Victor Gijsbers

The Netherlands

Top 10 Reviewer
Member since December 30, 2007
Last visited May 13, 2025
Profile ID (TUID): fzkruakfu53h20do

I have authored The Baron, Fate, Figaro, most of The Art of Fugue, The Game Formerly Known as Hidden Nazi Mode, 'Mid the Sagebrush and the Cactus, Kerkerkruip and Nemesis Macana. I have also written a large Inform 7 extension called ATTACK.

A note on my ratings: I am mapping stars, numerical values and prose evaluations onto each other in roughly the following way.

1 star = 1 to 4 numerical rating = a bad game; not worth playing.

2 stars = 5 to 6 numerical rating = either does something interesting, but in flawed way; or is solid but truly unremarkable; might be worth playing if the premise interests you.

3 stars = 6,5 to 8- numerical rating = an interesting and solid game that nevertheless lacks something that would make it thoroughly successful; definitely worth playing, but not 'must play'.

4 stars = 8 to 9 numerical rating = a very good or great game that shines in almost every way.

5 stars = 9+ to 10 numerical rating = an (almost) perfect game, a fantastic example of what interactive fiction is capable of; something to play and replay.

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Interactive Fiction by Victor Gijsbers

Turandot, by Victor Gijsbers (2019)
(53 ratings)
An operatic performance. A tale of atonement. A dating sim with a crocodile pit. Content warnings: sex; sexism and other gender issues; suicide; torture; homophobia; xenophobia.

Kerkerkruip, by Victor Gijsbers (2011)
(69 ratings)
Kerkerkruip is a short-form roguelike in the interactive fiction medium, featuring meaningful tactical and strategic depth, innovative game play, zero grinding, and a sword & sorcery setting that...

De Baron, by Victor Gijsbers (2006)
(169 ratings)
An evil nobleman, a kidnapped daughter and a father who wants to rescue her at any cost--that is not the way life works. Something much darker, something much more human, lies underneath. Een...

Fate, by Victor Gijsbers (2007)
(51 ratings)
You are nine months pregnant, and the contractions have already begun. Trapped in a castle with more enemies than friends, and Queen in name but not in influence, you fear for the future of your...

Xanthippe's Last Night with Socrates, by Victor Gijsbers (2023)
(29 ratings)
It's your last night together, for literal fuck's sake, but your husband is 'not in the mood'. Can you convince him to fulfil his marital duties? ...

See all 13 games by Victor Gijsbers

Recommended Lists by Victor Gijsbers

Innovative Interactive Fiction - 7 items January 2, 2008

Much Interactive Fiction, and some of the best, quite obviously descends from Zork and other early Infocom text adventures. But some of...

Polls by Victor Gijsbers

The great puzzlefests - 124 votes for 50 games; created August 9, 2018

Playing Curses!, I started wondering which games belong to the canon of great puzzlefests. With this term I mean puzzle based games that...

Villains - 35 votes for 19 games; created September 1, 2010

"[T]he thief [in Zork] is important to the development of interactive fiction because he functions as a true villain, not simply an...

Games with "logical" puzzles - 58 votes for 27 games; created 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...

Reviews by Victor Gijsbers

A Death in Hyperspace, by Stewart C Baker, Phoebe Barton, James Beamon, Kate Heartfield, Isabel J Kim, Sara Messenger, JingJing Xiao, Natalia Theodoridou, M. Darusha Wehm, Merc Fenn Wolfmoor November 14, 2024

"First things first: when you play this game, turn off the time limit. For me, playing with a real-time counter on the screen turned my..." - See the full review

Metallic Red, by Riaz Moola November 12, 2024

"At first, there are strong vibes of howling dogs. It's a Twine game set in a small cell-like environment -- though this time it's a space..." - See the full review

Imprimatura, by Elizabeth Ballou November 12, 2024

"Someone has died: our father, mother, grandmother or grandfather. The choice 'grandmother' feels canonical, since the author dedicates..." - See the full review

Where Nothing Is Ever Named, by Viktor Sobol November 11, 2024

"An extremely short puzzle game, at least in terms of moves needed and objects implemented – perhaps not so much in terms of time needed..." - See the full review

Fix Your Mother's Printer, by Geoffrey Golden December 2, 2023

"It had to be a printer. Printers are evil. I'm relatively tech savvy, but the one computer accessory that I look at with trepidation is..." - See the full review

See all 215 reviews by Victor Gijsbers
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Victor Gijsbers's Play Lists

Played Games

A Death in Hyperspace, by Stewart C Baker, Phoebe Barton, James Beamon, Kate Heartfield, Isabel J Kim, Sara Messenger, JingJing Xiao, Natalia Theodoridou, M. Darusha Wehm, Merc Fenn Wolfmoor
Metallic Red, by Riaz Moola
Elite Status: Platinum Concierge, by Emily Short and Harris Powell-Smith
Imprimatura, by Elizabeth Ballou
Where Nothing Is Ever Named, by Viktor Sobol

See all 99 entries in the Played List

Wish List

The Golden Heist, by George Lockett and Rob Thorman
Stay?, by E. Jade Lomax
Vampire: The Masquerade — Night Road, by Kyle Marquis
Orchesterprobe, by Nena Ost
OK Boomer: The Game, by E.I. Wong

See all 246 entries in the Wish List