Plot-driven Narrative - an IFDB Poll
by Jerako
RSS FeedI'm looking for a list of games to try where the narrative is the focus of the game. Where the author is really trying to tell a story over making a puzzlefest (though puzzles aren't necessarily unwelcome, especially if they drive they plot). For example, Infocom's Zork holds zero interest for me, while A Mind Forever Voyaging most certainly does.
| Photopia, by Adam Cadre 5 votes "The first that comes to my mind" [+]"The first that comes to my mind" ( ) --Simon Deimel... "Full of story" [+]"Full of story: A very great game which only focuses on plot and has no puzzles." () --BlitzWithGuns... "Apparently disparate subplots at first" [+]"Apparently disparate subplots at first: Figuring out the overall premise is the whole point. Plus the story prevents you from getting bogged down into "what am I supposed to do here"." --mjhayes... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Sdn... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Felix Pleșoianu...  Vote for this game | |
| Slouching Towards Bedlam, by Star Foster and Daniel Ravipinto 3 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ) --Sdn... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Felix Pleșoianu... "Great example of..." [+]"Great example of puzzles and narrative working together without either claiming precedence. All actions you can take feel written into the story, not something imposed by the player." --Christina Nordlander... Vote for this game | |
| Alabaster, by John Cater, Rob Dubbin, Eric Eve, Elizabeth Heller, Jayzee, Kazuki Mishima, Sarah Morayati, Mark Musante, Emily Short, Adam Thornton, Ziv Wities 3 votes (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ) --Sam Kabo Ashwell... "If you liked..." [+]"If you liked Galatea, you'll like this conversation-driven take on Snow White." --Danielle... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --IFforL2... Vote for this game | |
| The King of Shreds and Patches, by Jimmy Maher 2 votes "Very much an..." [+]"Very much an interactive novel, where a long, intricate story is the whole point. The puzzles sent me right to the hints though." ( ) --Felix Pleșoianu... (No comment) [+](No comment) () --Laney Berry... Vote for this game | |
| Galatea, by Emily Short 2 votes "Don't know..." [+]"Don't know whether you're interested in one-room, conversation-focused games, but this is definitely more of a story than a puzzlefest." --Christina Nordlander... (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ) --IFforL2... Vote for this game | |
| Rameses, by Stephen Bond 1 vote "Not a puzzlefest..." [+]"Not a puzzlefest in any sense; mostly a vignette about an unhappy young person. It's not to everyone's taste, but definitely falls on the narrative side of the divide." ( ) --Emily Short... Vote for this game | |
| spondre, by Jay Nabonne 1 vote "The several plots are so immersive that it didn't feel like a game to me until the second play-through." [+]"The several plots are so immersive that it didn't feel like a game to me until the second play-through." ( ) --IFforL2... Vote for this game | |
| All Roads, by Jon Ingold 1 vote "Has a few small..." [+]"Has a few small puzzles, but is otherwise focused on the narrative." ( ) --Molly... Vote for this game | |
| Lydia's Heart, by Jim Aikin 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ) --Denk... Vote for this game | |
| Myriad, by Porpentine 1 vote "All of..." [+]"All of Porpentine's games, even those that do have puzzles, belong on this list. Myriad is one of the most story-focused ones." ( ) --Christina Nordlander... Vote for this game | |
| Plundered Hearts, by Amy Briggs 1 vote "Feels to me most..." [+]"Feels to me most like a conventional novel of all Infocom's stuff -- lots of characters, lots of plotty scenes." ( - Full review) --Emily Short... Vote for this game | |
| Kaged, by Ian Finley 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ) --Denk... Vote for this game | |
| Sequitur, by Nigel Jayne (as Tin Foil Jenny) 1 vote "The narrative is the puzzle." [+]"The narrative is the puzzle." --NJ... Vote for this game | |
| Worldsmith, by Ade McT 1 vote (No comment) [+](No comment) ( ) --Denk... Vote for this game | |
| Scars, by Olivia Dunlap 1 vote "A bit too linear..." [+]"A bit too linear for my taste, but the concept is great and the writing is very good for a speed-IF." --Christina Nordlander... Vote for this game | |
| El Museo de las Consciencias, by Mel Hython and Santiago Eximeno and Grendel Khan and Urbatain and Depresiv 1 vote "One of the only Spanish parser games that isn't a puzzlefest." [+]"One of the only Spanish parser games that isn't a puzzlefest." ( ) --IFforL2... Vote for this game | |
| Halothane, by Ravi Rajkumar 1 vote "Has some puzzles,..." [+]"Has some puzzles, but the interesting story and good writing are the core of the game." --Christina Nordlander... Vote for this game | |
| Pytho's Mask, by Emily Short 1 vote "While it has a..." [+]"While it has a few puzzles, not all of them easy, most of the game is conversation-driven -- and very much about the story." ( ) --Felix Pleșoianu... Vote for this game | |
| Walker & Silhouette, by C.E.J. Pacian 1 vote "Comic game about..." [+]"Comic game about a thief and her companion. Somewhat puzzly." --Molly... Vote for this game | |
| Ollie Ollie Oxen Free, by Carolyn VanEseltine 1 vote "Definitely..." [+]"Definitely narrative-focused, with puzzles that are for the most part vital to the narrative, albeit with some implementation problems. But it is still a fantastic experience." ( ) --Sdn... Vote for this game | |