Phone-friendly parser games

Recommendations by kqr (Sweden)

When I play on my phone I like games where I don't have to draw maps either because the games are small (Violet) or have such logical geographies (Plundered Hearts). I also don't want to have to make notes (All Things Devours has an easy map, but complex interactions that require note-taking.) These games worked well for me on my phone. Unfortunately I have somewhat terrible/weird memory so this list may not agree with your experiences.

Games marked NOT PLAYED means I have not verified whether they are actually phone-friendly, but they have been recommended to me as such. Once I play them, I'll update their description or remove them if they don't belong on this list. (Which is ultimately somewhat subjective.)

Also don't forget about the microparsers poll: https://ifdb.org/poll?id=plz41fpt855d8jt6

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1. Glowgrass, by Nate Cull (1997)
Average member rating: (102 ratings)
kqr says:

Small-ish map, logical layout, no complex puzzles.

2. Lost Pig
by Admiral Jota
(2007)
Average member rating: (512 ratings)

kqr says:

Small map, limited parts of it available at a time. Puzzles difficult but not complex.

3. Violet
by Jeremy Freese
(2008)
Average member rating: (403 ratings)

kqr says:

One room, puzzles fit in head.

4. Lockout
by kqr
(2025)
Average member rating: (5 ratings)

kqr says:

I made this one-room puzzle to be completeable without note-taking. There are some things that need to be remembered, but hopefully only for a turn or two.

5. Lime Ergot
by Caleb Wilson (as Rust Blight)
(2014)
Average member rating: (94 ratings)

kqr says:

Very easy puzzles, very few locations.

6. Gun Mute
by C.E.J. Pacian
(2008)
Average member rating: (160 ratings)

kqr says:

Many locations but linear progression makes mapping unnecessary. Puzzles are mainly isolated to their location, meaning little memory needed.

7. Plundered Hearts
by Amy Briggs
(1987)
Average member rating: (67 ratings)

kqr says:

This is a larger game, but the locations are laid out logically enough to make paper mapping excessive. Puzzles are sometimes obscure, but never complex.

8. Shade
by Andrew Plotkin
(2000)
Average member rating: (425 ratings)

kqr says:

I didn't particularly like this one, but it is definitely doable without mapping and note-taking, although perhaps a little tedious.

9. 9:05
by Adam Cadre
(2000)
Average member rating: (558 ratings)

kqr says:

Few and logically laid out locations means no mapping. Very easy puzzles and short game means no notes were made.

10. Eat Me
by Chandler Groover
(2017)
Average member rating: (112 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

11. Repeat the Ending
by Drew Cook
(2023)
Average member rating: (30 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

12. The Little Match Girl, by Hans Christian Andersen
by Ryan Veeder
(2021)
Average member rating: (30 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

13. Never Gives Up Her Dead
by Mathbrush
(2023)
Average member rating: (25 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

14. Junior Arithmancer
by Mike Spivey
(2018)
Average member rating: (56 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

15. Swap Wand User
by Sarah Willson
(2025)
Average member rating: (11 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

16. The Moonlit Tower, by Yoon Ha Lee (2002)
Average member rating: (62 ratings)
kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

17. Portrait with Wolf
by Drew Cook
(2025)
Average member rating: (13 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

18. The Weapon
by Sean Barrett
(2001)
Average member rating: (37 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

19. Dr Ludwig and the Devil
by SV Linwood
(2023)
Average member rating: (56 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

20. Rameses
by Stephen Bond
(2000)
Average member rating: (127 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

21. Taco Fiction
by Ryan Veeder
(2011)
Average member rating: (120 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

22. Galatea
by Emily Short
(2000)
Average member rating: (354 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

23. Ad Verbum
by Nick Montfort
(2000)
Average member rating: (135 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

24. The Impossible Bottle
by Linus Åkesson
(2020)
Average member rating: (85 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

25. De Baron
by Victor Gijsbers
(2006)
Average member rating: (172 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

26. A Very Strong Gland
by Arthur DiBianca
(2024)
Average member rating: (18 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

27. 16 Ways to Kill a Vampire at McDonalds
by Abigail Corfman
(2016)
Average member rating: (105 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

28. Draculaland
by Robin Johnson
(2016)
Average member rating: (27 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

29. The Den
by Ben Jackson
(2024)
Average member rating: (39 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

30. To Hell in a Hamper
by J. J. Guest
(2003)
Average member rating: (112 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

31. Enlightenment
by Taro Ogawa
(1998)
Average member rating: (41 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

32. Oppositely Opal
by Buster Hudson
(2015)
Average member rating: (72 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

33. Dinner Bell
by Jenni Polodna
(2012)
Average member rating: (54 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

34. Grandma Bethlinda's Variety Box
by Arthur DiBianca
(2015)
Average member rating: (39 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

35. Captain Verdeterre's Plunder
by Ryan Veeder
(2013)
Average member rating: (52 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

36. Fair
by Hanon Ondricek
(2016)
Average member rating: (25 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

37. Midnight. Swordfight.
by Chandler Groover
(2015)
Average member rating: (87 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

38. Hard Puzzle
by Ade McT
(2015)
Average member rating: (14 ratings)

kqr says:

NOT PLAYED

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