Interactive Fiction
Ongoing coverage on Interactive Fiction.
Latest coverage
Synths, impossible physics, and an "erotic experience with a PS5 controller" - the side projects of game devs are a reminder creativity is undimmable
This article highlights the undimmable nature of human creativity through the lens of game developers' personal side projects. Despite industry pressures, developers are pursuing diverse creative outlets, from interactive fiction and VR experiences to physical art and hardware experiments, demonstrating a persistent drive to create for its own sake.
'I am a big roguelike guy, but also a fan of minimalism and elegance': Sam Barlow, creator of Her Story, guides us through the games in his Steam Library
Sam Barlow, creator of Her Story and Immortality, discusses the games in his Steam library, highlighting his appreciation for roguelikes, minimalism, and elegant game design. He shares his current playthroughs of 868-BACK and D: The Game, his enduring love for classics like The New Zealand Story and Dragon Wars, and his extensive hours in Shiren the Wanderer and Riven.
NEGOTIATOR: Choice Text Game Is a Crisis Negotiation Thriller, Out Now
Negotiator: Choice Text Game, an interactive thriller that unfolds entirely through SMS messages, is now available on the Google Play Store. Players assume the role of crisis negotiator Felix Fandor, attempting to de-escalate tense situations with individuals pushed to their breaking point. The game features multiple episodes, each offering a unique scenario and consequences based on player choices, with no option to reload after decisions are made.
Acclaimed 2024 PS5 Adventure Game 70% Off on PlayStation Store
The interactive fiction adventure game As Dusk Falls, originally an Xbox exclusive, is currently available for 70% off on the PlayStation Store for both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. This limited-time deal brings the cross-buy title down to $8.99, its lowest price to date, and ends soon.
Murder Meet Cute demo out now on Steam as part of the nonbinary coded games
The demo for the interactive fiction game Murder Meet Cute is now available on Steam as part of the nonbinary coded games festival. The demo allows players to experience Amy's interactions in a 90s computer shop setting, debugging machines with picross-style puzzles. The game is also being exhibited in person at Develop Conference Brighton and Otakuthon.
TUNED IN, A SHIFTING ANTHOLOGY OF NIGHTMARES
Vercors Games, a new studio founded by former Tequila Works staff and talent from Airship Syndicate and Blizzard, has announced its debut title, Tuned In. This horror game traps players in a cursed television broadcast, featuring puzzles, branching narratives, and a graphic novel aesthetic. A free prologue will be available to those who sign up for the upcoming Kickstarter campaign, with the full game set to launch on Steam and Steam Deck in 2027.
Murder on the Disorient Express Pulls Into Console – A Whodunit You Can Shape?
Murder on the Disorient Express, an interactive detective adventure game, has been released on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch for £2.49. Developed and published by Infinite Zone, the game challenges players to solve a murder on a train before its destination, with player choices significantly impacting the unfolding story and leading to over a dozen possible endings.
Netflix is launching a new horror game by the developers of Oxenfree — and your phone is the controller
Netflix is launching a new first-person horror game called Unhinged on June 30, developed by Night School Studio, the creators of Oxenfree. The game will be available to all Netflix subscribers and uses a smartphone as the primary controller for actions like receiving calls and using a flashlight. Unhinged features a cast including Sadie Sink, Zoë Kravitz, and Troy Baker, and offers multiple paths with a playtime of under an hour.
Demos and Freebies
Cyber Paranoia is a psychological horror game available on PC via Steam. Players experience love, pain, and control as their choices influence an android's fate and their own. The game features interactive fiction elements where player decisions shape the narrative.
Interactive mystery thriller Apple Crumble announced for PC
Happy Broccoli Games, the developer behind Duck Detective, has announced Apple Crumble, a new interactive mystery thriller for PC. Inspired by titles like MOUTHWASHING and Knives Out, the game is set during a family birthday party where a guest is attempting to murder the grandmother. Apple Crumble will feature a fully voiced cast and is expected to launch in 2026.
Murder Meet Cute Is an Interactive Fiction Murder Mystery with Simulated 90s OS Systems
Murder Meet Cute is an upcoming interactive fiction murder mystery game developed and published by Kitico, LABORARE, and Crybaby Studios. The game features simulated 90s operating systems like Windows 95 and DOS, alongside dark comedy and horror elements. A new trailer will be released at the Horror Game Awards showcase on June 1st, 2026, and the game is slated for a PC release via Steam later this year.
New Murder Meet Cute extended story trailer to feature as part of the Horror Game Awards Summer Showcase
A new extended story trailer for the interactive fiction game Murder Meet Cute will be revealed on June 1st during the Horror Game Awards Summer Showcase. The trailer will offer a deeper look into the game's narrative, featuring protagonist Amy as she investigates mysteries and combats a malevolent presence. Murder Meet Cute is developed by Kitico, LABORARE, and Crybaby Studios.
The Morning Star - A classic text adventure for many different retro systems by Dareint!
The new dark fantasy text adventure game, The Morning Star, has been released for classic retro systems including the Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad, Commodore 64, MSX, and ZX Spectrum. The game features text-driven exploration, illustrated backdrops, inventory management, and puzzle-solving, with a narrative focused on stopping the spread of the Void.
We. The Refugees: Ticket to Europe Brings A Hard-Hitting Interactive Story To Xbox
We. The Refugees: Ticket to Europe, a narrative-driven RPG focused on the refugee crisis, has launched on Xbox Series X|S. Developed by Act Zero and published by Indie Games Starter, the game features thousands of choices, multiple endings, and hand-drawn artwork. It aims to challenge perspectives by exploring the experiences of refugees and the ethics of documenting suffering.
Sketch group Aunty Donna's new parody of Black Mirror's Bandersnatch episode will send you on a 40-minute unskippable walk around Melbourne if you make the wrong choices
Australian comedy group Aunty Donna has created a parody of Black Mirror's interactive episode Bandersnatch, titled Bandersketch. This 40-minute unskippable experience challenges viewers to help the group write a sketch under a deadline, with wrong choices leading to humorous consequences. The parody appears to be a promotion for their new Grouse House TV subscription service.
'We're doing something a bit more interesting': All Will Rise dev says its progressive deck-builder shouldn't be dumped in the 'woke, liberal bucket'
The developers of the upcoming deck-builder All Will Rise aim to create a game that is more than just a 'woke, liberal' title, focusing on progressive themes with a unique blend of card battles and choice-based narrative. Narrative director Meghna Jayanth and design director Hugo Bille discuss how the game uses interactive fiction elements and card mechanics to explore complex themes like climate activism and social change, encouraging players to imagine alternative futures.
Cyber Stalker - Free Online Browser Game
Cyber Stalker is a free online browser simulation and interactive fiction game created by happystoner5420 Games. The dark comedy title places players in the role of being stalked by an obsessive admirer named Becca, with gameplay centered around interacting with her through simulated social media platforms like FaceBork and X.com, featuring a persistent memory system and dynamic AI responses.
Romance Visual Novel 'Algorithm Prescription' Gets Free Steam Demo Ahead of Full Release
Shochiku has released a free demo for their upcoming romance visual novel, Algorithm Prescription, on PC via Steam. The demo offers a standalone scenario from a different perspective than the main game, highlighting Cocoro's interactions and relationships. The full game features branching narratives, multiple endings, and themes of obsession and confinement within an AI-managed city.
AIGA Patch Makes Immersive Play Default for All New Players | HappyGamer
AIGA has released a significant update that makes immersive play the default for all new players, fundamentally changing the player experience. The patch introduces "skill-check dice" into conversations, offers multiple NPC reply options, and includes substantial mobile layout improvements, pushing interactive fiction towards more dynamic and lifelike digital storytelling.
Karen Simulator - Free Online Browser Based HTML5 Game
Karen Simulator: Rage At The Manager is a satirical comedy interactive fiction game created by happystoner5420 Games. Players embody a "Karen" character, accumulating "Karen Points" by exhibiting entitled behavior across six unique scenarios, while managing Rage and Scandal meters. The game features a choice-driven narrative with multiple endings and a retro gaming aesthetic.
