No. PARANOID is a digital product delivered instantly after purchase, so all sales are final.

How do I get access after paying?

As soon as Stripe confirms your payment, your browser is automatically redirected to the game. You will also receive an order confirmation email from Stripe.

PARANOID: Play a Text Mystery Game in Your Browser

The Story

PARANOID game cover: Michael standing before a suburban house at dusk

Five years after a horrible accident, our hero Michael is still struggling with his past mistake. Sure, he has a new lovely girlfriend, the extended family that comes with it - and he's ready to leave the dark behind and move on.

But as a new dawn arises, he gets the feeling that the house he wakes up in holds its own sinister secrets.

PARANOID is a highly acclaimed dark suburban mystery text based game and interactive fiction experience, starring Michael - your friendly neighborhood jockey, and Anna, the girl of his dreams.

Read the First Minutes - Free

This is the actual opening of PARANOID, straight from the game. No trailer edit, no marketing rewrite - if you like the way this reads, you will like the game.

PARANOID - a bedroom

Early morning... It's still dark outside. As you abruptly wake up, with horrific nightmares still echoing in your head, you let out a scream of horror and disbelief...

The window to the west is slightly open, giving the cold wind a reason to chill the room.

Where are you? How did you get here? Who are y... Wait!

Ah, yes, yes - now you remember. You are Michael. The 80's friendly jockey, 30 years old, still clinging on to the past of sorrows and bloody mistakes...

But then again, you can't seem to get rid of the uneasy feeling... And you're naked! Got to find some clothes...

> look at curtain

A dark, red curtain, with thick fabric. It's hung in front of the slightly opened window.

> open curtain

You open the curtain. The soft early light is shining into the bedroom.

> go east

The rest of the house is waiting behind the paywall.

Two endings. One house. Roughly 30 to 120 minutes of it.

Unlock the full story - $5.99

One-time payment · Instant browser access · Tax included

Watch the Review

See what the critics are saying about PARANOID.

The YouTube review is hidden until optional cookies are accepted.

What Players Are Saying

"PARANOID hooked me from the first paragraph. The atmosphere is thick, the mystery keeps tightening, and Michael feels like someone you actually root for."
— Indie Game Reviewer

"Perfect for a dark evening. No downloads, no fuss - just a haunting story that stays with you after you close the tab."
— Erik Lindqvist

"A short, sharp suburban nightmare. I played it in one sitting and immediately wanted to talk about the ending with someone."
— Text Adventure Fan

"The writing is confident and creepy. Every choice felt like it mattered, and the house itself becomes a character."
— AC Höfvits

Scenes from the House

A morning. A silence. A reveal.

The Kitchen Clock
The fridge hums. The clock knows.

A way out?
But someone's waiting - and not alone.

About the Creator

Patrik Airosto-Gelin

Writer & Producer

PATRIK AIROSTO-GELIN is a Swedish writer, producer, and game designer with a passion for telling character-driven stories that blend mystery, suspense, and emotional depth. With a background in film, television & audio production, he enjoys creating narratives where ordinary people are forced to confront extraordinary truths.

PARANOID marks his debut interactive fiction game, combining classic parser-based gameplay with a cinematic approach to storytelling inspired by 1980s psychological thrillers. Drawing influences from classic adventure games, film noir, and slow-burning mysteries, the game explores themes of guilt, memory, redemption, and the consequences of the choices we leave behind.

As both writer and producer, Patrik oversaw every aspect of the project - from the original concept and script to game design, world-building, and production - bringing his vision to life through the Quest Interactive Fiction engine.

When he's not writing stories or developing games, Patrik continues to work on creative projects within the film and entertainment industry, always searching for new ways to tell compelling stories across different media.

Questions & Answers

What is a text based game?▼

A text based game — also called interactive fiction or a text adventure — is a story-driven game you play by reading and making choices. There are no reflexes required — just your curiosity, your instincts, and the words on the screen. PARANOID is a modern example of the genre: a dark text based mystery you can play online.

What is a text adventure game?▼

A text adventure is a form of interactive fiction where you read a story and type or click commands to explore, investigate, and shape what happens next.

Is PARANOID like Zork?▼

If you love classic text adventures like Zork, PARANOID is a modern text based mystery game in the same tradition — a story you read, explore, and shape with your choices. Think of it as interactive fiction with a dark suburban twist.

Can I play PARANOID online?▼

Yes. Play Paranoid online in your browser — once you complete your purchase, you get instant access and can play directly in your browser with no installation needed.

How long is PARANOID?▼

Around 30 minutes for seasoned text-adventure players, and up to two hours for everyone else. The house rewards those who look closely.

Can I get a refund?▼

No. Because the game code is revealed immediately after purchase, all sales are final.

What if I encounter a problem?▼

Reach out to us at hej@tikkala.se and we will help you as soon as we can.

Can I get hints if I get stuck?▼

Sorry, we do not give out game hints. If you run into a technical problem, however, please reach out and we will do our best to assist.

What devices or browsers work best?▼

PARANOID is not PC-only. It runs in any modern web browser on Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, and Android. We recommend Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. No installation is needed.

How do I access the game after paying?▼

As soon as Stripe confirms your payment, your browser is redirected to the game page and the door unlocks automatically. You will also receive an order confirmation from Stripe. If the game does not open right away, check your receipt email and click the link there, or contact us at hej@tikkala.se and we will sort it out.

What commands can I use in the game?▼

PARANOID understands classic text adventure commands. Type or click the ones that feel natural:

Look at — examine objects, people, or yourself
Look around — describe the room again
Take — pick up items
Use — interact with items or features
Open / Close — doors, drawers, containers
Talk to — speak with characters
Go north / south / east / west — move between rooms
Go to — head to a named location
Inventory — see what you are carrying
Wait — let time pass

If you are ever unsure, try simple verbs. The parser is forgiving and the game will guide you toward what matters.

Is PARANOID scary or suitable for kids?▼

PARANOID is a dark psychological mystery with an unsettling atmosphere and adult themes. It is not gory, but the tension and subject matter are aimed at teens and adults. Parents should use their own judgment for younger players.

Is the story linear or branching?▼

The story is authored and structured, but your choices shape how scenes unfold and what Michael discovers. It is closer to a handcrafted branching mystery than a fully open sandbox.

Are there multiple endings?▼

Yes. What you examine, who you trust, and what you decide in key moments can lead to different outcomes. The house remembers what you ignore.

Is PARANOID like Zork or AI Dungeon?▼

PARANOID is a classic parser text adventure in the spirit of Zork, but with a modern browser interface. Unlike AI Dungeon, every word is written by a human author, so the story has a clear voice, pacing, and ending.

Is there voice acting or sound?▼

No. PARANOID is a text-first experience with no sound at all — the writing and your imagination carry the atmosphere.

Launch priceOnly $5.99 total (tax incl.) for a limited time - regular price coming soon.

"THE DOOR IS LOCKED"

DO YOU DARE TO enter the house?

One payment of $5.99 - less than a coffee - and the full mystery opens in this browser tab, right now. No download, no account, no waiting for an email.

WHAT YOU GET FOR $5.99

✓The complete story - every room, clue and secret
✓Two different endings, decided by your choices
✓30 to 120 minutes of slow-burning suspense
✓Instant browser access - nothing to install
✓Lifetime access, one-time payment, no subscription
✓Come back any time and restore your purchase by email

$5.99

Secure Stripe checkout

Instant access after payment

Play in any modern browser

Takes about 30 seconds. You are playing immediately after payment.

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VISAMASTERCARDAMEXAPPLE PAY

One-time payment. No subscription. Because the game unlocks instantly, all sales are final - so read the free opening above first if you are unsure. Problems getting in? Mail hej@tikkala.se and you will be let into the house.

Start Playing in Seconds

After your payment goes through, you can play Paranoid online straight from your browser on Mac, PC, phone, or tablet - no downloads, no waiting. This interactive fiction experience runs entirely online, so you can play text adventure games anywhere. Stripe sends your order confirmation to your inbox.

Bookmark the game page so you can return any time. If anything goes wrong, contact us at hej@tikkala.se with your Stripe receipt and we will get you in.

PARANOID - A Mystery Text Adventure Game