I'm looking for a list of games to try where the narrative is the focus of the game. Where the author is really trying to tell a story over making a puzzlefest (though puzzles aren't necessarily unwelcome, especially if they drive they plot). For example, Infocom's Zork holds zero interest for me, while A Mind Forever Voyaging most certainly does.
Photopia, by Adam Cadre 5 votes "The first that comes to my mind" [+]"The first that comes to my mind" ( ![]() | |
Slouching Towards Bedlam, by Star Foster and Daniel Ravipinto 3 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Alabaster, by John Cater, Rob Dubbin, Eric Eve, Elizabeth Heller, Jayzee, Kazuki Mishima, Sarah Morayati, Mark Musante, Emily Short, Adam Thornton, Ziv Wities 3 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
The King of Shreds and Patches, by Jimmy Maher 2 votes "Very much an..." [+]"Very much an interactive novel, where a long, intricate story is the whole point. The puzzles sent me right to the hints though." ( ![]() | |
Galatea, by Emily Short 2 votes "Don't know..." [+]"Don't know whether you're interested in one-room, conversation-focused games, but this is definitely more of a story than a puzzlefest." --Christina Nordlander... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Rameses, by Stephen Bond 1 vote "Not a puzzlefest..." [+]"Not a puzzlefest in any sense; mostly a vignette about an unhappy young person. It's not to everyone's taste, but definitely falls on the narrative side of the divide." ( ![]() | |
spondre, by Jay Nabonne 1 vote "The several plots are so immersive that it didn't feel like a game to me until the second play-through." [+]"The several plots are so immersive that it didn't feel like a game to me until the second play-through." ( ![]() | |
All Roads, by Jon Ingold 1 vote "Has a few small..." [+]"Has a few small puzzles, but is otherwise focused on the narrative." ( ![]() | |
Lydia's Heart, by Jim Aikin 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Myriad, by Porpentine 1 vote "All of..." [+]"All of Porpentine's games, even those that do have puzzles, belong on this list. Myriad is one of the most story-focused ones." ( ![]() | |
Plundered Hearts, by Amy Briggs 1 vote "Feels to me most..." [+]"Feels to me most like a conventional novel of all Infocom's stuff -- lots of characters, lots of plotty scenes." ( ![]() | |
Kaged, by Ian Finley 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Sequitur, by Nigel Jayne (as Tin Foil Jenny) 1 vote "The narrative is the puzzle." [+]"The narrative is the puzzle." --NJ... ![]() | |
Worldsmith, by Ade McT 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ![]() | |
Scars, by Olivia Dunlap 1 vote "A bit too linear..." [+]"A bit too linear for my taste, but the concept is great and the writing is very good for a speed-IF." --Christina Nordlander... ![]() | |
El Museo de las Consciencias, by Mel Hython and Santiago Eximeno and Grendel Khan and Urbatain and Pablo Martínez Merino (AKA Depresiv) 1 vote "One of the only Spanish parser games that isn't a puzzlefest." [+]"One of the only Spanish parser games that isn't a puzzlefest." ( ![]() | |
Halothane, by Ravi Rajkumar 1 vote "Has some puzzles,..." [+]"Has some puzzles, but the interesting story and good writing are the core of the game." --Christina Nordlander... ![]() | |
Pytho's Mask, by Emily Short 1 vote "While it has a..." [+]"While it has a few puzzles, not all of them easy, most of the game is conversation-driven -- and very much about the story." ( ![]() | |
Walker & Silhouette, by C.E.J. Pacian 1 vote "Comic game about..." [+]"Comic game about a thief and her companion. Somewhat puzzly." --Molly... ![]() | |
Ollie Ollie Oxen Free, by Carolyn VanEseltine 1 vote "Definitely..." [+]"Definitely narrative-focused, with puzzles that are for the most part vital to the narrative, albeit with some implementation problems. But it is still a fantastic experience." ( ![]() | |
Poll created on May 25, 2014