- They need to be free. "Freemium" is also fine.
- Single player games are fine.
- MMOs are fine.
- There's no particular genre I'm interested in.
- HALP MEH! D:
Do games like Nethack and Dwarf Fortress count as text-based from your point-of-view?
My standard Anime Theme song game variant rules: [Censored by ACTA]Of course.
Also, Net Hack is something I try to avoid unless I'm really bored just because I tend to get really addicted to it. <_<;;
You should try more Visual Novels.
I recommend Digital A Love Story.
ALL CREATURE WILL DIE AND ALL THE THINGS WILL BE BROKEN. THAT'S THE LAW OF SAMURAI.Oh, visual novels sound cool. Any horror, sci-fi, or yaoi ones you guys can recommend? Again..free. >_>
[Also, by yaoi, I don't mean those erotic visual novels. Loves me some gay porn, but I'd just like a nice, innocent story of two boys falling in love.]
For my end-of-semester project in British Literature, I made a text adventure game in Inform 7 based on the novel Grendel by John Gardner. If you'd like I can email the file to you. It got an A+!
edited 12th Jan '12 6:14:14 PM by PDown
At first I didn't realize I needed all this stuff...I don't know very much about text adventures and interactive fiction. Perhaps someone else will have some freeware recommendations from either of these categories. Especially ones which will work on a current computer without having to use emulation. If you search a bit, you can find some extensive archives of text adventure games and interactive fiction.
I do have a decent knowledge of visual novels. In terms of examples in English with Boys' Love themes, there aren't very many... and most of what currently exists has at least some explicit content. If you want something worksafe, then be aware that the freeware community has created a few, such as Dream Savior Gakuen and Full Circle. Also, while it's still a few months away from full release, check out the demo of Break Chance Memento, and provide them with some feedback.
Horror VNs: if you need to start with freeware, then look into Songs Of Araiah. If you're willing to consider some commercial examples, then read on. When They Cry is a favorite of many fans. Just keep in mind that it does not include complex gameplay or choices. If you have a DS, and you're willing to order a limited-run game online, then look into Nine Hours Nine Persons Nine Doors. If you have a PSP and access to the Playstation Store, then check out the English version of Corpse Party. Finally, I know that Chaos Head has a fan following... the group that translated it back in 2008 no longer hosts a translation patch, but I had no trouble finding the file after searching for "chaos;head patch."
Science fiction VNs: the best example of freeware I can think of is That Cheap and Sacred Thing. Commercial stuff: no company is currently selling Snatcher or Policenauts, but the former has a well regarded English version on Sega CD, and fans have translated the Playstation version of the latter. Ever17 is another fan favorite, though it can be difficult to find a legit English copy. I've seen Remember11 on J-List for about $38 US.
I love Corpse Party. I bought it as soon as it was on PSN. Had no idea it was a visual novel, though.
I like Discworld MUD, but you'd probably get the most out of it if you've read at least some of the books.
edited 13th Jan '12 10:42:02 AM by MangaManiac