With the emergence of so many new gaming platforms, it's arguably become easier than ever to find new games to play. Many online stores such as Steam include tags to make it easy to browse through different genres or features. People who enjoyed a particular element of a previous game they've played can look through dozens of similar options, giving them an opportunity to explore smaller titles that may otherwise have been overlooked. Players can look for everything from experimental early access games to fully fleshed-out projects that just haven't received the publicity an AAA game might have.
Indie games have been in the spotlight a fair amount in recent months. 2021's INDIE Live Expo showcased over 300 games, and quite a few indie publishers will be presenting at this year's E3 expo. Given the influential significance indie games have had on gaming as a whole, taking the opportunity to highlight small titles is a good move. However, amidst the cutting-edge gameplay featured in many indie releases, text adventure games sometimes tend to get glossed over despite their long history in the world of gaming.
Part of this could be because some players are put off by the unique gameplay featured in text-based games. Most tend to lack combat or other heavily interactive features, though there are some text adventures that do include many mechanics that allow player interaction. Others could find it difficult to adjust to games that rely so strongly on the written word to convey information, though more and more text adventures also include visual elements. Here are a few text adventure games that stand out and make it easy to get engaged.
2021's Best Text Adventures: Overboard!
Replayability is a large aspect of many text adventure games. It tends to be easier to allow player freedom and diverging story paths in a primarily text-focused format. Overboard! is a good example of this. The premise is set up as a murder mystery, with one big twist - the detective is actually the murderer, and players have only eight hours to escape justice and make sure another character takes the fall. The game's simulated story world features NPCs who move and act independently of player choices, turning Overboard! into a constantly-evolving adventure.
2021's Best Text Adventures: Lacuna - A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure
Lacuna is a dialogue-based text adventure set in a sci-fi noir universe where players are tasked with solving a murder that could impact the entire solar system. The game branches into multiple endings depending on player actions, and conversation choices are often timed and non-repeating, giving each decision a sense of finality. The story pushes forward at a near-constant pace, which helps add to the tension just as much as the noir-esque artistic direction. Lacuna is arguably one of the most unique visual novels currently on Steam.
2021's Best Text Adventures: The Remainder - Act 1
The Remainder is a visual novel, with less opportunities for player movement and interactivity than some other text adventures. However, it makes up for it with its dedication to its story and ambiance. Hand-drawn art and unique sound design help build a backdrop for the game's mystery. The Remainder - Act 1 released in June 2021, with Act 2 scheduled to come out in July. At just over 40k words, the game provides a good amount of substance while still proving quick enough for players to be able to keep up with future acts of The Remainder's compelling narrative. The Remainder, as well as the other games listed here, can all be found in the Steam store now.
