Interactive fiction top 50

Recommendations by Aintelligence (Canada)

This list is not interactive fiction's top 50, but instead my oersonal entry for the actual list.
A message from VictorGijsbers:
The aim is not to decide what the best IF ever is by majority vote -- that would be foolish. Rather, the aims of the top 50 are:

To create a good opportunity for people to think about the best games they have played, and discuss their ideas on this topic with others.
To allow people to be inspired by what they see on other people's lists.
To create a useful list of great games at which you can point newcomers to the IF scene.
If it is successful and we do this every few years: to create a way to track how the taste of the community evolves.

To make this work, we need your help. Please send us a list of between 1 and 20 interactive fiction games that you consider to be the best IF games ever made (or at least the best that you have played). The list can be posted at the IF forum or mailed to [email protected], where you replace "myfirstname" with my first name. Which is Victor. You can also email me if you want me to post your list on the forum (in case you don't have/want an account).
So please submit your own list and spread the word to the whole IF community.

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1. Photopia
by Adam Cadre
(1998)
Average member rating: (563 ratings)

Aintelligence says:

Heartwarming. The game makes you care.

2. Blue Lacuna
by Aaron A. Reed
(2008)
Average member rating: (110 ratings)

Aintelligence says:

Such an emotional work on so many levels. I don't think the ambition has ever been equaled on such a scale.

3. Make It Good
by Jon Ingold
(2009)
Average member rating: (86 ratings)

Aintelligence says:

My personal favorite IF game ever. Yeah I know that's saying something, but I'm quite a mystery buff. Best detective IF ever, and heck, the puzzles are not straggling either.

4. Spider and Web
by Andrew Plotkin
(1998)
Average member rating: (316 ratings)

Aintelligence says:

John le carre style narrative, brilliant ideas.

5. Babel
by Ian Finley
(1997)
Average member rating: (153 ratings)

Aintelligence says:

I know a Lot of people think babel is overrated, but after playing it, I think it's overrated to call babel overrated.

6. All Things Devours, by half sick of shadows (2004)
Average member rating: (94 ratings)
Aintelligence says:

The only hard puzzle game I have solved without a walkthrough. But besides my personal situation, the writing is really stylistic, and the concept is explored in such a new awing way.

7. Anchorhead
by Michael Gentry
(1998)
Average member rating: (400 ratings)

Aintelligence says:

Well, I'll admit that I don't like the game that much, ( mainly because I suck at puzzles) but this isn't a list of my personal favorites. I found the difficulty of the puzzles detracted from the atmosphere a little bit, but all things considered, the writing is superb. I've never been in such suspense before, and the world was crafted with such a lifelike feel.

8. The Blind House
by Amanda Allen
(2010)
Average member rating: (38 ratings)

Aintelligence says:

Disturbing, but so unique in the games I've played.

9. Legion, by Jason Devlin (2006)
Average member rating: (21 ratings)
Aintelligence says:

Hmmm... Maybe the most controversial game on my list. I thought though that the plot was so well explored, and really never tried before.

10. Worlds Apart
by Suzanne Britton
(1999)
Average member rating: (89 ratings)

Aintelligence says:

Although not quite up there with Photopia and blue lacona on an emotional scale, it delivers high on the scale.

11. Trinity
by Brian Moriarty
(1986)
Average member rating: (105 ratings)

12. A Mind Forever Voyaging
by Steve Meretzky
(1985)
Average member rating: (113 ratings)

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