Text Fiction

Text Fiction: Interactive Storytelling Games

Text fiction, also known as interactive fiction or IF, are text-based games that focus on writing and storytelling over graphics. The player makes choices and controls the story's direction. Popular text fiction platforms include Twine, Quest, and Ink.

What is Text Fiction?

Text fiction, also known as interactive fiction or IF, refers to text-based computer games that emphasize writing and storytelling over graphics and technical complexity. In a work of interactive fiction, the player controls the story's direction by making choices and inputs via text commands. This gives the player an active role in shaping the narrative.

Unlike visual novels and most RPG video games, works of text fiction do not contain graphics, sound effects, or complex programming. Instead, engaging writing takes center stage. Fans enjoy immersing themselves in imaginative fictional worlds depicted solely through text.

Creating works of interactive fiction requires specialized skill in creative writing, game design, pacing, programming, and testing. Popular text fiction creation platforms used by developers include Twine, Quest, Ink, and Inform 7.

Reading and playing text fiction titles also has a low barrier to entry. All that's needed is a device that can run a web browser or text file. Many classics of the genre like Zork and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy have cemented text fiction's place in video game history.

An active community creates and enjoys modern text fiction across PCs and mobile devices. The format allows writers to experiment with emergent and interactive storytelling techniques that put the reader in control.

Text Fiction Features

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