
Sorceror (Commercial/Infocom) by Steve Meretzky
Suspect (Commercial/Infocom) by Dave Lebling
Return to Eden (Commercial/Level 9) by Mike/Nick/Pete Austin

1985
A Mind Forever Voyaging (Commercial/Infocom) by Steve Meretzky
Spellbreaker (Commercial/Infocom) by Dave Lebling
The Worm in Paradise (Commercial/Level 9) by Mike/Nick/Pete Austin
Transylvania (Commercial/Penguin-Polarware, "Comprehend" edition) by Antonio Antiochia
Breakers (Commercial/Synapse) by Rod Smith and William Mataga

1986
Activision purchases Infocom
Trinity (Commercial/Infocom) by Brian Moriarty
Leather Goddess of Phobos (Commercial/Infocom) by Steve Meretzky
The Pawn (Commercial/Magnetic Scrolls) by Rob Steggles, Hugh Steers and Ken Gordon
Amnesia (Commercial/Electronic Arts) by Thomas M. Disch
Portal (Commercia/Activision) by Rob Swigart
Perry Mason: Case of the Mandarin (Commercial/Telarium) by Erle Gardner
Oo-Topos (Commercial/Penguin-Polarware) by Michael Berlyn

1987
Bureaucracy (Commercial/Infocom) by Douglas Adams
Border Zone (Commercial/Infocom) by Marc Blank
Stationfall (Commercial/Infocom) by Steve Meretzky
The Lurking Horror (Commercial/Infocom) by Dave Lebling
The Knight Orc (Commercial/Level 9) by Pete Austin
Guild of Thieves (Commercial/Magnetic Scrolls) by Rob Steggles
Jinxter (Commercial/Magnetic Scrolls) by Georgina Sinclair and Michael Bywater

1988
Mindfighter (Commercial/Abstract Concepts) by Anne Popkess and Fergus McNeill

1989
Collapse of Infocom
Scapeghost (Commercial/Level 9) by Pete Austin
Myth (Commercial/Magnetic Scrolls) by Paul Findley
James Clavell's Shogun (Commercial/Infocom) by Dave Lebling

1990
Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur (Commercial/Infocom) by Bob Bates
Time Quest (Commercial/Legend Entertainment) by Bob Bates

1991
Activision releases "The Lost Treasures of Infocom" compilation
Spellcasting 101: Sorceror Gets All The Girls (Commercial/Legend Entertainment) by Steve Meretzky

1992
Frederick Pohl's Gateway (Commercial/Legend Entertainment) by Mike Verdu and Glen Dahlgren
Wonderland (Commercial/Magnetic Scrolls) by David Bishop
Spellcasting 201: Sorceror's Apprentice (Commercial/Legend Entertainment) by Steve Meretzky

1993
Legend Entertainment releases the last widely-distributed, commercial parser-driven games
Gateway II: Homeworld (Commercial/Legend Entertainment) by Mike Verdu and Glen Dahlgren
Eric the Unready (Commercial/Legend Entertainment) by Bob Bates
Spellcasting 301: Spring Break (Commercial/Legend Entertainment) by Steve Meretzky