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If you're looking for a specific kind of IF, you can create a poll to ask other people for recommendations.Best Short Games (5-60 minutes)
by Sasha Davidovna - 224 votes for 68 games, last vote on August 5, 2024; created on July 12, 2009
"I'm pretty new to IF and am having a lot of fun, but in between a toddler and a job and other real life stuff, I'm having trouble finding time to finish many of the longer games I want to play. Can you please recommend me some fun and/or..."
Games with extraordinary "wow" moments
by J'onn Roger - 59 votes for 23 games, last vote on September 26, 2024; created on July 7, 2009
"If there is a moment in a game that stands out to you with vivid clarity, a moment of extraordinary beauty with writing that makes you really makes you see what is taking place, list the game here. Since surprise may play a part in the..."
Games with exceptional clothing systems
by Fitzzy - 17 votes for 13 games, last vote on April 1, 2023; created on June 18, 2009
"Games of any genre, irregardless of the quality of the game itself, that has an exceptional clothing management system in place."
Multi-Part Games
by Bloodsong - 54 votes for 38 games, last vote on August 23, 2022; created on June 10, 2009
"I was wondering just how many games out there, either completely text based, or text-adventure hybrids, are out there that involve a story line over the course of several games. I know for sure of the Sorcerer trilogy from Infocom...any..."
Adjustable Default Games
by Emily Short - 14 votes for 8 games, last vote on November 10, 2011; created on June 10, 2009
"Works in which some aspect of the game's default behavior can be customized (e.g. by changing the person of the narration), especially if the game allows players to play with alternatives to standard IF conventions."
Outstanding individual puzzles
by Jeremy Freese - 47 votes for 23 games, last vote on December 8, 2018; created on June 6, 2009
"I'm interested in examples of excellent individual puzzles in IF. In other words: not 'Spider and Web' so much as 'getting out of the chair' in 'Spider and Web' "
Trading and Buying Games
by Emily Short - 37 votes for 20 games, last vote on August 24, 2022; created on June 2, 2009
"Games where a significant portion of the gameplay involves buying, selling, or trading items, especially if there are tactical advantages associated with different objects and the player has to decide which things to acquire for what..."
Once More, With Feelies
by Ghalev - 37 votes for 23 games, last vote on August 2, 2022; created on May 22, 2009
"I'm polling to learn of modern (post-commercial-era) IF that revels in the tradition of providing additional documentation & related materials which are evocative and deepen your enjoyment of the game. What games have gone that extra..."
teeanagers
by tiffanyfh - 8 votes for 8 games, last vote on August 9, 2022; created on April 9, 2009
"im a teen and i want games that are entertaining for people around my age (16) to play. i liked punk points for example something like that would be nice. thanks."
Really hard puzzle/adventure games
by Silius - 40 votes for 20 games, last vote on August 9, 2024; created on April 9, 2009
"You know like with lots of puzzles you have to solve."
Must-play games
by Jeff Sonas - 317 votes for 61 games, last vote on August 3, 2024; created on March 26, 2009
"I am looking for the games that, in your opinion, you simply must have played in order to really call yourself an IF aficionado. Or if someone wanted to play N number of IF games in order to get as good an overview of the IF classics..."
"Ed Wood" Games
by murphy_slaw - 22 votes for 10 games, last vote on April 19, 2019; created on March 8, 2009
"I'm looking exquisitely bad games. Games with warped aesthetics and worldviews far removed from consensus reality. Games that are, in the words of Michael Martin, "exactly good enough that I had to keep going to see what it did next"...."
Vivid games
by Jeff Sonas - 141 votes for 48 games, last vote on August 13, 2023; created on March 8, 2009
"I'm looking for games that evoked strong feelings or strong mental images that stayed with you long after you finished the games."
Top-notch horror or terror games
by madducks - 122 votes for 29 games, last vote on January 10, 2024; created on March 7, 2009
"I'm looking for games that are the best representations of horror or terror in IF."
Games where you can't screw up
by Pinstripe - 75 votes for 39 games, last vote on May 23, 2023; created on March 2, 2009
"Sometimes, when I'm playing a game, I spend more time juggling my save files than I do reading the text. I don't want to have to restart because I picked up the green rod instead of the clay jug (with apologies to Zarf). So I'm looking..."
Games with stupid player characters
by murphy_slaw - 30 votes for 12 games, last vote on May 10, 2015; created on February 27, 2009
"I'm looking for games where the player character is significantly stupider and/or less observant than the average player - the kind of game where part of the challenge is making sense of the descriptions offered through the simplistic..."
Games with NPCs that tag along
by Ghalev - 89 votes for 50 games, last vote on October 6, 2024; created on February 12, 2009
"List here any games that feature a (preferably memorable!) "sidekick" character - an NPC who follows the viewpoint character around for most or all of the game, as per Floyd in Planetfall or Trent/Tiffany in Leather Goddesses of Phobos."
Romance Games
by Molly - 78 votes for 28 games, last vote on July 5, 2024; created on February 3, 2009
"In honor of Valentine's Day, I'm looking for games that deal with romance and relationships."
Influential Games
by Rose - 503 votes for 64 games, last vote on September 26, 2024; created on February 1, 2009
"As a historical exercise, I've begun compiling a list of IF games that have either done something ground breaking with the medium or otherwise influenced it; and I've turned it into a poll so everyone can have input on the expansion...."
Great treasure hunt games
by Molly - 37 votes for 22 games, last vote on February 13, 2024; created on January 1, 2009
"Good treasure hunting games in the vein of Zork and Adventure, although they may not necessarily be set in caves."
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