Electronic Literature Collection
New Media Writing Prize (open "archive" to see all works)
Itch.io (home page)
Itch.io (Twine Games)
Itch.io (The Bitsy Essay Jam)
National Film Board of Canada Interactive
The New River Journal (open "archive" to see past works)
The interactive fiction competition

Your task is help build our list of works, including hyperlinks, brief summaries, stars, and tags. As our list grows, we can begin to organize the material differently.

Here's an example:

A Vast and Lonely Desert by Gavin G. See
In this Bitsy game, we travel through vast, empty spaces with a friend making our way through the desert toward a campfire and star gazing. The work is about friendship, grief, and poetry with a western vibe. It's sparse and powerfully moving precisely because of its sparseness.
Info:  made in 2020; serious game; authoring tool: Bitsy; on the Electronic Literature Collection, vol 4 and itch.io
tags: spatiality, navigation, orientation, friendship, loss, LGBTQ
[entry posted by k.kelly]
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part;e by Urlee
In this game from the New Media Writing Prize, we explore an individual's experiences during the pandemic and how the isolation has impacted their mental health and will to perform daily tasks. It's a very slow moving game with animated text that emphasizes the internal calamity the character is facing. The character also attempts to reach out to a friend to discuss their deteriorating mental health, but faces many issues when attempting to do so.
Info: made in 2023; serious game; authoring tool: itch.io; in the New Media Writing Prize archives
tags: depression, friendship, anxiety, therapy
[entry posted by sxp1507]
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Nanopesos by Camila Gormaz

Nanopesos is a Twine-based game on itch.io. It was created to represent the high living costs and low salaries that many people experience in Chile. The game has a pixel-art style and shows scenes of the main character living their daily life while the player goes through and makes choices that affect the main character's health, happiness, and budget. 
Info: Developed during 2019, Winner of the "Premios Literarios" award from the Ministry of Culture of Chile, ~20 minute gameplay, serious game, can be played in both English and Spanish.
Tags: life simulation, budget management, pixel art, realistic
[entry posted by asj89]

Cactus Blue Motel by Astrid Dalmady
I n this Twine game, three friends on a road trip stumble upon a mysterious motel in the desert that seems to exist outside of time. As they explore, they must decide whether to continue on their journey or stay forever in this strange oasis. The game explores themes of nostalgia, change, and the fear of growing up.
Info: made in 2016; interactive fiction; authoring tool; Twine; available on AstridDalmady.com
tags: choices, nostalgia, friendship
[entry posted by Chris Leuciuc]

Neon Haze by Porpentine Charity Heartscape
A cyberpunk Twine game where the player navigates a dystopian city filled with neon lights, shifting identities, and fragmented memories. The game uses poetic language and an intense soundtrack to immerse the player in a world of underground movements and existential dread.
Info: made in 2021; cyberpunk interactive fiction; authoring tool: Twine; available on sub-q.com
tags: cyberpunk, identity, poetry, dystopia
[entry posted by Chris Leuciuc]

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Introvert by Serious Daniel
This game is played through the prospective of a person who is struggling with social anxiety and loneliness. It takes place in an apartment complex and is more text based, while still keeping some elements of exploration. There are limited choices available, but the game effectively uses its environment to directly present feelings of isolation, anxiety, discomfort, and fear. This provides the player with a space where they can learn about the complexities of socialization through the perspective of an introverted individual by presenting the subtle ways introversion can shape someone’s life.
Info: released in 2016; interactive horror game that explores mental health; authoring tool: itch.io; about a 20 minute play through
Tags: anxiety, horror, socialization, atmospheric
[entry posted by axs3052]

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My Friend the Spider by markleash
This game provides minimalistic game mechanics and more so focuses on the emotional and psychological journey of the protagonist. The game is played in the first-person perspective and allows the player to explore the digital space by walking around the main character’s bedroom and other areas. This game explores self-isolation by using the unique partnership between a spider and human, and emphasizes the mental state of the main character through their interactions with the spider and environment. The game as a whole is ambiguous and allows a lot of room for interpretation by the player, allowing the player to immerse themselves in this dream-like environment.
Info: released in 2017; interactive narrative game that explores companionship and isolation; authoring tool: itch.io; about a 20 minute play through
Tag: horror, first-person, mental health, narrative, suspense, unity
[entry posted by axs3052]
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Well This is Awkward by Emma Kidwell
This game is a choose-your-own-adventure style game that explores the awkwardness of buying condoms. The game follows an unprepared character who is in the middle of a sexual encounter as they leave to go buy condoms. The character makes various choices throughout the game that influences the outcome as they purchase contraception. Players are able to read the character's internal distress as they awkwardly walk throughout the store to buy condoms. This game attempts to normalize safe-sex practices and reduce the stigma around purchasing contraceptives by being humorous.
Info: released prior to 2016; interactive storytelling game that explores safe-sex practices; twine game; about a 20 minute play through
Tag: humor, safe-sex, relatable, narrative
[entry posted by sxp1507] 
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Voices by Christine Wilks

In this game from the New Media Writing Prize, we explore the life of a young woman struggling with body dysmorphia and how it affects her daily life. As she speaks with coworkers, her boss, and her friends, we are able to make decisions that impact the ending of the story. We are also able to see her thoughts as the story progresses, which adds to player experience by allowing us to connect with her character in a deeper way.

Info: made in 2023; ~ 30 minute gameplay; serious game; in the New Media Writing Prize Archive; funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

tags : body issues, life simulation, identity, self-acceptance, narrative

[ entry posted by ava.ghazarian ]
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Please Answer Carefully by litrouke

In this Twine game, we are asked to take a survey about digital safety and stalking. The game has a minimal design and audio sound effects, which makes players feel anxious and uncomfortable. Although the survey starts normally, as it goes on, players can only select the options provided by the person stalking them.

Info: made in 2019; ~ 5 minute gameplay; Twine; made in 24 hours; available in over 20 languages

tags: psychological horror, text-based, suspense; first-person

[ entry posted by ava.ghazarian ]
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Who Stole My Bone? by Kriptic Kitty

This is a short and quirky Twine game where you play as a human who helps Spudz, a dog who is on a mission to solve the mystery of his missing bone. This game utilizes comic style art, silly and often profane humor, and group of oddly suspicious characters (who are toys throughout the home). It puts the users detective skills will be put to the test, but be careful, because there are some decisions that can lead to shocking plot twists.

Info: made in 2019; ~ 10 minute gameplay; Twine; Humorous and recreational detective game; posted in interactive fiction archive

Tags: art, bad-art, Cute, Dogs, Funny, Short, Text based, Twine

[ entry posted by Shaun.OKeefe ]
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Morning Ritual by Emillie Mavel and Valerija Tane

This Twine-based game is similar to Depression Quest, in that it outlines some of the symptoms of clinically depressed people. However, it is different because it focuses on one aspect: getting out of bed. It places you in the mind of a person with depression using the second person point of view. The game touches on the sense of security that you experience as you sleep on your bed. Succumbing to this temptation to stay in your bed has a major impact on the ending of the game, and if you choose to get out of bed, you have to face the challenges of your morning routine as you struggle to leave the house.

Info: Made in 2019, serious game, authoring tool: itch.io, 10 minute playthrough

Tags: Atmospheric, depression, Mental Health, Minimalist, Narrative, Short, Text based, Twine

Possession and Other Things by Laura Bee

We are placed into the perspective of Ella Fawkner, a college student who decides to go ghost-hunting at an abandoned mental asylum. As she explores the facility, a demon enters her body and she wakes up in her house to find out the entity is living in her body. The decisions you make next will determine the fate of Ella. Will the demon completely take over her body, or will she survive? Even though a game about becoming possessed by a demon is attributed to horror, this game was extremely comedic and lighthearted, which made the experience arguably more enjoyable.

Info: Released in 2023, horror with comedy, adventure, authoring tool: itch.io, 25 minute playthrough

Tags: Mental Health, supernatural, Twine

[entry posted by Yash Deshpande]

The Bat by Chandler Groover

Master Bryce is throwing a party. As his most faithful servant, that means it's your job to make the party run smoothly. But you only have two hands—and far too many duties. You'll have to manage requests from the guests, the master's eccentric demands, and your own composure. All the other staff have quit, unwilling to entertain the master's "moods," but you've served Wyatt Manor for decades; what's one more evening?

A comedy of errors, mild frustrations, and major workplace-safety violations. With limited actions and a limited inventory, juggle hors d'oeuvres, flaming curtains, and radioactive elements—and keep the drinks coming!

Info: 2 hour play through, won second place in 2024 Miss Congeniality Awards

Tags: Superhero, Parser-based, vampire-themed

[entry posted by Katherine Hochstetler]

The Den by Ben Jackson 

Vee and Aiden have spent their entire lives in a place they call 'the den'. Father looks after them and protects them from the outside world. They have never thought about leaving – until something happens that makes them question everything they thought they knew. It's a light-hearted adventure with a darker mystery, and you play as both characters in order to uncover the secrets of the den. 

Info: 2 hour play through, hack computers and solve puzzles, won first place in the 2024 Miss Congeniality Awards

Tags: Adventure, Mystery, Puzzle, Choice-based 

[entry posted by Katherine Hochstetler]

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Deviant: The Possession of Christian Shaw by Donna Leishman

This visual-focused game details the author's interpretation of the famous demonic possession case of Christian Shaw, a girl who supposedly faked being possessed to incite the executions of multiple people. You can interact with the strange, disturbing imagery and slowly unravel the often obscure story being told. This game is dark and often employs horror elements. The experience overall feels like a fever dream, with the way to proceed sometimes not being immediately obvious.

Info: 20 min playtime, Flash game, Electronic Literature Collection vol 1, released 2004
Tags: Historical, Horror, Point-and-Click, Avant Garde, Non-Textual

[entry posted by Matthew Heffner]

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I Work for the Web by Rob Wittig and Mark C. Marino

"I Work for the Web" takes on the form of a networked improv narrative. That is, the creators established the initial concept of the story, and random participants on Facebook and Twitter are able to improvise how the story plays out through social media posts. The idea of "I Work for the Web" is a sarcastic jab at the pervasiveness of the Internet and screentime in taking over our lives, to the point where we are essentially "working" for the Internet. But, instead of being paid in money, we are paid in likes and followers.

Info: Social Media Based, started 2015, New Media Writing Prize Shortlist, Parody Elements
Tags: Multi-Media, Netprov, Text-Based, Technology, Social Commentary

[entry posted by Matthew Heffner]

Imprimatura by Elizabeth Ballou

"Imprimatura" is an interactive fiction game where players inherit a collection of paintings left by a recently passed loved one. The game revolves around your personal journey of mourning, exploring the paintings, and dealing with the decision of whether to pursue a career in art or take another path. As you piece together your memories and paint your own final canvas, the game focuses on the emotional weight of grief, memory, and the importance of art in processing the loss of a loved one. The story unfolds through choices the player makes that influence the artwork and its meaning.
Info: Developed in 2024; interactive fiction; 13th Place in the 30th Annual Interactive Fiction Competition (2024)
Tags: grief, memory, art, career choices, painting, self-discovery

[entry posted by Julia Choi]

The Temple of No by Dominik Johann, William Pugh, and Crows Crows Crows

In "The Temple of No", you play as a character who stumbles into a mysterious temple with no clear purpose or direction. As you explore, you encounter strange objects, cryptic symbols, and bizarre characters. The game is filled with a series of choices that lead to humorous and unexpected outcomes. A notable feature is the dialogue, which stretches on for long periods, adding to the humor and charm. The game allows players to embrace its playful journey through a temple where the experience is all about having fun.
Info: Made in 2024; Experimental narrative game; 40 min play time
Tags: humor, exploration, puzzles, narrative, self-aware

[entry posted by Julia Choi]


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No internet ≠ no fun by Peter Februar

"No internet ≠ no fun" is a simple game that resembles the game that appears when there is no internet access in Chrome, where the player jumps and avoids obstacles like cactuses and pterodactyls. In this game, the player controls the dinosaur and interacts with the cactuses and a single pterodactyl instead of avoiding them. As the player interacts, the game shows dialogue that emphasizes the fact that no internet does not directly indicate no fun, as the game urges players to experience the real world and interact with entertainment that can be felt offline instead of remaining online. I believe that the game is intentionally short to push players into getting off their screens to experience reality. 

Info: 3-minute gameplay, 1-bit game.
Tags: Simple, awareness, narrative, funny

[Entry posted by Justin Lee]

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the cat at the top of the hill by jakeyouh

"the cat at the top of the hill" shows a person following up a sandy path up a hill where they meet a cat. The person shares one piece of dialogue that is very thought-provoking. The person begins by saying how a person's existence is only a speck in the massive universe, and that everything a person does is insignificant in the grand scale of the existence of our universe. In addition, the person talks specifically on how they can imagine the end of racial and gender profiling, incarceration, privatized healthcare, and education. The person explains how watching our surrounding is equal to watching the death of it, as one day our surroundings will be gone. However, the person ends the dialogue by saying how that they will continue to go up the hill and watch their environment as what they see is beautiful.

Info: 5-minute gameplay, 1-bit, thought-provoking
Tags: universal, depressing, hopeful, beauty

[Entry posted by Justin Lee]

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Until Then by Polychroma Games

This narrative adventure game inspired by the lifestyle and culture of the Philippines outlines themes of romance, loss, and friendship. Playing under the role of Mark Borja, you build relationships and do things that young adults are typically expected to do. These core elements combined with the story-rich writing, art, and music left me speechless by one of the game's endings. You are faced with going down an infinite amount of paths and no realistic direction given to you except your actions. 

(P.S. played this game on my own time before this class, beautiful story and would recommend 10/10)

Info: 15.5 hours playtime, made in 2025, RPG, Visual Novel, Pixel Graphics
Tags: Emotional, Psychological, Coming-Of-Age, Romance, LGBTQ+, Story-Rich, Mystery 

[Entry Posted by Reef Rahman]

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The Illusion of Prosperity by Katerina Afanasyeva

This statistic-focused game outlines the author's findings of child poverty in Kazahkstan and its effects. When you start the game, you are given a perspective from a child named Anna. However, as you progress, this perspective is abandoned as the reader is taken from a singular view to a wider, more general overview of the child poverty situation. While the game doesn't focus on any visual factors, it focuses more on guiding the reader through a miniature history/economics lesson to not only bring awareness to the situation, but also advocate for it.

Info: 5 min playtime, made in 2025; narrative game
Tags: child poverty, economics, statistics, starvation, narrative

[Entry Posted By Reef Rahman]

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Kentucky Route Zero by Jake Elliott; Tamas Kemenczy; Ben Babbit

In Kentucky Route Zero, we journey through a surreal, dreamlike version of caves beneath Kentucky, following a debt-ridden truck driver named Conway as he navigates the mysterious Route Zero. Along the way, he encounters a cast of strange and compelling characters, all searching for something unattainable. The game is about economic hardship, fading communities, and the ghosts of American industry narrated through visual storytelling. It’s deeply human, embracing magical realism to explore themes of memory, labor, and fate.

Info:  made in 2013; serious game; authoring tool: Unity; on the Electronic Literature Collection, vol 4 and itch.io
tags:  death, capitalism, body, authorship, adventure, unemployment,
[entry posted by Sanjana Bhattacharya]
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Story of the Arctic by Dylan Russel

In Story of the Arctic, it can be described as an introspective journey through the Arctic. The game captures the isolation and beauty of the environment, emphasizing storytelling with exploration to uncover fragments of survival, and resilience. Through minimal yet striking design features, it conveys themes of isolation,  and the broken relationship between humans and the wild. The experience is poetic and atmospheric, inviting players to reflect on the stories hidden within the ice and snow.

Info:  made in 2017; serious game; authoring tool: Twine; on USM Game Studies and itch.io
tags:  exploration, climate, survival, adventure, arctic setting 
[entry posted by Sanjana Bhattacharya]

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I'm Better by Jeremy Lonien
I'm Better is a traditional Twine-based game that follows someone's thought process when asked the question "How have you been?" While a simple and innocuous question, it causes the unnamed main character to think about the mental health struggles they have experienced. The game deals with mental health, and please note that it covers topics that may be upsetting to some, such as depression, suicide, and mental institutions. The game is very simple, but it is very effective in what it tries to say.

Info: Made in 2015; Serious Game; Twine; Playable in Browser; Made in Twine; Narrative Game
Tags: Depression, Anxiety, Isolation, Mental Health
[Entry Posted by Alex Jones/asj89] 

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24 years of sleepless nights by Gallus
In this Bitsy game, we accompany the author on their journey in navigating through chronic insomnia. We follow along with them as they show their routine to prepare for a good night's sleep and the plethora of thoughts and situations that prevent them from getting the good night's rest they desire.
Info:  made in 2021; serious game; authoring tool: Bitsy; on itch.io
tags: insomnia, narrative, navigation, 2D
[entry posted by katelyn]
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a tribute by kafkaesc
In this Bitsy game, the player is put into the perspective of the author as they explore their nostalgia for a game character in the past. The author brings us through their childhood experience with games, specifically with Pokémon, and prompts the player to think about our memories and early experiences with video games.
Info:  made in 2021; serious game; authoring tool: Bitsy; on itch.io
tags: nostalgia, narrative, navigation, memories, 2D
[entry posted by katelyn]
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one night, hot springs by npckc

This short itch.io game is about a transgender woman, Haru, who goes a short vacation with her friends, Manami and Erika. It details the anxieties and challenges she faces as a transgender person in a traditional country in her day-to-day life.
Info: made in 2018
tags: LGBT, visual novel, multiple endings, female-protagonist 
[Entry posted by George Guaman.]

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missed messages by angela he

You play as kind-friend August in this multiple-ending game, and your goal is to provide help May, a close friend/love interest who struggles with depression. Your choices change the outcome of May's future. There are four endings, each dealing with a different degree of healing/progress in regards to mental health.

TW: blood, images of self-harm, death/suicide
Info: made in 2019
Tags: 2D, art game, Horror, LGBT, Romance, Short
[Entry posted by George Guaman.]

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