Interactive fiction games
A story-first genre where the player steers the narrative through text commands or choices.
What is the interactive fiction genre?
Interactive fiction is one of the oldest narrative forms in games. At its origin there were no graphics: The game described the location in words, and you moved forward by typing commands like go north or open the door. Imagination was the engine. Today the genre lives on mostly in its choice-based form: The text flows and you choose your path at certain points.
The simplicity of the interaction is deceptive. A text-based game can put all the energy not spent on graphics into the depth of the story, the characters and the weight of the choices. That is why the genre holds some of the boldest narrative experiments in games.
What defines it?
Locations, characters and events are conveyed in writing.
In the classic form you type commands; in the modern form you pick from set options.
Decisions that look small can noticeably change the ending.
Hardware requirements are almost nonexistent, so it runs on any device.
Landmark games
Well-known examples often used to explain the genre. For the list on our site, see the games section below.
At a glance
Interactive fiction games (3)
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between interactive fiction and a visual novel?
In a visual novel, art and music are a defining part of the storytelling. In interactive fiction the weight is on the text, and visuals are often absent or only supporting.
Are text-based games still being made?
Yes. Thanks to indie developers and browser-based platforms the genre is alive, and the dialogue and choice systems of big releases are direct heirs of this tradition.