The Best Text Games

Update : Bootlegger: Moonshine Empire added at rank #41.
1

Roadwarden (2022)

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89
Review score
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Linux PC Windows Mac OS

Roadwarden is a text-adventure set in a downbeat fantasy world of magic, monsters, and grinding poverty. As a newly minted roadwarden, you are tasked with patrolling the highways and byways of a peninsula while also exploring its commercial possibilities for your mysterious paymasters. You have to manage your time carefully to get everything done in the 40 days before autumn sets in.


What we like:
  • Unique take on text adventuring
  • Choices that really matter and an organic sense of muddling through that feels lifelike
  • Nuanced and low-key atmosphere
What could be improved:
  • Depending on choices things can feel relentlessly downbeat
  • Lack of quest tracker can seem perverse
  • Very text heavy and not suitable for those who aren't into reading or plot

  • text
  • rpg
  • fantasy
  • adventure
  • visual-novel
  • choices
  • pixel
  • fiction
  • interactive

2

Buddy Simulator 1984 (2021)

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91
Review score
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Nintendo Switch PC Windows Xbox Series X Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Xbox One

Thanks to next generation AI technology, BUDDY SIMULATOR 1984 simulates the experience of hanging out with a best buddy! Your buddy learns from you, constantly adapting to your interests and personality. But most importantly, your buddy can play games with you!


  • horror
  • text
  • 1980s
  • psychological
  • retro
  • rpg
  • typing
  • story
  • pixel
  • earthbound
  • adventure
  • crt
  • fiction

3

Ord. (2019)

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93
Review score
Logo of Ord. Screenshot of Ord. Screenshot of Ord. Screenshot of Ord.

IOS iPhone Linux Mac OS Nintendo Switch Playstation 4 Xbox One PC Windows

Ord is a captivating text-based adventure game with five unique stories to choose from. Choose your own adventure as you become a god and create your world or take on an evil warlock in a thrilling quest. With fast-paced narratives, your choices matter, and you'll be engaged in no time. Plus, create and share your own stories with Steam Workshop support. Available in multiple languages.


What we like:
  • Cleverly conveys changes in atmosphere and mood with minimalistic visuals and sound effects
  • Multiple scenarios with vastly different outcomes provide high replayability
  • A fun and creative take on the text adventure genre
  • Multiple languages supported
  • Workshop support allows for user-generated content and experimentation with storytelling
What could be improved:
  • No save-states or continues, with every death resetting the player to the beginning
  • Poor controls and other quirks make the game feel more like an art project than a polished video game experience

  • text
  • minimalist
  • adventure
  • experience
  • story
  • narrative
  • perma-death
  • rpg
  • experimental
  • innovative
  • casual
  • book
  • fast-paced

4

I doesn't exist - a modern text adventure (2023)

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74
Review score
Logo of I doesn't exist - a modern text adventure Screenshot of I doesn't exist - a modern text adventure Screenshot of I doesn't exist - a modern text adventure Screenshot of I doesn't exist - a modern text adventure

Linux Mac OS PC Windows

Classic Zork meets Existential Crisis. A modern text adventure that explores themes of control, isolation and mental health while levelling up the genre with beautiful pixel art.

Buy

  • text
  • short
  • artificial
  • intelligence
  • text-adventure
  • interactive
  • pixel
  • fiction
  • conversation
  • psychological
  • modern
  • old-school
  • horror
  • atmospheric
  • adventure

5

A Taste of the Past (2022)

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97
Review score
Logo of A Taste of the Past Screenshot of A Taste of the Past Screenshot of A Taste of the Past Screenshot of A Taste of the Past

PC Windows

What do you do when you lose someone you love? A Taste of the Past is an emotional sidescroller about reconnecting with your Chinese culture while navigating a train to the afterlife. Featuring a wholesome story, cooking minigames, and hope.

Buy

  • life
  • immersive
  • walking-simulator
  • hand-drawn
  • scroller
  • fiction
  • simulation
  • text
  • point-and-click
  • visual-novel
  • stylized
  • interactive
  • cartoony
  • third-person
  • anime

6

Open Sorcery (2017)

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99
Review score
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PC Windows Mac OS Linux IOS iPhone

BEL/S is an Elemental Firewall: a fire elemental bound with C++ code to protect a network of people and places. She can learn things, develop relationships, and even gain sapience. Or she can burn everything with fire. It's up to you.

Buy

  • text
  • cyberpunk
  • interactive
  • rpg
  • fiction
  • adventure
  • fantasy

7

Warsim: The Realm of Aslona (2017)

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97
Review score
Logo of Warsim: The Realm of Aslona Screenshot of Warsim: The Realm of Aslona Screenshot of Warsim: The Realm of Aslona Screenshot of Warsim: The Realm of Aslona

PC Windows

Warsim is a deep and rich text based kingdom management game unlike anything else. Complete with charming ASCII graphics, navigate the millions of different procedurally generated races, events and areas with a huge emphasis on player choice. Don't let its look fool you, there is depth in every direction.


  • text
  • kingdom
  • simulation
  • procedural
  • strategy
  • rpg

8

Fallen Hero: Retribution (2023)

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98
Review score
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Linux Mac OS PC Windows

So you're a villain now? Let's see if you survive the experience.

Buy

  • text
  • rpg
  • casual
  • sci-fi
  • action
  • choices
  • adventure
  • protagonist

9

Shape (2023)

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84
Review score
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Linux Mac OS Xbox One Android PC Windows

A minimalist style but inside a complex-minded With connecting word mechanism, you can make a rule for your rooms and solve the problem. Solve the puzzle and go to the door to the next room. explore new mechanism


  • atmospheric
  • platform
  • minimalist
  • surreal
  • exploration
  • psychological
  • narration
  • philosophical
  • walking-simulator
  • 2d
  • psychedelic
  • text
  • first-person
  • puzzle
  • emotional

10

Lifeline: Beside You in Time (2022)

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76
Review score
Logo of Lifeline: Beside You in Time Screenshot of Lifeline: Beside You in Time Screenshot of Lifeline: Beside You in Time Screenshot of Lifeline: Beside You in Time

Android IOS iPhone PC Windows Mac OS

Lifeline is a text-based adventure mobile game where you guide the main character through a texting conversation to survive an unknown moon after their spaceship crashes. The engaging storyline and real-time mechanics make it a great game for those who enjoy a challenging text-based adventure.


What we like:
  • Entertaining and engaging story with a likable protagonist
  • Pacing adds scope and suspense to the narrative
  • Real-time notification mechanic adds to immersion
  • Unique storytelling approach
  • Forgiving gameplay
What could be improved:
  • Waiting between interactions may be an annoyance for some players
  • Lack of text speed option
  • Invariably binary decision prompts limit player choice

  • fiction
  • text
  • adventure
  • interactive
  • sci-fi
  • waiting
  • real-time
  • choices
  • survival
  • narrative
  • dos
  • well-written
  • story

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