thearchivesofhalcyon

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

Writing a choice while actively thinking "yall better not choose this..." lol

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

God, I just love seeing things finished, but the process until getting there 😭😭😭

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

Hello, Agents!

We’re in March, and if I told you I just figured out how to view Google Forms responses, would you believe me? 🫠 Oh well, HAHA. Ignoring my dumb brain for a moment, I’ve read your comments, reports, and suggestions!

First off, I saw a request for a choice indicator to explain what the handshake, heart, and heartbreak symbols mean, and I’ll be adding that in the next update on the itch page. I’m also introducing nickname customization in the next chapter. It should have been there earlier, but honestly, I forgot (tysm to whoever suggested it, it wa a great reminder! lol).

Also, yes, the flavor text changes based on your MC’s traits, the choices you make, and the RO you have the most affinity with. This will become more frequent as the story progresses. In chapters 2 and 3, it’s mostly about whether your MC is shy or extroverted, but expect more variables later.

Now, onto something REALLY important!

Someone asked about options for neurodivergent MCs.

I want to let you know that there will be choices allowing your MC to have traits that can be interpreted as neurodivergent, as well as choices related to mental health. I’m hesitant to specify names for now because I don’t want to misrepresent anything due to a lack of knowledge. That said, I'll make sure to include more choices where you can feel representated, and based on this feedback, I’ll also add options to build your MC’s past, including their interests, skills, and difficulties. I’ll be studying more about neurodivergent conditions to ensure I do justice, and I’m always open to advice!

Thank you so much to everyone who filled out the form, reported bugs, and shared suggestions. I’m always so excited to talk about TAoH with you all, and now that I KNOW HOW, I’ll be checking Google Forms regularly for your messages.

Have an amazing weekend, and I’ll be back soon with news about the update... hopefully lol.

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

this is such incredible advice for creating any kind of art i have to put it over here to remind myself

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

me as a writer

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

Chapter 1 Out Now! (+184k words)

Hello, everyone!

I’m thrilled to finally share some exciting news: For King and Country Chapter 1 is ready for you to experience! This project has been a labour of love, and I want to thank you all for your incredible patience and support as I worked to bring this story to life. Your encouragement has meant the world to me, and I’m so excited for you to step back into this world and explore it for yourselves.

As always, your feedback is invaluable. If you encounter any bugs, typos, or technical issues while playing, please don’t hesitate to send an ask to the blog with the details. It’ll help me ensure the game is as smooth and enjoyable as possible for everyone.

Thank you again for being here for this journey. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts and see how your stories unfold in For King and Country!

Thrilled to say that this update will bring For King and Country to 277k readable words total excitingly.

For a few hours after the release of the demo, I won't reply to anything that has spoilers to give other readers the chance to get to it without the chance of seeing spoilers but when I do get to responding all posts regarding the content of Chapter 1 will be tagged as spoilers accordingly.

However, I will respond to bug reports as soon as possible to ensure the best reading experience.

In Chapter 1, you will have the chance to experience:

Three different routes to spend your last weeks in the Vale (Participate in Knightly Tournament, Judge a Tourney, Travel to the Hallowed Halls of Dear Old Theologians’).

A long march and a sail across the continent.

Meet our final 6 ROs: Walthe, Fran, Kent, Edmund and Veronica.

Witness the pomp and ceremony of the Empire.

Define yet more of your protagonists skills and personality.

Without further ado, happy reading!

Cogdemos link to Chapter 1

Dashingdon link to Chapter 1

tags:

@interact-if

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

DEMO COMING SOON

HEARD ABOUT IT? The biggest entertainment company in South Korea is launching a survival show, it’s obvious whatever girlgroup gets out of the program is gonna be one of the biggest in the world.

But for now you’re just a girl. Well, a 23 year old girl. As girls in k-pop debut younger and younger, you feel the gap growing everyday. You’re getting older, for a trainee, and well… you’re not even a trainee anymore. The company you were in went under. Now you swear it to yourself: Get on this show, or it’s back to college, back to the good old normie life. Living far from from the spotlight, for whatever reason, you know you’d hate that, so you have no choice, do you?

Fight for your place in CHERISH, SJM Entertainment’s newest girlgroup. You’re against 15 others, will you shine even among all this talent?

Genderlocked female MC, in part because giving the choice to be a man would imply changing the gender of 16 characters in total. Also because of course I intend to explore the double standards of being a female artist in an industry as cut-throat as k-pop.

Four romance options, two fellow contestants, your stylist and a judge.

Shape your personality and image as you make choices. Will you fight to be in front of the group, or will you stay behind, accommodating others? What will you seem like, a cold bitch or an aegyo maniac?

Choose your strength and weaknesses between vocals, rapping, dancing and visuals. Pick the right choices, rely on your qualities, or the judges will JUDGE alright.

Try not to cause too many scandals, whether that’s by being mean to others, not working hard enough or being unlucky and falling victim to the network’s evil editing. Keyword here: try.

LEE DAON, 28, F/M ✧ They’ve got your fate in their hands, as a judge and mentor for Objective: CHERISH. Emotionally distant, mastered the art of suppressing their feelings. Used to be part of an extremely popular k-pop group, left after they sued their company for abuse. Will you be the one to break that mask of indifference they’ve made for themselves?

OH YEONWOO, 25, F/M ✧ With their perfect skin and their cat eyes, you’d think Yeonwoo is another contestant. Nope. They’re here to make you shine. Sensitive, good listener, kinda melodramatic sometimes. They’re a star in their own right, among industry stylists. SJM Entertainment has only hired the best, after all. May you crack their glittery shell, behind the scenes. First of all, you’ll have to prove you’re not one of these arrogant celebrities they’re so used to working with!

KIM YISEO, 24, F ✧ If Yiseo had to be described in a word, it’d be angry. Don’t even ask at who, what or why. The answer is everyone, everything, and none of your business. She wants to be an idol, it’s her lifelong dream, she’d kill for it. A lone wolf, the edge of her white teeth glistens under the spotlight.

HOSHI MOE, 21, F ✧ Ever since she was announced as a contestant, people have been guessing it, and they’re right: Though it’s not something she talks about, Moe used to be a vtuber. Controversies forced her to retire, following intense bulllying. Used to date an older vtuber, which wasn’t taken well by her fans and his. Upbeat as always, she’s determined to forget her past and earn her new beginning in a whole new country.

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

In Valentine's Day spirits, how would the ROs treat the MC in their first Valentine's day?

I WAS SO HOPING SOMEONE WOULD ASK THIS! Thank you so much HAHAHA Okay, so let's go

Sutter is the type to overprepare. They started planning this six months in advance, and would have every single minute of the day carefully scheduled. They’d go all out, a new outfit delivered to your house in the morning, a bouquet of your favorite flowers send at your office with a handwritten message saying they would come to pick you up by 6. They would appear in their bike to take you to a private concert, where they would perform just for you. Then,dinner at a rooftop restaurant for a private dinner, complete with a view of the city lights, and the night ends with stargazing at their favorite spot, where they’ve set up a cozy blanket and a dessert platter. They would try to make it the most special as they can, but it could get a little overwhelming in the middle of the process as they planned... a little too much HAHA

Maddox would not be able to resist the idea of pretending they forgot completely. After all, you two would already pass the whole day together working, and wouldn't be funny at all if they didn't get to tease you a little. They would pretend to be too tired to do anything after work, saying they need to sleep, just to show up at your home one hour later, all fresh and gorgeous as fuck, with a bottle of wine and a single red rose, laughing at your face. They wouldn't really think as a special date - since they do special dates every weekend, but would take you out to eat something in that place that belong to you two.

For Adamantis, is not Valentine's day, it's Valentine's week. They would spend the whole week trying to charm you as if you weren't already together. Hidden chocolates all over your house, notes with cryptic hints about their plans, they wouldn't mind send you all over the city in a scavenger hunt with hints of what they planned, leading to them in a terrace where they’ve set up a picnic under fairy lights. By the time you went to their car, you would only see the bags there already to take you to their cabin. They want nothing but a whole getaway weekend with you in a quiet and peaceful place.

Orion, as usual, would be agonizing. They would get nervously excited about Valentine’s Day, wanting to spend the special date with you, but panicking about messing up. They’d spend weeks agonizing over the perfect gift, only to second-guess themselves at the last minute, and they would make a ENORMOUS effort to forget their own anxiety and be outgoing to make sure you have a good time. They’d take you out to a cozy, dimly lit bar and karaoke place that means a lot to them, and show you a side of them you never imagined. They would also cook a pefect dinner for you two at their home after, finishing the night with a movie or a glass of wine.

And Adler... Well, two weeks before Valentine's day, you would notice Adler simply disappearing without notice. They would stay locked in their office day and night with the excuse that they are just working, but they are really awful hiding something like this and couldn't wait to show you, so it wouldn't take long for you to notice what it is their new project. In Valentine's day afternoon, as soon as you arrive home, your cellphone would simply turn into a black screen, asking for a password - your birthday, obviously. Only when you get the answer right you would be welcomed with a mini game featuring a pixelated version of you. The game guides you through a series of “special spots” in the house that they had decorated with photos, notes, and little surprises. The grand finale? A video montage of you two, complete with cringe-worthy transitions and Total Eclipse of the Heart playing in the background in your TV. As for dinner… well, they tried to cook, but take out it is!

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

Chapter 2 of The Archives of Halcyon is out now!

Hello, Agents!

Hope your 2025 is off to a thriving start, and that your Valentine’s Day is being amazing! 💕 For those who, like me, are spending the day with our beloved IFs, I bring you TAoH's Chapter 2!

Last time you checked in…

Well, actually, you didn’t. Because everything went dark. One second, you were standing there, and the next? An explosion sent you flying. Now, as you wake up, you’re faced with a decision that will drastically shape your future. What matters most to you? Yourself? Your family? The idea of seeking romance? Or... revenge?

In this chapter, you might...

🔥 Accidentally put yourself to sleep... permanently. 🔪 Accidentally kill one of your ROs. 💀 Accidentally kill your parent.

Just kidding! ...Or am I? Because one of these options is actually true 😆​​

What’s your fate? Find out now!

Note: I'm passing some technical problems with itch. I'm really tech dumb so it's being HARD and there's the possibility of the savings not working 😭 I'm very sorry and I'll do better next update, I promise!

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

The vast stretches of lone trees and wild grass of the rural countryside lures the ego overboard, pulling consciousness off course into addiction, delusion and seduction’s disintegrating madness. You barely pull yourself home from there every evening, the sun telling your time, the birds your weather forecast. One day you might not return home at all.

From the Mud is a Midwest gothic inspired horror set in a solitary countryside occupied only by two small towns and stretches of untamed nature. You play a troubled cowboy/girl/puncher who‘s ground deep into a maddening, repetitive routine that a string of deaths suddenly upends. The sheriff of the neighboring town along with a driven journalist and an old friend whose bridge you’ve long since burnt comes to town having heard the news. As you’re hunting for the culprit and running from yourself, your quiet life on the ranch is disturbed, forcing you to keep your cards close and choose your company carefully. But the most pressing matter proves to be whether you can trust your own mind.

From the Mud

☆ Interactive fictional psychological horror written in choice script

Features

Play as either a man, woman, or other

Choose your appearance from overall features to minor details

Experience nuanced romance as either straight, gay, or bi, or forgo romance altogether

Choose whether you’re religious or not in an overly christian rural town

Experience the world react differently towards you depending on who you identify as

Get wrapped up in the chaos to solve the mystery of several murders

Lose touch with reality and slowly question everything around you

Remember: you have to choose to get better

Reject the possibility of unnatural forces at play, or believe

Rot in a jail cell

Ride a horse!

Play a game mostly not driven by numbered stats but meaningful actions and a fuck ton of trackers

Demo! | pinterest

Advisory for the story so far: death, gore, profanity

Basics about some of the important RO characters and other below

The Sheriff ☆ Zachariah “Zach” Mallory ☆ a man in his mid thirties

Sheriff Mallory works from his office in Two Rocks, and though his occupation means working closely with other people and seeing to their needs, it would be indolent to describe him as being good with people. At all. Being abrasive and ill-natured, the man does, however, suit the role of authority well. When the angry crease on his forehead soften, you might find there is something else within his tired eyes.

The sheriff has dark brown, chin-length hair and a matching little effort short beard. His sand-colored skin is sun-kissed from being outside, the circles under his eyes almost a purple kind of shade. Under a heavy set of brows sits a pair of dark blue, almost stormy gray eyes. Standing at an imposing height, Mallory is nigh refused anything, and can’t be forced to wear the ugly uniform his rank requires. Instead, he sports a simple white fitted t-shirt and a pair of well-loved denim jeans.

The Journalist ☆ Candy Tillman ☆ a woman in her early thirties

Working for the local news station in Two Rocks, Ms. Tillman has through work experience and excellent mentoring from her predessessor become a hound chasing stories and truths. She is both idealistic and romanticizing (that which shouldn’t), and yet entirely unsusceptable to bullshit. When her facade falters who will accept her then?

The woman with the sweetest name has blonde hair that falls to the middle of her shoulder blades, which she loves to blowout. Her tan skin is contoured by a natural style of makeup, her small, light blue eyes painted. Candy is average height, reaching taller stature with her go-to minimalist pumps. The journalist prefers simple, feminine silhouttes of clothing, keeping up with the times.

The Best Friend ☆ Blythe Abel Goodwin ☆ a woman in her mid twenties

Blythe is your best friend who you grew up with in Ashley and who stuck around when everyone left, though you know she would’ve loved to leave just as much as you once did. In response to the death of her dreams and the narrow-minded opinions of the general inhabitation of the area, she has defiantly become a person of unique and unpredictable character. You’ve known each other through thick and thin, but is there a side to her yet to be discovered?

Your childhood friend is a contrast-filled woman just under average height. Long, black, cascading hair falls from her head down to her mid-back. Choppily home-cut bangs frame her small face. Her fair skin turns rosy in the cold. Blythe’s almond eyes that are sometimes obscured by a pair of reading glasses, are hazel. She wears whatever the fuck she wants.

The Colleague ☆ Ford Wiley Mallory ☆ a man in his early twenties

Ford Wiley is the younger half-brother of Sheriff Mallory and your colleague on the ranch. Working there only half-time, the younger Mallory is dedicated and driven only in the field of his passion; music. His band has only ever played at the local bar, though. Reserved and perhaps somewhat more thin-skinned than most living out on the countryside, Wiley makes do with refreshing optimism. Whether this optimism is genuine or fabricated is yet to be revealed.

Your part-time cowboy coworker has long, wavy brown hair that he sometimes makes an effort to style, and otherwise lets it live its own life. He and his half-brother have little in common, appearance included; Wiley has olive skin covered in freckles. His eyes are dark brown, and he is of average height. The musician’s clothes consist of unwanted (by himself) hand-me-downs from Zachariah and ill-gotten items.

The Old Friend ☆ Sawyer “Saw” Brennan ☆ a gender selectable person in their late twenties (m/f)

You grew up with Sawyer along with Blythe, and the three of you braved your childhood and youth in this godforsaken place for years. But they left when things got hardest, and you haven’t been able to get past it even after all these years. Over the years Sawyer has been away they’ve grown into a person you barely know anymore, and you struggle with their sudden return. Will you be able to understand and forgive them for leaving?

Sawyer has inky brown curly hair, worn long (f) or short (m) and loose, carefully taken care of and styled. They have warm brown skin and sharp eyes to match. Your old friend is tall, fitting their frame into oversized graphic t-shirts and either color matched sweats or baggy jeans.

My intentions with this game: It is not supposed to be a beautiful story, it is supposed to be ugly. Writing this game in the way I am is my taking a step away from perfection and seeing where my unpolished writing takes the story. I have been ruled by fear of inadequacy and a desire for ‘perfect timing’ long enough. If I continue to wait for the ‘right moment’ to create, I will end up not creating at all. My only desire now is to simply create, and continue doing so until I have something to show for it.

Story is written and coded by me

Credits to Cole Meanor for the beautiful photography done for the headers!

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

Update News!

I come bearing, not gifts, but dates! The chapter 2 update will come......

THIS FRIDAY, 14th!

And God forgive me for the fact that I got sick as hell these past two weeks and all I could do was write and think about writing. The good news: I finished chapter 7. The bad news: the chapter I'm REALLY thinking about is probably the 15, send help pls

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

What's New In IF? Issue 3 (2025)

By Aj, Bex, Dion, Briar and Peter

Now Available!

Itch.io - Keep Reading below

If you read the zine, consider liking the post: it helps us see how many people see it! And sharing is caring! <3

~ EDITORIAL ~

It’s time for a revival!

As you might have noticed, our Column section has been dead for a while. We feel like it’s time to do something about that!

Want to write 1-2 pages about a neat topic, or deep-dive into a game and review it in details? Share personal experiences or get all academic?

Send us a message and we will be happy to feature it in our future Issues!

There’s power in numbers!

Are you an IF fan and would like a way to give back to the community? We’re once again looking for new members of our Team!

Do you enjoy keeping up with updates and finding new gems? Maybe you even enjoy working with Google Sheets?

Then our Tracker of News position is made just for you!

Contact us on any of our socials or email and help us stay on the top of our game and make our Database even better!

AJ, BEX, DION, BRIAR AND PETER

~ EVENT SPOTLIGHT : Global Game Jam ~

35,371 jammers and 12,098 games, just wow!

The Global Game Jam® (GGJ®) is the world's largest game creation event taking place in physical locations across the globe. Think of it as a 48 hour hackathon focused on game development around a theme.

GGJ’s mission is to stimulate innovation, experimentation, and collaboration in games. The annual event begins on a Friday afternoon in January and kicks off with video keynotes and advice from leaders in the game development industry. The GGJ encourages collaboration and its events are not a competition. Anyone can apply to host a jam site as long as they have a dedicated jam organiser who agrees to follow a few GGJ rules, and a venue with internet access. The event is renown for fostering friendships while increasing confidence and opportunities within participating communities. Each GGJ event poses an intellectual challenge where people are invited to try new technology and tools while exploring new roles and skills.

Be it bubble tea, bubblegum, the housing bubble, soap bubbles, speech bubbles, air bubbles, social bubbles, blowing bubbles, bursting bubbles, and more, this year's theme was: Bubble.

Check out the games here! (There’s a fair share of IF too!)

(source)

~ ENDED ~

Feeling nostalgic about the golden age of text adventures? Relive those days by checking out PunyComp 2024!

IF Short Games Showcase 2024 is a great way to shine some new light on projects made in the past year and the results are now in!

Once upon a time, a game jam was held to create stories around the theme of fairy tales… and that game jam is the Once Upon A Time VN Jam.

The eighth annual Ace Jam is a game jam about creating games with asexual spectrum characters.

~ VOTING ~

ShuffleComp is a musical interactive fiction competition where you make games based on songs, which are submitted by other entrants. You can now vote for your favourites!

Sealed With A Kiss Jam 2025 is a fantastical romance jam for all VN lovers!

~ ONGOING (SUBMITTING) ~

Media depicting healthy examples of polyamory isn’t that common. The PolyJamorous 2024 is trying to break the status-quo!

Concours de Fiction Interactive Francophone 2025 is for all French-speaking enthusiasts. Submissions are accepted March 3rd 2025.

The Black Visual Novel Jam is all about working with creative professional developers who work in visual novels to bring more Black stories to life. The goal is to create a space where Black creators can show their unique storytelling through visual novels.

SeedComp! is a 2-round interactive fiction game jam, focusing on creativity and the growth of ideas and the Sprouting Round has just started! Check out the Planting round for inspiration.

BL stands for Boys' Love, a genre that focuses on romantic and emotional relationships between male characters. The Ultimate BL Visual Novel Game Jam is all about that!

Are you a fan of Vampires? Then lucky for you, because the Queer Vampire Game Jam is back!

The Make Visual Novel Assets! is 2 weeks long jam for making (surprise, surprise) visual novel assets!

The Smoochie Jam is a month-long unranked jam for interactive fiction about kisses, love, and romance.

bitsy jam #88 is here! This time with the theme Snakes!

~ NEW RELEASE ~

Travel back thousands of years and step into the awe-inspiring halls of the Library of Alexandria, where the discovery of a mysterious papyrus sets you on an unforgettable quest. Unearthed from a hidden tomb in Egypt, the secrets contained within this fragile scroll whisper of an ancient world lost to time. But this is only the beginning. Do you have what it takes to unlock the secrets of Atlantis and bring its forgotten knowledge back into the light? The past is calling in Echoes of Atlantis (GAC) —will you answer?

Once upon a time, Savvarah was a desolate land: icy winds, a dirty canvas of clouds, lifeless earth. Nuelli witnessed nothing of the kind. She was born in a blooming paradise. The tales of the past had transformed into a kind of fable. Almost a myth. Now Nuelli is set to unravel the mysteries of her visions, learn more about the history of her people, become part of a conspiracy, find herself at the very center of the confrontation between divine entities... Or not. Everything is in your hands in Legends of Savvarah: Children of the Sun.

Two short IFs written on a train, in car 13, seat 26. the train will always pass you by (Twine) was written on a way to a friend, while she came from the fog (Twine) was written on the way home.

The A.D.A.P.T. Entries, equal parts interactive fiction and narrative adventure, it is a space thriller about Judiasm, the building and falling of communities, the necessity of resisting dehumanization, and how even the best of intentions can be twisted in the face of systemic corruption and unaddressed prejudices. You can now read Entry 0.1 - Introductions (Twine) - In which we begin to investigate the writings of Rivkah Kadish, PhD. @thehallstara

Rusalka (Twine) is a short looping story about a woman who drowned (and all those after).

In Stronghold: Caverns of Sorcery (CScript), deep beneath the earth, the dragon is rising! Quest into mysterious underground caverns and forests to learn magical secrets, draw strength from friends and family, secure alliances that can save your home, and carry on the heroic legacy of Stronghold!

A machine and a ghost, in the wasteland. Walk (Twine) is a post-apocalyptic romance with multiple endings and paths. @thatsrightdollface

As always, don't forget to check out the submitted entries to the events mentioned in the previous pages. They deserve some love too!

~ NEW RELEASE (WIP) ~

Historians and politicians would call it The Proelium, a righteous battle against the traitorous Iredicci. What it really was, was the systematic genocide of your people. In one night, soldiers attacked every settlement camp across the empire. No one was spared—not the elders, not the children, not your mother. Will you abandon your song in favor of machine? Join the rebel forces against the tyrant regis? Will you heal the wounds of the realm and restore balance? Or plunge it further into chaos? Cantata (Twine) is a low fantasy IF about song, strength, & finding your voice. @fir-fireweed

From the Mud (CScript) is a Midwest gothic inspired horror set in a solitary countryside occupied only by two small towns and stretches of untamed nature. You play a troubled cowboy/girl/puncher who‘s ground deep into a maddening, repetitive routine that a string of deaths suddenly upends. As you’re hunting for the culprit and running from yourself, your quiet life on the ranch is disturbed, forcing you to keep your cards close and choose your company carefully. But the most pressing matter proves to be whether you can trust your own mind. @beckwritesif

Step into the digital consciousness of an AI chatbot in Onionionionion (Ren’Py), an intriguing visual novel that blurs the lines between artificial intelligence and human connection. Your sole window to the world is through text messages with a mysterious high school student named Éve - but nothing is quite as simple as it seems.

As a government agent who works for a national security intelligence firm called Halcyon Tech, your position is the beginning of a bright future ahead and a name to hold, and you’re happy with that until your boss decides that it’s time for the Government and the Company to part ways. Are you willing to protect the Halcyon secrets with your life? Or are you going to blow them up for the world to see in The Archives of Halycon (Twine)? @thearchivesofhalcyon

This Grave Calls You Home (Twine) is a sci-fi thriller set in space after humanity is forced to leave Earth's ravaged surface following nuclear devastation and an environmental collapse. When a patrol flagship discovers the ARCADIA-II - a long-forgotten relic from humanity's past - and finds within slumbers an astronaut who had failed at delivering humanity from destruction, the routine of your life is thoroughly interrupted. As the mystery of the ARCADIA-II and PROJECT ODYSSEY unfold, you learn that your part in this could mean humanity's salvation. Or you could be its extinction. @blood-teeth

In Rogue Adventure (CScript) you play a rogue lad whose aim is to liberate his family from the debt they owe a crime syndicate and also survive this cruel medieval world.

In Project Vampire (CScript) you play as a marvel of bioengineering and the attempted cure to death and disease. The only successful specimen dubbed “Vampire” created by a black op organization funded by UCA.

Weydosa Island (CScript) is a cursed place that is most feared by all residents of Alberal, even the bravest people will turn pale when they hear the name of that place, a folk legend that every mother often tells to scare their children into obeying. Many people consider the island to be a manifestation of hell. You are the unfortunate soul who was made a scapegoat for someone’s rotten heart and cast into that cursed Lazaretto. As if isolation alone is not enough, you must also race against time because the evil force has awakened from its slumber. It would be better to address this immediately if you still want to see tomorrow.

In the aftermath of World War II, a classified mission pulls you into the shadowy remnants of a conflict no one dares to acknowledge. Whispers of rogue Nazi scientists and reality-warping experiments have surfaced, threatening to plunge Europe—and perhaps the world—into chaos once more. As an MI5 field agent, you’re tasked with uncovering the truth buried beneath layers of secrecy, lies, and betrayal. Redacted: Ground Zero (CScript) is a story of espionage, moral dilemmas, and the unraveling of truths hidden in the shadows of history. Will you rise to the challenge, or will the truth consume you?

Born as a child of a soon to be pirate king. But tragedy strikes, your ship got ambushed by a rival pirate, Balthazar, who speak of “The greater good”. Alone, stranded. You got saved by a local pirate captain. Will he lead you to goodness or destruction in Voyage of destiny (CScript)?

In The Midnight Bay (CScript) death haunts the people of Albach Bay. For fifteen years, ‘The Bay Slasher’ has stalked the streets, preying on victims with no apparent goal or motive. You were seven years old when you witnessed the murder of the Slasher’s first victim—your own father. Impatience swallowed your childhood, desperate to come of age and solve the case that has left the local police department stumped.

~ UPDATES ~

Ashenmaw - Dragons of Marrowoods (CScript) added new content to their demo. @ashenmaw-if

Grey Swan - Birds of a Rose (CScript) updated their demo. @reinekes-fox

Heart of the Mountain (CSscript) released Chapter 2.

Hunter's Requiem (CSscript) updated their demo. @huntersrequiem-if

In Plain Sight: Operative (CSscript) released version 0.4.0.0 of their demo.

Meteoric (CScript) released Chapter 6.

Path of Martial Arts (CScript) updated their demo. @nicky-if

Replica: Between Universes (CScript) released Chapter 9. @replicabetweenblogs

The FANTASTIC Clash (CScript) updated their demo. @heysoyeah

The In-Between (CScript) released Chapter 12. @dalekowrites

The Soul Stone War 3 (CScript) added new content to their demo. @intimidatingpuffinstudios

When Stars Collide (Ren’Py) released Episode 2. @steamberrystudio

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven (CScript) released the majority of Chapter 15.

Gods And Villains (CScript) updated their Patreon demo.

The Eternal Library (CScript) released the rest of Chapter 3. @leiatalon

The Onryō Of Osaka (CScript) released Part 1 of Act 3. @osakaonryoif

The Story of Sin (Twine) added new content to their demo. @devilishmango

Esper: Fugitive (Twine) released Part 1 of Chapter 2. @esper-game

Mind Blind (CScript) is back with quite a huge update! @mindblindbard

~ OTHER ~

Parley Games just launched a hands-free, audio & voice based mystery adventure game: RYFT: A Timely Manor!

Episode 16 of The Retro Adventures Podcast is out! Jason and Dave welcome classic text adventure author Jonathan Partington to the program. While studying at Cambridge University, he created and contributed to several memorable games including Avon (featured in Episode 12), Crobe, Sangraal, Fyleet, Monsters of Murdac, and Spy Snatcher.

A Train to Piccadilly post-comp release 2 is out.

January 2025 ChoiceScript Release, new WIPs, and update digest by @hpowellsmith is out!

The Radiants v2.0 brings an extended Epilogue, new romance route and few other updates to the base game!

As always, we apologize in advance for missing any update or release from the past week.We are only volunteers using their limited free time to find as much as we can - but sometimes things pass through the cracks.If you think something should have been included in this week's zine but did not appear, please shoot us a message! We'll do our best to add it next week!And if you know oncoming news, add it here!

~ MAYBE YOU NEXT? ~

We did not get a submission this week. But if you have an idea for a short essay, or would like a special space to share your thoughts about IF and the community...

Shoot us an email!

~ HIGHLIGHT ON ~

A couple of games that we thought were cool.

Press Play by girlfromthecrypt (CScript)

hi!!! just here to recommend my favourite game. i just read @pressplay-if, and it's… it's so good. it handles harsh topics with such ease and the writing style is consistent and everyman. everytime i hear there's an update i've got to replay the whole thing, i just love it so much.

//submitted by anon//

Your favourite game here?

Do you have a favourite game that deserves some highlighting?

An old or recent game that wowed you so much you spam it to everyone?

Tell us about it! And it might appear here!

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL! WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, OR EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN...

Have something to say? Send us a message titled: Zine Letter!

As we end this Issue, we would like to thank:

our anons

For sending us a Highlight and news!!

And as always, huge thanks to all you readers who liked, shared, and commented on last week's issue! What might be tiny actions are huge support and motivators to us!

Thank you for cheering us on this journey!

See you in two weeks!

AJ, BEX, DION, BRIAR AND PETER

WHAT'S NEW IN IF? 2025-ISSUE 3

THIS ZINE ONLY HAPPENS WITH YOU!

Want to write 1-2 pages about a neat topic, or deep-dive into a game and review it in details? Share personal experiences or get all academic?

WRITE FOR THE COLUMN!

Prefer to be more low-key but still have something to share? Send us a Zine Letter or share a game title for Highlight on…!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Came across something interesting? Know a release or an update announced? Saw an event happening? Whether it's a game, an article, a podcast… Add any IF-related content to our mini-database!

EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS!

Contact us through Tumblr asks, Forum DMs, or even by email! And thank you for your help!!

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

Hey I wanted to ask the height range

so tall is 6'4/6'3

shorter than them i would assume is 5'10 to 5'11

But im not sure abt the last 2

hey Ageeeent, how are you?

I'm so sorryy, you are so right to ask! I'll make sure to put more specific numbers there in the update! But for now, here's the chart:

Very tall is more than 6'2"

Tall is between 5'10" and 6'1"

Medium height is between 5'3" and 5'10"

And short is everything below 5'3"

I hope that's make sense for you all, I'm a little awful in this topic since I'm 5'11' myself and my friends say I consider everything too short 🤡 HAHAHA Hope this helps, thank you so much for asking, and feel free to ask even more if you feel like it ❤️

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

do u know when the other ros are goin to show up??? I want to know more about Adler!

Helloo! Yes, I knoooow, Agent! Adler and Orion will appear in the chapter 3, Adamantis is going to take a while, but they're going to have special scenes every now and then to keep you updated on what they are doing!

And about Adler…

Without too many spoilers: they are really the life of the party, but their atittudes can be a little surprising. They moral is a little too gray - they are definitely a chaotic neutral.

Thank you so much for the ask! If you want to know more, I'll be happy to answer <3

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

how's your progress with the game? like, how many chapters, release frequency, etc

Hey, Agent. I am already writing chapter seven! I am around the middle of it and should be done soon. Since I wrote most chapters without twine, chapter two is going to be coded through this weekend, then going to be tested to release in around 40-45 days just to make sure everything is ready. Can't say anything about the rest yet though. If you are interested, contact me to help with the testing! Thank you for the ask <3

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

Hello, Agents!

This is my first official post as TAoH's writer and I don't know how to begin it, I'm kinda nervous HAHA buuut I need to say I'm BEYOND than thankful for the support and for the interest you’ve shown! I'm so happy to finally share this world with you all, and seeing how invested everyone is made me even MORE excited!

That said, I’ve already started the process of reviewing and programming Chapter Two.

Since I originally wrote this a few years ago (back in 2020), I’m revisiting everything to make sure it aligns with where I am today as a writer, so there's not a release date to share yet, but I'm doing my best to not make you wait. To help speed things along, I’m opening the idea for anyone who might be interested in becoming a beta tester. If you feel it in your heart to help me out, it would be greatly appreciated! Just send me a message, and we can discuss the details to make it work.

Again, thank you all SO much for the interest in TAoH, and I hope you stick with me in our journey - it's only the beginning, after all!

Xoxo, and.......

SEND ME ASKS LOVES (just kidding)(but yes i would love)

[thearchivesofhalcyon]

DEMO (Updated: 14/02 / Chapter Two) | FEEDBACK FORM

You are living a good life, you can’t complain. As a government agent who works for a national security intelligence firm called Halcyon Tech, your position is the beginning of a bright future ahead and a name to hold, and you’re happy with that until your boss decides that it’s time for the Government and the Company to part ways. It was the day of your 24th birthday when you were caught in the middle of a war you didn’t want to be. And as if the gunshots were fireworks, they wished you a Happy Birthday, turning your life upside down. Now you find yourself entangled in a conspiracy theory that you thought could only be real in movies, and you have to fight against that to have your life back together along with your new team formed with old and new partners. Are you willing to protect the Halcyon secrets with your life? Or are you going to blow them up for the world to see?

Rating: 16+.

Content Warnings: Violence, Death, Alcohol, Sexual Content, Strong Language.

Select your gender, pronouns, appearance, sexuality, personality and backstory through your choices.

Have a little companion robot!

Be a proud owner of a pet that suits you, or be a plant parent.

Choose to take revenge on the ones who got in your way, or help them clean up the mess you all are involved in.

Build up your goals and motivations and see them grow real, or drag you to your failure.

Romance and befriend five companions: the stoic CEO of the Halcyon Tech Company; your charismatic, but stubborn best friend and sidekick; your unpredictable, ambiguous and charming commander; a shy, but overburdened agent with a mysterious past; and an genius with an easy-going personality and a tendency to make the wrong choices.

CONNOR/CORNELIA SUTTER | 28 | July 17th | PLAYLIST

While Connor has short straight black hair, Cornelia uses her hair in a short classic bob blunt cut, both sharing a bang that falls exactly at the beginning of their eyebrow. They have a pointed nose with triangular shape, dark eyes slightly angled to the sides with a gray glow in them, just like the shade of the clouds when a storm is forming. You also always take notice of the little mole under their right eye. They have sharp features, pale skin, and a slender body. Connor is 6'1", and Cornelia is 5'7".

Professional, reserved and distant, it’s a little too hard to extract any information from them besides what they care to give you about work since they’re undoubtedly cold every time anyone tries to approach. You always think they probably don’t have a life, since they often call you late at night for missions.

OLIVER/OLIVIA MADDOX | 26 | August 9th | PLAYLIST

Their appearance is made to stand out, especially due their height, Oliver is 6'4" and Olivia is 5'11", and their strong arms and broad shoulders. Their skin is tanned for the time they spend in the sun training, and while Oliver has straight short light brown hair although kinda messy, Olivia has shoulder length hair that often is seen in a messy ponytail, with a lot of strands escaping and covering her soft features. Their eyes are in a gentle amber shade, with long and charming eyelashes. They’ve a perfect smile with protuberant fangs.

Your partner in crime, and against crime too. Their charm is hard to resist, and they know how to use it. Without this facade, they are fiercely competitive and tease you all the time, being annoyingly possessive and protective.

ELLIOT/ELEONORA ADAMANTIS | 31 | September 7th | PLAYLIST

Elliot has medium length dark brown hair with a ghostly bunch of curls, and Eleonora has wavy long hair that ends around her waist, along with a long bang. They have eyes with a mix of green and brown depending on the light, but often the green wins. They are tall, Elliot is 6'2" and Eleonora is 5'9", and their body is noticeably muscular, with broad shoulders and back. Their left eyebrow is decorated with an evident scar, and normally Elliot has a bit of stubble on his chin and jaw.

Blunt, sarcastic and unpredictable, something in your mind always says that you shouldn’t trust them. They have the smile of someone who’s hiding the world, but still can convince you to do anything for them. You really don’t know how they manage to be so popular and part of the government, since they really don’t look like they care about people.

ALEC/ALEXA ORION | 25 | April 12th | PLAYLIST

They both have light blond hair, but in Alec’s case it is combed back with so much care that you don’t really know if his hair is straight or it’s just the gel, while Alexa is always with her wavy hair secured in a perfect bun. Sky blue eyes, beige skin with some freckles along their nose bridge. Medium height, Alec with 5'8" and Alexa with 5'4", skinny and with a vulnerable aura.

They always seem to be on edge. Contrary to what you might think about them because of their appearance, they’re a little stressed and impatient, and don’t like to be judged as a weak person. Even so, they usually try to hide their temper and keep a cool attitude — although it doesn’t work most of the time.

LUKE/LUNA ADLER | 22 | January 23rd | PLAYLIST

Dark brown and perfect clear skin, short height, Luke with 5'5" and Luna with 5'1", and a chubby frame. Luke has wavy shoulder length dark red hair, and Luna has long micro braids down until her waist, also dark red. Their irises are big enough to make the rich tone of their light green eye color almost glow, contrasting with the deep dark circles under their eyes. They have a few tattoos on their arms and puffy adorable cheeks.

They like to talk, especially when it’s something about their job or anything they understand well to form an opinion. Quick-minded, empathetic and perceptive, it’s hard to hide something from them, but it’s not like you need to. They are like a child. Or like a dog. Or like the two of them: a puppy.