#text-based games

[allieebobo]

December Dev Log

Happy New Year everyone!

December was busy with lots of feasting and family time, but I did manage to get a lot of writing done :) 

As always, as this year winds to a close, I want to thank all of you guys for being with me on this journey, and supporting me through everything. Your messages and love for the game always, always make every hour I spend working on Merry Crisis or CT:OS worth it. <3 Interacting with you guys is a huge part of what made 2024 so incredible for me. 

I don't know if every creator is so lucky as to feel this way,  but I honestly get out of bed every morning excited to read the new messages you guys have sent at night (though definitely time difference is a huge factor in this haha) and get started with writing!

This is the second instalment of the monthly dev logs that I'll be writing to keep you guys updated on what's been happening! (This was last month's.)

Read the Dev Log here!

[vitupera]

I really like A Dark Room! Not mobile friendly, unfortunately, though apparently there's an app for it now. I can't speak to the quality of that, the text-based browser thing really was part of the experience for me.

i think the near-extinction of people making fun, deep and/or unique interactive text-based browser games, projects and stories is catastrophic to the internet. i'm talking pre-itch.io era, nothing against it.

there are a lot of fun ones listed here and here but for the most part, they were made years ago and are now a dying breed. i get why. there's no money in it. factoring in the cost of web hosting and servers, it probably costs money. it's just sad that it's a dying art form.

anyway, here's some of my favorite browser-based interactive projects and games, if you're into that kind of thing. 90% of them are on the lists that i linked above.

A Better World - create an alternate history timeline

Alter Ego - abandonware birth-to-death life simulator game

Seedship - text-based game about colonizing a new planet

Sandboxels or ThisIsSand - free-falling sand physics games

Little Alchemy 2 - combine various elements to make new ones

Infinite Craft - kind of the same as Little Alchemy

ZenGM - simulate sports

Tamajoji - browser-based tamagotchi

IFDB - interactive fiction database (text adventure games)

Written Realms - more text adventure games with a user interface

The Cafe & Diner - mystery game

The New Campaign Trail - US presidential campaign game

Money Simulator - simulate financial decisions

Genesis - text-based adventure/fantasy game

Level 13 - text-based science fiction adventure game

Miniconomy - player driven economy game

Checkbox Olympics - games involving clicking checkboxes

BrantSteele.net - game show and Hunger Games simulators

Murder Games - fight to the death simulator by Orteil

Cookie Clicker - different but felt weird not including it. by Orteil.

if you're ever thinking about making a niche project that only a select number of individuals will be nerdy enough to enjoy, keep in mind i've been playing some of these games off and on for 20~ years (Alter Ego, for example). quite literally a lifetime of replayability.

[queer-crusader]

Look I don't wanna bitch but if your Tumblr fic takes longer to scroll past than the Do You Love The Colour Of The Sky post then it would be kinda appreciated if you put the majority of it under a Read More button

[vincissoise]

what are u choicescripting..... pls.....

it’s like several billion things that i have started and abandoned and never talked about BUT if i ever sculpt them into anything legit that i know i will follow through on… kind and benevolent anon you will be the first one to know

but currently in the array are:

- chatsim romance (inspo: blooming panic, seekL, eventually nightmare blunt rotation once i played it for the first time)

- survival/death game (inspo: battle royale, the most dangerous game, usogui, stuff like that. literally called “battle royale but you can fuck the guards” in my notes)

- witch’s familiar simulator (you play the familiar. very relationship-focused)

- mystery-action-thriller set in a “low” (???) cyberpunk setting where your parent—an influential former black hat hacker—has gone missing and you have to find them (or don’t. you can also decide to leave them to the dogs and flee the city)

- supernatural/sci-fi university setting based off of dandadan, with the largest shared point being that both aliens and cryptids/monsters/ghosts/etc exist and you have to deal with their bullshit

- kidnapped by five killers who plan to kill you in exactly 1 month—to their leader, you are their “performance art”, since you are a very public and influential figure (variable; you can choose). convince them you’re worth keeping alive (or maybe don’t try at all)

there’s some other stuff and also my friends and i are planning on making a webcomic together so idk if these will ever see the light of day but. well these r in my notes LOL

[mykria]

Despite them being quite bad (pictured) I'm finally starting to feel like most of the building tools are where they need to be. Just today I had to rewrite the trade specifications so that subtypes of items can be sold (for example, a book with specific text (the object model was naively considering all books you'd sell would be treated the same)).

This was inspired by the need to an 'Equipment Cache,' which is an object that, when opened, generates a piece of equipment for you (using the same general guidelines as the equipment that drops from enemies).

During a play session I was really struggling to get some specific upgrades I wanted, and really was craving someone who could sell me equipment (reminder: every equipment in game is generated and unique and drops mostly from enemies that are among your 'level' or higher).

Anywho, I've been neglecting content for a while (it doesn't help the last cycle wiped out a bunch of big changes I was happy with that I now have to redo (kept postponing exporting everything and got caught off guard)) and I'm hoping now that I have fewer excuses to keep building up the systems-side of the game, I'll be more likely to poke around and continue building out the world.

<3

[smokin-salmon]

Fuck it. *Makes the old woman cry*

[verytiredhyena]

[blight-if]

Demo | Kofi | Patreon | Playlist | Character intros | Stickers

WARNINGS: Violence, gore, mature language, general struggling, realism, sex and sexual themes.

Genre: Apocalyptic grimdark horror.

“AND THEN THE WORLD ENDED. Everything came crashing down for my already screwed up life when those... creatures came, infected. Trapping me into another cage that we now call life. Running, fighting, scavenging, hiding… is on repeat constantly. Just a never-ending cycle of fighting for your life. Living is so.... exhausting. Not even living, just surviving.” I cleared my throat.

“I discovered secrets that I still cannot wrap my head around. Secrets that would have ruined everything. I'm sinking into it all.”

“Despite the chaos, there was a shining light in my corner. A group.” I smiled.

“We worked together and fought people, the world, as best as we could with our little but growing knowledge. Being a team was a little rocky in the beginning, but we knew making it through this mess would be easier if we had each other. Or at least by a little.

“But...” I took a long pause. Heaviness filled the air, like there was a pressure drop. It was almost as if we both knew what it meant without words. My eyes fixated on the floor as I felt my eyes watering, just a bit.

“Good things don’t always last. If I learned anything, it was that. And now, I’m here, alone.” A heavy sigh escaped my mouth, and my shoulders weren’t tense for the first time in what feels like forever.

“I should’ve been there....”

My hand reached for his, tight but gentle. “It’s okay. There was so much going on, anyway. What matters is that we’re together now.”

He smiled for a moment before his eyes descended into thought. “But what... really happened? I mean, that was so vague.”

My mind flashed through the events since the outbreak. Faces, sounds, smells, places. All kinds of feelings, even ones I can’t describe, weighed on my chest; so much in only a few seconds. “Well, what do you want to know?”

“Everything.”

The apocalypse engulfed you, and along with the rest of the surviving population, no one knows what’s happening. Or so you think. Infected overran the world, leaving most of the population dead. Streets are quiet, and houses are empty. Sometimes you just want to go home, but then you remember, there is no home to go to. Anyone would go insane, losing everything all at once.

Supplies linger, but they have run thin in the chaos as you survive in conditions you never would’ve expected; leaving behind the expected comforts of what you knew. Everything you wanted you could get with ease, but now you scavenge for food in a world where everyone and everything is out to get you.

People changed after the apocalypse, and that is ever so clear as you fight, not only infected but raiders who will do anything to get what they want. But not everyone you come across will have such nefarious intentions. There are also the compassionate, helpful people, but there are also people who sit in the middle, balancing their morality.

The road of survival will test you mentally and emotionally. Leaving you wondering if trying is really all that worth it. Many more questions linger in your mind, even dark ones that hide in the far corners of your head, gathering and waiting for you to break. But you won’t break, because you’re a fighter; you’ve always been. When an infected comes charging at you, you’ll stand your ground. Why?

‘Cause that’s just what you do.

Scavenging rabbit hole to gain supplies.

Customize your character's name, gender, pronouns, sexuality, eyes, hair, and more.

Personality and skill stats.

Romance one or two of the four characters in the next section, or just be friends.

Survive against raiders and infected.

FYI your parent's names are Elena and Pedro, if you don't want the same names as them.

| Caleb ??? | 23 | He/Him

Gender: Cis man

Sexuality: Bisexual

Race: African American

Appearance: Dark brown buzz cut, dark green eyes, and dark brown skin tone. Has a heart tattoo with the letter C on the inside of his wrist.

Body Type: Muscular, little to no definition, mass.

Height: 6'0

A brooding leader who leads with rationale and determination. He keeps his heart closed to anyone, fearing his past would come back and haunt him once again. His loner and cold nature holds him back from truly connecting with those around him. At the end of the day, his leadership is strong, keeping his group together like he knows he has to.

| Sudiro | 22 | He/Him

Gender: Cis man

Sexuality: Bisexual

Race: Javanese (Indonesian)

Appearance: Black, slightly wavy neck-length hair, dark brown eyes, and tan skin/honey skin tone. Back tattoo, neck tattoo, leg tattoo, stomach scar, hand scar, cheek scar, nose and ear piercings.

Body Type: Lean and defined.

Height: 5'7

Loves to live life on the edge and have fun. Jokes are his protection. His dream was to see the world, but it was abruptly crushed. Despite his adventurous nature, he is extremely pessimistic, always thinking of the worst. He can be snarky and rude, but deep down, he is caring and compassionate. Will those walls come down? Either way, he won't be listening to you anytime soon.

(Javanese people don't have last names.)

| Rue Benson | 21 | She/Her

Gender: Cis woman

Sexuality: Lesbian

Race: African American

Appearance: Dark brown shoulder-length dreads, eyes, and skin tone. Double sleeves and hand scar.

Body Type: Muscular/Ripped, in between definition and bulk, straight waist.

Height: 5'8

A kind-hearted soul who goes out of her way to help others. She knows how to handle herself but prefers to avoid confrontation. Gentle but strong. Her life before the apocalypse was a mess, and that mess only became worse. The world around her collapsed into moral ambiguity, but she stayed true to herself. But sometimes people can be too good.

Dana Léon | 21 | She/Her

Gender: Transgender woman

Sexuality: Bisexual

Race: White

Appearance: Light blonde armpit-length hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. Freckles. Eyebrow scar and earlobe piercings.

Body Type: Toned and slender.

Height: 5'3

Can be mischievous from time to time and is very self-assured. A little flirtatious, too. Doesn't think she needs anyone else and can survive on her own. But doesn't actively push others away, just stays alone as a first choice. Idealism keeps her going as she always tries to see the positive. She tells herself that the world will go back to the way it was all the time, even if she knows it's not true.

NOTES:

This game is 18+

If you have any suggestions, corrections, or criticism, feel free to tell me, unless it's something I already cleared up or went over, but I will not accept hatred. I want to grow, not to be put down.

I'll update this post if there are changes regarding anything that is considered a warning.

I used AI somewhat for my code. Until recently, I didn't realize how bad that was. My future projects will be free from any AI, and this project will be as well as it progresses. If you want to stay, I appreciate it, but if you don't, I understand. It's something I'm not proud of, to be clear.

@interact-if

[springypaws]

I’ve disappeared because I’ve been off drawing little robots in my dark little corner all day

[kjscottwrites]

And, importantly, share some recs!

[softboiled-egg]

Sunday’s first day on the astral express!

[marblesstorystudio]

❀ Chapters 0-3 Out Now! ❀ Itch ❀ Official Spotify Playlist

❀ Will you embrace your destiny or choose to avert your gaze?

Betrayed by your mothers and sent away to become a prophet, loneliness became an old friend, and an intense longing for connection stirs deep within you.

Hoping to escape the monotony of your life—training to become a Living Prophet and delivering parcels all over the Southern Territories isn’t as fun as it sounds—you seek solace in the nightflowers that grow in Caligo. 

It’s not like you have a choice, anyway, considering your dwindling medication and the irritating withdrawal symptoms (you've blown up one too many dormitories). Maybe you shouldn’t have put this off for so long, but the thought of being in your parents’ old home… well, let’s just say you aren’t ready to revisit their memory.

❀ Welcome to Caligo. Our Sovereign is pleased with your interest.

Caligo exists in the Dark Realm, home to the Sovereign and her Crimson Court. Famous for its nightflowers, Caligo is the place to go if you want medicine, poisons, glamours, or even cures.

Twin moons cast an ethereal glow upon you, illuminating the blue haze that swirls through the land. 

Unclimbable mountains overlook lush, fertile land that covers Insomnium, Umbra, Tenebrae, and the Crimson Court in nightflowers.

Though wet, chilly, and sunless, the beauty of this ancient place still prevails.

❀ choose your name; select your gender & pronoun ❀ customize your character's face & body; choose an outfit ❀ select 1 of 4 unique belief systems (prophethoods) ❀ romance 1 of 2 male love interests or focus on creating deep bonds of friendship ❀ guide your character's decisions & determine their fate

[jinlai]

Jinlai | Domineering CEO Simulator

You play as jinlai - an heir(ess) to a massive conglomerate in the fictional country of Toswana. Scheming relatives, millions in cold crypto drives, parties with the movie stars, totally legal lobbying of the politicians and everything else that comes with big numbers in your bank account.

Fight a succession war to gain control of one of the biggest companies in the world - will you remain just as ‘wealthy’ or will you become filthy rich?

Invest in companies, manage them, take over. ‘Optimize’ their workflows, squeeze every penny of profit or be a decent human being.

Curry favor with the powers that be, threaten your competitors, bribe whoever it is you need to bribe. Or, you know, don’t. Remaining an upright and honest citizen is always an option.

Steal your uncle’s fiance for a beneficial marriage, date a movie star living next door, seduce your loyal, slightly older bodyguard, get involved with a single mother (your own mother definitely doesn’t approve), discover something daunting about your casino-owning loan shark friend or (and) sleep around with a bunch of random people.

All ROs are heterosexual.

DEMO LINK

WORD COUNT:

Chapter 1 - 53k Chapter 2 - in progress

[melchinafan]

Massive kudos to the South of Midnight team for the attention to detail in environmental storytelling and character design! I know there's still a ton of stuff I can't even begin to guess at, but I've been able to glean a good amount just from the trailers, and it's all got me itching for more.

Some things I've been able to spot, just from these two screenshots:

I'd already kinda gotten the impression from Hazel's tattoo choker necklace and Lisa Frank-esque dolphin-rainbow tank top...but after seeing Lacey's half of a "best friends" heart necklace and jean jacket? I'd be shocked if this doesn't take place in or around the 90s. (Which is a solid choice, since it's a good way to limit having to worry about the question of cell phones.) Plus, if you take a look at their fridge, you can see magnets of the primary mythical creatures we'll run across! I listed most of them in the alt text if you can't tell what they are, but if I had to guess at the mystery cut-off one in the second screenshot...I'd say it's the Altamaha-ha from the announcement trailer. (Which I think is also maybe the purple-pink aquatic creature you can see for a split second near the end of the story trailer.) And...well, it's not visible in these screenshots, but in this scene Hazel also accidentally knocks a handmade mug off the counter. That mug has a bottle tree design on it, as featured in the game's logo and as important in-game magical elements!

Also fun is some of the detailing for Shakin' Bones:

His guitar has a Prospero license plate near the bottom (also seen on a half-sunk taxi that Catfish swims past in the gameplay trailer), which says CROS RDS (or "crossroads"). Below his arm you can see his name "Bones" carved into the face of the guitar, flanked by a couple Fleur-de-lis, and in a couple spots there's decorative blue paint (haint blue, I'd bet). Plus some short bits of bone (femur, at a guess), for both the bottom strap button and the tuning knobs. There's also a broken, rusted sawblade for a pickguard...which curiously has an elegant leafy design carved onto it. There's a similar leafy design carved along the top side of the guitar, too. Bones himself has a lot of different flora growing on him...at least two different kinds of leafy plants (small round leaves on his shoes, larger pointy leaves on his arms and neck), and some small brown mushrooms. And while I don't know enough about plants to recognize what those three might be, I'm pretty sure the flowers on his neck and side are swamp lilies. (The flower on his side is visible near the start of the announcement trailer, when you see him from behind. I'm also pretty sure I spotted some swamp lilies growing around Rhubarb's house in the story trailer, in their standard cluster form vs. Bones' unique singular flowers. Fun fact: for folks who play Secret World and remember a particular painting of some import in the Franklin Mansion, you may be amused to note that one of that flower's colloquial names is "seven sisters.")

There's also...well...these are a bit more spoiler-y, so I'll put them under a cut and try to keep it vague. But there's visual clues hinting at some secrets a few folks seem to have...

Less overtly secret, but still some story spoilers:

The most obvious thing at first glance in the first screenshot is the presence of Huggin' Molly's red yarn inside the broken wall. At second glance, and double-checking the start of the trailer to confirm the yellow paint and window style matches, this appears to be Hazel's house. But looking more carefully, one might notice that the exposed inner boards of the wall seem to have a little faded blue paint...suggesting that the house was protected with a hidden layer of haint blue (possibly in addition to the indoor wall paint that also appears to be blue), which wards off nasty critters. And with that ward literally broken, and Huggin' Molly being known in her real-world mythology to go after folks late at night, well... (Bonus fun fact: Secret Worlders may also be amused that the time on the clock in the first screenshot of this post is 10:10, as with Kingsmouth's clocks. Probably specifically 10:10 pm, not a storm-dark morning.)

And finally, a particular someone who seems to have deeper secrets:

(I linked the story trailer earlier, but the second screenshot is from the half-hour-long documentary.) The subtitles tell us this man is Laurent, and I'm curious about how significant his ear and nose piercings might be, given that he otherwise seems to be giving off airs of "responsible adult" (which typically does not permit such things). I have no idea who he is, exactly...yet his clothing choice and sense of decor are reminiscent of another design, which has shown up in the trailers and some promo/concept art that's been shared by the devs... But I'll let you dig up that connection on your own, if you're inclined to hunt down a bigger story spoiler.

[inviperita]

jonsa (& friends) as textposts (part 5)

[larkingame]

play the demo | patreon | larkin is rated 18+

someone is after you.

for over a decade and a half now, you’ve traveled up, down and across the country--running schemes and hunting fiends with your mentor, con-man-by-day, vampire-hunter-by-night, Wyatt Abrams--the prolific vampire slayer and the living descendant of Gregory Abrams, founder and prophet of the Abrams Family, the nomadic vampire-hunting cult that raised you--and was wiped out years ago.

carrying the abrams name means also means carrying on it's enemies--but that isn't to say you haven't forged a couple of your own along the way. now, it seems someone is trying to make good on old threats and promises. they've placed a bounty on your head.

so you and wyatt do what you do best: you run away. to some little town, out nevada ways, where the title of town preacher is unexpectedly thrust upon you--bringing back years of trauma you thought long tucked away.

as if that wasn't enough, on your first day in town the local mine up and explodes--leaving the reclusive family that runs the town--and owns the mine--to suspect you as the main culprit.

now you're left with the responsibility of investigating the disaster to clear your name, looking into the mysterious cult just south of town, the gang of outlaws who've been wrapped up deep in a feud with larkin's patriarchal family--a group of people which you suspect to be hiding a secret most monstrous--all while dealing with the ghosts of your past, and the roots your family left behind.

larkin is a vampire western choose-your-own adventure game, with focuses on romance, religion, horror and complicated family dynamics.

play a fully customizable character [[decide upon their physical appearance, gender identity, sexuality, customize their pronouns]]

dictate a unique relationship with your mentor-turned-father-figure and his former appentice

romance any of twelve characters, five male, three female, one non-binary and three gender selectable characters.

define your characters skillset and scheming tactics, select their weapons and fighting style, elect their feelings on religion, vampires and the cult that raised them.

the doctor [male] cyrus sokolov - the quasi-mayor of larkin, cyrus sokolov also operates as the town's doctor and mortician. he's immeadiately suspicious of you, the new preacher and the reputation you comes with. even though he doesn't like it, he needs your help.

the princess [female] celina sokolova - despite the misconceptions among the townsfolk, the reclusive third sibling of the sokolov family, celina, is actually the family’s eldest. hardly leaving the sokolov mansion, it’s rumored around town that she’s been struck with some sort of sun-related illness, others seem to hold the opinion that miss sokolova simply sees herself as too good to linger amongst the common folk. whatever the case may truly be doesn’t much matter to the people of larkin, after all, it's much more fun to gossip. she's very suddenly developed a fascination with the preacher, a hunger almost. but will she eat you whole?

the mortician's assistant [male] dominic sokolov - the youngest scion of the sokolov family, dominic works as assistant mortician in larkin, though he’s much more interested in larkin’s living townsfolk then the dead ones he’s been charged with taking care of. with seemingly endless information on everyone and everything that goes on in larkin, mister sokolov might not be the worst friend to have.

the lawyer [male] jacob nash -  larkin’s only practicing attorney and resident do-gooder. after passing the bar exam, nash headed out west in the hopes of making a real difference for the people there, only to spend most of his days settling petty disputes and notarizing documents. despite his disappointment, however, nash has managed to keep a level head and his fondness for the people of larkin, even though he’s not so sure the sokolovs have the townsfolk’s best interest in mind.

the bartender [female] rose holloway - larkin’s most recent transplant, that was, until the preacher showed up. former city-girl, rose has adapted to both life out west and on her own, the only way she knows how--by pushing through it. the owner and bartender of larkin’s only saloon, the emerald, rose is a popular figure around larkin whether she likes it or not, but whether that has more to do with her occupation or the fact she also happens to be larkin’s youngest widow is still a topic up for debate.

the lieutenant [male/female/non-binary] hollis - an enigmatic figure around larkin, hollis serves as a lieutenant for the mysterious rateliff fellowship. one of the cult’s few members to make the long trek from their encampment in the desert to town more than once. talked to by few, hated by most, hollis bears the reputation of the people they represent to the town of larkin--one, that isn’t particularly favorable.

the vampire hunter [male/female/non-binary] ace zhang - vampire-hunting-mercenary extraordinaire, the last the preacher knew of ace, they were the young hot-shot on san francisco’s hunting scene. once upon a time ace was a prominent figure in the preacher’s life, the first real acquaintance they managed to make on their own, someone outside of wyatt’s sphere. growing up a member of the guild, their life is one that’s mirrored the preacher’s. maybe that’s why the two seemed to be linked so closely during the preacher’s time in california, whether that was as friends, rivals or something more, their presence is one that remains prominent in the preacher's mind.

the outlaw [male] cassidy alan ward - cowboy, outlaw, bandit, cassidy goes by many names and titles, but the one he prides himself on most is leader. protector of his people, the ward gang hides out somewhere in the hills outside larkin, looming over the townsfolk as an ever-present threat, cassidy finds the sokolovs personally responsible for the death of his sister, caroline, and he is out for blood.

the gunslinger [female] ethel jackson - cassidy's right hand, ethel is a gunslinger through and through. fancying herself the robinhood type, she's got a personal hatred for the family that looms over larkin.  with the fastest gun in all of nevada, maybe even all of the west--ethel could prove to be a valuable friend--or a deadly adversary.

the stranger [non-binary] reyes - the newest addition to ward's gang, not much is known about them or their past--what everyone is well aware of, however, is the fact that nobody whose ever decided to cross reyes has ever come out of it alive.

the vampire [male/female/non-binary] montero moreau - you've hunted down their coven, debilitating any hopes for growth they had in terms of advancing in the cut-throat world of Vampires. you've made montero look like a fool, and they hate looking like a fool. They're determined to hunt you down and take revenge.

the first man [male] - adam - he believes himself to be the mirrored man mentioned in the abrams family book of genesis--the first vampire, plagued to walk the earth--and he has long been in search of his eve.

play the demo | patreon | itch.io