Browsing
If you're looking for a specific kind of IF, you can create a poll to ask other people for recommendations.
by MathBrush - 60 votes for 12 games, last vote on February 18, 2024; created on February 1, 2024"This poll is part of the 2023 IFDB Awards. The rules for the competition can be found here, and a list of all categories can be found here. This award is for the best Inform 7 game of 2023. Voting is open to all IFDB members. Eligible..." by Victor Gijsbers - 58 votes for 27 games, last vote on July 18, 2022; created on October 6, 2009"Some puzzles--like chess problems or sudokus--can be difficult even though you know all the rules. I'm looking for IF games with this kind of puzzle: you can get to know the rules by simple exploration, and then you still have to solve..."
by MathBrush - 58 votes for 11 games, last vote on February 18, 2024; created on February 1, 2024"This poll is part of the 2023 IFDB Awards. The rules for the competition can be found here, and a list of all categories can be found here. This award is for the best game of 2023 by a new author. Voting is open to all IFDB members...." by MathBrush - 58 votes for 19 games, last vote on February 18, 2023; created on January 30, 2023"This poll is part of the 2022 IFDB Awards. The rules for the competition can be found here, and a list of all categories can be found here. This award is for the most underappreciated game of 2022. Voting is open to all IFDB members...." by Fredrik - 58 votes for 37 games, last vote on November 19, 2019; created on January 7, 2011"I have always been fascinated with games that have several wandering and independent NPCs, especially when you have the ability to try to order them around. This sets the stage for a game where no one session is like any other, and even..."
by Molly - 57 votes for 43 games, last vote on April 12, 2015; created on March 15, 2015"There were a lot of great games released in the past year, and now that the XYZZYs are coming up, it seems like a very good idea to take a poll of all the games from last year people would like to see nominated. The management has asked..."
by Marius Müller - 57 votes for 27 games, last vote on September 8, 2023; created on October 25, 2011"I'm looking for games that don't show up in the IF histories or recommended lists, for what reason whatsover. Old games that maybe weren't boundary-pushing or noteworthy, but still give you a fun play experience. If you ever thought..."
by AKheon - 57 votes for 46 games, last vote on January 1, 2023; created on September 11, 2020"Games with a title that is the same as the main character."
by Tabitha / alyshkalia - 57 votes for 56 games, last vote on March 24, 2024; created on December 13, 2023"The discussion in this thread, from which I've borrowed the term "microparser" (thanks Pinkunz!), led me to want to collect small parser games. I'm thinking of ones that fit what's described in the thread--generally taking less than 30..." by MathBrush - 57 votes for 17 games, last vote on February 18, 2024; created on February 1, 2024"This poll is part of the 2023 IFDB Awards. The rules for the competition can be found here, and a list of all categories can be found here. This award is for the an outstanding game of 2023 that felt truly interactive. Voting is open to..." by verityvirtue - 57 votes for 19 games, last vote on August 19, 2022; created on February 12, 2013"I'm interested in games which hinge on the 'unreliable narrator', from amnesia to a plain distorted worldview. The more this distortion affects the storyline, the better."
by J'onn Roger - 56 votes for 22 games, last vote on January 1, 2023; 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..."
by MathBrush - 56 votes for 13 games, last vote on February 18, 2023; created on January 30, 2023"This poll is part of the 2022 IFDB Awards. The rules for the competition can be found here, and a list of all categories can be found here. This award is for the best game of 2022 by a new author. Voting is open to all IFDB members...." by tggdan3 - 56 votes for 29 games, last vote on July 20, 2023; created on November 3, 2010"Games that can be completed in less than 30 mintues. Need not be one room (though that obviously helps). Hopefully, the games are fun as well. "
by MathBrush - 55 votes for 11 games, last vote on February 18, 2023; created on January 30, 2023"This poll is part of the 2022 IFDB Awards. The rules for the competition can be found here, and a list of all categories can be found here. This award is for the best science fiction game of 2022. Voting is open to all IFDB members...." by MathBrush - 55 votes for 29 games, last vote on March 17, 2023; created on May 18, 2015"I've seen many people discuss their feelings for Twine. Many of them say that they didn't think it was a 'real' platform at first, but then certain games changed them (see, for instance, the commentary in "IF is Dead. Long Live IF") For..."
by MyTheory - 54 votes for 35 games, last vote on April 22, 2021; created on July 27, 2010"Whether it was the witty dialogue, the charming atmosphere, or the cleverness of the puzzle - you played "this" game and it inspired you to write your own. Selfishly, I'm looking for my own inspiration, but I am also very, very curious..."
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..."
by MathBrush - 53 votes for 13 games, last vote on February 18, 2024; created on February 1, 2024"This poll is part of the 2023 IFDB Awards. The rules for the competition can be found here, and a list of all categories can be found here. This award is for the best humor game of 2023. Voting is open to all IFDB members. Suggested..." by grimperfect - 52 votes for 36 games, last vote on February 2, 2024; created on September 23, 2019"Specifically, works where the main mechanic is either exploring a in-game digital interface(ala Secret Little Haven) or communicating using a type of chat/text messenger system(think Emily is Away). "