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Text Based Games: What They Are and What to Play
What text based games are
A text based game gives you prose and a prompt. It might say: The kitchen is dark. A chair has been moved away from the table. You answer EXAMINE CHAIR, and it tells you something you did not want to know. That loop — description, decision, consequence — is the whole medium.
Because nothing is rendered, the author controls exactly what you notice and when. That makes the form unusually good at suspense: a graphics engine has to show you the room, while a sentence can hide half of it.
Parser vs choice-based: the only distinction that matters
| Parser (typed) | Choice-based (clicked) | |
|---|---|---|
| How you play | Type LOOK, TAKE KEY, GO NORTH | Click one of the written options |
| Feels like | Searching a real place | Making decisions in a novel |
| Learning curve | Six verbs, then easy | None |
| Best device | Laptop or desktop keyboard | Phone or tablet |
| Examples | PARANOID, Zork, Anchorhead | 80 Days, Twine games, Choice of… |
Eight text based games to play
| Game | Type | Length | Price | Where it runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PARANOID | Parser mystery | 2–3 hours | $5.99 once | Any browser, phone or desktop |
| Zork I | Parser classic | 10+ hours | Free | Browser interpreter |
| Photopia | Parser, story-first | 1 hour | Free | Browser interpreter |
| Counterfeit Monkey | Parser, wordplay | 10+ hours | Free | Browser interpreter |
| Anchorhead | Parser horror | 6–10 hours | Free | Browser interpreter |
| 80 Days | Choice-based | 3–5 hours | Paid app | iOS, Android, Steam |
| Choice of the Dragon | Choice-based | 40 minutes | Free | Browser |
| Twine games on itch.io | Choice-based | 10–90 minutes | Mostly free | Browser |
Playing in a browser, with no download
Browser play is now the default. Three routes exist:
- Games built for the web. PARANOID runs on the Quest engine compiled to WebAssembly, so after checkout you get a private game page and nothing to install.
- Browser interpreters. Sites like the Interactive Fiction Archive and IFDB run classic Inform and TADS story files in-page, which is how you play Zork or Anchorhead without an emulator.
- itch.io. Thousands of Twine games play directly on their store page, most of them free.
Caveats: browser saves usually live in local storage, so clearing site data can wipe progress, and private windows may not save at all.
Playing text based games on a phone
- No app needed for PARANOID. It works in mobile Safari and Chrome; the prompt sits above the keyboard and the text reflows.
- Choice-based games are best on touch. One thumb, no typing, ideal for a commute.
- Turn off autocorrect for parser games. It loves rewriting NE as "no" and X as "ex".
- Use landscape for long descriptions. Fewer line breaks means fewer missed details.
- Free interpreter apps exist for iPhone and Android if you want to carry the classics offline.
Where to start tonight
If you want one modern game that shows the form at its best without any setup, start with PARANOID: a dark suburban mystery in one Nordic family home over one night, $5.99 once with tax included, two to three hours, two endings depending on your choices. It runs in the browser on phone, tablet or desktop.
Then read how to play text adventure games for the command list, and the complete guide to text adventure games for the history behind them.
Frequently asked questions
What are text based adventure games?
Text based adventure games are games played through written words instead of graphics. The game describes a situation, you respond either by typing a command such as LOOK or GO NORTH, or by clicking one of the offered choices, and the story continues based on what you did.
What is the difference between parser and choice-based text games?
In a parser game you type freely and the program interprets your words, which gives you the feeling of genuinely searching a place. In a choice-based game you pick from written options, which is faster to learn and better on a touchscreen. Parser games reward curiosity; choice games reward decision-making.
Can I play text based games in a browser with no download?
Yes. PARANOID runs entirely in a browser tab after purchase, with no install and no account. Thousands of free games also run in browser interpreters hosted by the Interactive Fiction Archive and on itch.io.
Are text based games free?
Most are. Decades of interactive fiction is free from the IF Archive and IFDB, including Zork I, Photopia, Anchorhead and Counterfeit Monkey. Paid modern games such as PARANOID ($5.99 once, tax included) buy you editing, testing and a finished, focused experience.
Do text based games work on a phone?
Yes. PARANOID works in Safari and Chrome on iPhone and Android with no app. Choice-based games are ideal on a phone because you tap instead of type. Parser games work, but a physical keyboard is more comfortable for long sessions.
Are text based games the same as text based RPGs?
Not quite. A text based RPG adds statistics, levelling and combat rolls, often in a multiplayer MUD. A text adventure focuses on exploring a place and a story. Some games sit in between, but PARANOID is firmly a story-driven adventure with no combat.
How do I know what to type?
Six verbs cover almost everything: LOOK, EXAMINE, TAKE, OPEN, USE and a direction such as NORTH. If nothing works, type HELP or read our guide to playing text adventures, which lists every command a parser understands.
What is a good first text based game?
PARANOID if you want a modern, self-contained mystery with no setup — two to three hours, browser only, two endings. Photopia if you want a free hour that shows what the form can do. Choice of the Dragon if you would rather click than type.