I'm taking part in the Great Play Marathon this year. This is my intended journey! Most of these games I have no so much as glanced at— with one rather large exception.
1. Swigian by Mathbrush (as Rainbus North) (2017) Average member rating: (35 ratings)
Joey Jones says:
First up is a minimalist game written by Brian Rushton. Released under a pseudonym with various constraints to test a theory about the comp (this experimental approach is seen in several of his other works).
2. Turandot by Victor Gijsbers (2019) Average member rating: (55 ratings)
Joey Jones says:
When this came out I think I was burned out on writing my own choicescript games that I didn't feel up to playing it even though it looked very promising. By May I feel like I may be ready.
Exploring a dead MMO is a really potent game idea, and one that anyone who has got lost in the forgotten outer-provinces of the IFMUD may have some experience in.
4. Starry Seeksorrow by Caleb Wilson (as Ayla Rose) (2015) Average member rating: (19 ratings)
Joey Jones says:
I always like Caleb Wilson's work. This one was from the second Shufflecomp: I had failed to write something for the very first Shufflecomp (though several of my song picks were chosen) and eventually joined in the 2025 edition, but I have not dipped my toes into many of the intervening games.
5. Worlds Apart by Suzanne Britton (1999) Average member rating: (91 ratings)
Joey Jones says:
Honesty these huge old games can feel overwhelming to even begin but I always have a great time with them when I make the effort, so I'm looking forward to giving this a go.
6. The Owl Consults by Thomas Mack, Nick Mathewson, and Cidney Hamilton (2017) Average member rating: (20 ratings)
Joey Jones says:
It is said that the superhero genre is under-represented in interactive fiction. I missed this when it first came out. It's interesting that it's co-authored: something I myself have found much value in when making IF.
7. 18 Rooms to Home by Carolyn VanEseltine (2015) Average member rating: (5 ratings)
Joey Jones says:
These were an episodic sequence of games telling a story backwards. An ambitious project, and one that doesn't appear to have come to full fruition. Still, Carolyn VanEseltine is a good author and I'm excited to see how this worked out.
8. Ravine, by Joanna Berry (2018) Average member rating: (6 ratings) Joey Jones says:
This is in the Arctic research station horror genre, which everyone and their Thing-infested dog has written in (myself included). It's such a wonderful setting.
9. The Axolotl Project by Samantha Vick (2013) Average member rating: (48 ratings)
Joey Jones says:
Lunar research base is just Arctic research station with a space twist. It's potent! Let's see what Samantha Vick does with it.
10. You by Carter X Gwertzman (2024) Average member rating: (22 ratings)
Joey Jones says:
An experimental twine game that makes use of colour and pronouns. That's all I know, and I'll try and keep it that way before playing so I can go in fresh.
11. Moondrop Isle by Ryan Veeder, Nils Fagerburg, Joey Jones, Zach Hodgens, Jason Love, Mark Marino, Carl Muckenhoupt, Sarah Willson, Caleb Wilson (2024) Average member rating: (9 ratings)
Joey Jones says:
I have played most of this game because I co-wrote it! With Cragne Manor before it, I made a special effort to sit down and play through everything. I was swamped with finishing a PhD when I made the game and have put off fully exploring everyone else's offerings in Moondrop Isle, so I am excited to return to that mysterious abandoned themepark.
12. The Plant by Michael J. Roberts (1998) Average member rating: (34 ratings)
Joey Jones says:
After a run filled with exploring mysterious and sinister places, The Plant should cap it off nicely.
