What interactive fiction would you recommend that evokes a sense of wonder? These could be games that capture wonder or beauty in ordinary things, perhaps by viewing the world through the eyes of a child. Or they could be games that inspire awe at more extraordinary things, for instance, a spectacular landscape. Games that are not world-weary or cynical or raunchy or gory or horror-themed or disturbing, but games that make you feel as though the world is, on the whole, a beautiful/imaginative/neat place where awesome/fun things can happen. Thanks for any suggestions.
Sunset Over Savannah, by Ivan Cockrum 5 votes "all about reclaiming a sense of wonder" [+]"all about reclaiming a sense of wonder" ( ![]() | |
The Fire Tower, by Jacqueline A. Lott 4 votes "The beauty of the outdoors" [+]"The beauty of the outdoors: Lovingly described, based on real experiences on a real trail." ( ![]() | |
She's Got a Thing for a Spring, by Brent VanFossen 4 votes "The natural world" [+]"The natural world: Lots of lovely descriptions of natural spaces." --Emily Short... (No comment) [+](No comment) --Anya Johanna DeNiro... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Superluminal Vagrant Twin, by C.E.J. Pacian 3 votes "All the different and vivid worlds to visit." [+]"All the different and vivid worlds to visit." ( ![]() | |
Six, by Wade Clarke 3 votes "Nothing so happy as a sixth birthday." [+]"Nothing so happy as a sixth birthday." --Hanon Ondricek... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
City of Secrets, by Emily Short 3 votes "Explore an exotic city and its secrets." [+]"Explore an exotic city and its secrets.: This was one of the first IF games that I played in the 2000s, and the opening of this game is what got me interested in IF. You get off your train and a mysterious woman touches your arm..." ( ![]() | |
1893: A World's Fair Mystery, by Peter Nepstad 2 votes "It's a game..." [+]"It's a game about an era, and about a specific event, that was very focused on wonder." ( ![]() | |
Changes, by David Given 2 votes "The player is confronted with alien nature -- and has to become a part of it." [+]"The player is confronted with alien nature -- and has to become a part of it." ( ![]() | |
Light My Way Home, by Caelyn Sandel (as Venus Hart) 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) --Anya Johanna DeNiro... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Creatures Such As We, by Lynnea Glasser 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Counterfeit Monkey, by Emily Short 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Robin & Orchid, by Ryan Veeder and Emily Boegheim 2 votes "the care and detail in many poignant details are very evocative." [+]"the care and detail in many poignant details are very evocative." ( ![]() | |
Blue Lacuna, by Aaron A. Reed 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Coloratura, by Lynnea Glasser 2 votes "The world is full of color" [+]"The world is full of color: And this game revels in it in a beautiful, touching way. Even when everything doesn't seem like it should be so beautiful, this game definitely has that feeling of wonder. " ( ![]() | |
For a Change, by Dan Schmidt 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) --Anya Johanna DeNiro... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Hoist Sail for the Heliopause and Home, by Andrew Plotkin 2 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
The Moonlit Tower, by Yoon Ha Lee 1 vote "Beautifully..." [+]"Beautifully written game about a mysterious tower in a mythical East Asian world. The other games by the author are worth a look as well." ( ![]() | |
Monk by the Sea, by Elizabeth Decoste 1 vote "I recommend this..." [+]"I recommend this because it was inspired by paintings of the Romantic era, a time when awe and wonder of the sublime was a fascination of artist throughout Europe and the USA." ( ![]() | |
Calm, by Joey Jones and Melvin Rangasamy 1 vote "Surprisingly." [+]"Surprisingly.: You'd think that a post-apocalyptic world wouldn't quite evoke the sense you're looking for, but this one thoroughly does." --bluevelvetwings... ![]() | |
Bear Creek, Part 1, by Wes Modes 1 vote "Captures the..." [+]"Captures the child's-eye-view of the pleasures of summer very effectively. Caveat: this is only part one." --Emily Short... ![]() | |
So Far, by Andrew Plotkin 1 vote "In terms of..." [+]"In terms of beautiful and awe-inspiring images, this fantasy adventure is second to none. The world it presents is not friendly (it is rather melancholy and often very alien), but neither is it grim or horrific." --Christina Nordlander... ![]() | |
How To Be A Blackbird, by Holly Gramazio 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
How Prince Quisborne the Feckless Shook His Title, by John Ziegler 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) --Johnnywz00... ![]() | |
Wishbringer, by Brian Moriarty 1 vote "Absolutely..." [+]"Absolutely overflowing with whimsy and magic." ( ![]() | |
Poll created on July 17, 2014