Realistic graphics, artificial intelligence, next-level physics, low-latency multiplayer, virtual reality — these are the hallmarks of modern AAA gaming. Some games are even starting to push the limits of photorealismHow to Benchmark Your CPU and GPU Like a ProHow to Benchmark Your CPU and GPU Like a ProBenchmarking allows users to gauge hardware performance, troubleshoot issues, and compare system setups. It's commonly used among gamers. We introduce you to the technical details and show you how the pros benchmark their systems.Read More!
But even the most beautiful games can’t match the boundless creativity of human imagination. And that’s where text-based games still shine. Yes, even now!
Known as interactive fiction, text-based games combine the best of two worlds: books and interactivity. They’re like choose-your-own-adventure stories on crack, and they’re perfect for those who want to create interactive stories without pouring lots of time or money into art and sound assets.
Interested in making text-based games of your own? The process is a lot easier than you think (though the actual creation may take a whileHow to Stay Motivated on Long-Term Projects and Not Give UpHow to Stay Motivated on Long-Term Projects and Not Give UpIf motivation was easy to cultivate, nobody would have any problems doing so! For those who lose motivation over long term projects, these tips may prove fruitful.Read More). All you need is to pick one of the following text game engines and let your mind roam freeWhere Can I Find Old and New Interactive Fiction Games?Where Can I Find Old and New Interactive Fiction Games?Back in the 1980s, I remember a game on my MS-DOS computer that was played solely by reading directions or clues, and typing responses.Read More.
How to use Paladins: Text Adventure RPG for PC and MAC. You can run all Android games and applications on your PC or MAC computer. Using a free software called Bluestacks, you don't need to purchase anything but games or applications it self if it isn't free. Emacs -batch -l dunnet. If you've never played a MUD text adventure before, you'll find that it's actually pretty intuitive. For example, you start the game standing on a road with a shovel nearby.
Twine
Twine is a desktop app that lets you create interactive stories and export them as web pages so you can upload them and share them with the world when you’re done and ready. You don’t need any coding experience for simple, basic stories.
If you want to delve into more complex narratives, Twine does support features like variables and conditional logic. It also supports JavaScript, CSS, and images if you want to pretty up your story as more than just an interactive novel.
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Twine is straightforward to learn, aided by the official Twine wiki which has a series of screencasts to help you get started. The official reference guide is also quite informative. The wiki also has details on how you can publish your stories on the web for free.
For even more support, or if you just want to hang out with other Twine users, you should check out the official Twine forums. Here you can discuss the Twine engine, share your works-in-progress, and discover new tips and tricks to help you become a better storyteller.
Download — Twine for Windows, Mac, Linux, Web (Free)
QUEST
You don’t need to have programming experience to do well with QUEST, but you’ll probably pick up on programming concepts along the way once you start using QUEST’s built-in scripting language for handling complex logic. With it, you can add sound effects, music, images, and even video.
QUEST games can be created with the desktop app or the web app, and all games can be exported to the web and played online. What’s really nice is that you can even sell your QUEST games if you want to — there are no commercial restrictions.
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Also note that QUEST is open source and licensed under the MIT LicenseWhat Is Open Source Software? [MakeUseOf Explains]What Is Open Source Software? [MakeUseOf Explains]'Open source' is a term that’s thrown around a lot these days. You may know that certain things are open source, like Linux and Android, but do you know what it entails? What is open..Read More, which means you can download the source code and modify it however you want, creating your own forkOpen Source Software and Forking: The Good, The Great and The UglyOpen Source Software and Forking: The Good, The Great and The UglySometimes, the end-user benefits greatly from forks. Sometimes, the fork is done under a shroud of anger, hatred and animosity. Let's look at some examples.Read More if you don’t like the direction of the QUEST development team.
But QUEST’s best selling point is that it has one of the most active communities of all the text game engines currently available. Specifically, the official QUEST forums have regular traffic and new posts on a daily basis. If you want community, QUEST might be the best choice.
Download — QUEST for Windows, Web (Free)
ADRIFT
ADRIFT is one of the oldest functioning options for creating your own text-based games. Its unique selling point is pretty clear: absolutely no programming experience needed, even if you want to create non-trivial narratives.
The beauty of ADRIFT is that everything is driven by the GUI, meaning drag-and-drop selections, folder navigation, drop-down menus, etc. All characters, events, objects, variables, etc. are click-to-set-up, making ADRIFT one of the easiest systems to use.
The only downside (a relatively small one at that) is that ADRIFT games can only be played through the ADRIFT Runner application. The good news is that ADRIFT is cross-platform, and you can even create games through a web interface, so it’s not too much of an inconvenience.
Looking for games to play? Check out ADRIFT’s own database of games. Need help or want to hang out with other ADRIFT users? Check out the official ADRIFT forums.
Download — ADRIFT for Windows (Free)
Other Text Game Engines Worth Checking OutText Adventures For Mac Coding
If none of the above appeal to you, don’t fret yet. These aren’t the only text game engines out there! You’d be surprised at how many alternatives exists — this niche genre is incredibly passionate.
Inform is one of the best-known engines, but we didn’t include it as a Top 3 option because it hasn’t been updated since late 2015. The software still works though, so if you want to give it a try, don’t hesitate to do so.
inklewriter is a web-based text game engine that’s easy and fun to use. You can combine it with graphics to create graphical adventure games, but beware that it may be a lot of work to do that!
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If you want to graduate beyond text games, you should check out these free game development tools5 Free Game Development Software Tools to Make Your Own Games5 Free Game Development Software Tools to Make Your Own GamesFree game development software is a great way to start video game making. We've compiled the best game software on the market.Read More that will ease the learning curve of making 2D and 3D games.
Which text game engine appeals most to you? Did we miss any good alternatives? Do you have a story in mind that’s begging to be written? Share with us down in the comments!
Image Credit: GUN AWAN via Shutterstock.com, KaVir via Wikimedia Commons
Originally written by Joel Lee on March 18, 2013.
Explore more about: Adventure Game, Game Development.
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