There’s something magical about typing “open the door” and watching the world respond.
For many gamers who grew up in the 80s and 90s, the text-based games were the first fully immersive experience in an interactive narrative.
They demanded attention, imagination, and reasoning. They were challenging, mysterious, and completely absorbing.
Today, when the gaming industry is full of hyper-realistic graphics and gigantic open worlds, text games are making an unexpected comeback.
And they're coming back with a vengeance.
In this article, we’ll explore this renaissance. Why are text games winning hearts back?
Where to play them? And why, in 2025, are they more relevant than ever?
What are Text-Based Games?
You text-based games are interactive experiences in which the plot unfolds through words.
Instead of graphics or animations, everything happens on the screen through reading.
The player types commands like “get the key”, “open the chest” or “talk to the wizard” and the game responds with narrative consequences.
They are considered the predecessors of modern RPGs.
But their soul is closer to literature than to consoles. They are playable books. Living stories.
Text games emerged in the 1970s. The classic “Colossal Cave Adventure” is considered the starting point.
Then came Zork, Planetfall, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, among others.
With time and patience, the player delved into universes where each choice, each word, opened different paths.
Why Were They So Successful in Past Decades?
In the 1980s, computers like the Apple II, Commodore 64 and MSX had no graphics capabilities.
Text was the richest form of interactive expression. And for a generation that grew up reading books and magazines, this combination of reading + decision-making was incredibly powerful.
More than that: text games stimulated the imagination. Every room described, every creature encountered, every puzzle solved, everything depended on the player's mind.
They also had real difficulty. It was common to spend days stuck on a puzzle. There were no tutorials or internet. The solution came from a notebook and persistence.
This combination of mental challenge, deep storytelling, and total immersion has made text-based games the stuff of legend.
The Decline and Oblivion of Text Games
With the evolution of graphics and the emergence of consoles such as Nintendo and Sega Mega Drive, text games began to lose ground.
Visual appeal began to dominate the market. Companies invested in colorful graphics, sound, and animations. And text games, silent and “slow”, were left behind.
In the 2000s, they were seen as outdated. New players wanted action, speed, and explosion. Few people wanted to type to play.
But something was about to change.
The Triumphant Return: Why Are They Trending Again?
In recent years, we have seen a revaluation of minimalism. This reached fashion, decoration and, of course, games.
With the rise of the indie movement, mobile phones and retro culture, text games have found a new audience.
People who were looking for light games, with deep scripts and that work on any device rediscovered text games.
Another factor was the explosion of interactive fiction, like Choice of Games games, and the rise of tools like Twine, which allows anyone to create their own playable story.
Today, we have a new generation that write and play their own worlds. And that is incredibly powerful.
Modern Text Games That Deserve to Be Noticed
If you want to explore text games today, here are some modern gems:
1. AI Dungeon
Based on artificial intelligence, it allows you to write freely and receive creative and dynamic responses.
2. 80 Days
Inspired by “Around the World in 80 Days”, it mixes narrative with strategy. Simple visuals, total focus on the story.
3. Reigns
It mixes text with Tinder-like swipe mechanics. You make decisions like a king and deal with the consequences.
4. The House Abandon
Horror game that uses a computer inside a computer. Scary and nostalgic atmosphere.
5. Choice of Robots / Choice of Games
They offer dozens of choice-based games. They are interactive books with real depth.
6. Anchorhead
For Lovecraft fans, it mixes horror and mystery into an intense, textual experience.
All these games are available on platforms like Steam, Android, iOS or web.
How to Start Playing (or Creating) Today
You just need time and curiosity.
To play:
- Access sites like IFDB (Interactive Fiction Database)
- Use the “Frotz” (iOS) or “Lectrote” (PC/Mac) app
- Explore games from Inkle Studios or Choice of Games
To create:
- Try Twine (free and intuitive)
- Try Inform 7 (natural language for creating IF)
- Use AI (like ChatGPT) to create scenes, characters, and plots
You don't need to be a programmer. You need to want to tell stories.
Text Games in Classroom and Education
Text-based games are increasingly being used in educational contexts.
Literature, history and foreign language teachers are discovering the power of these interactive narratives to engage students.
Through captivating storylines and linguistic challenges, students develop critical thinking, creativity and interpretive reading.
You can create personalized stories about historical events, ethical dilemmas, or fantastic adventures that actively teach.
With tools like Twine or StoryLab, any teacher can develop dynamic and gamified content.
Furthermore, text games are accessible to schools with few technological resources, as they only require a computer or cell phone with internet access.
This educational aspect shows how text games are not just entertainment, but also a bridge to knowledge.
Text Games: Nostalgia is Back with a vengeance
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Text Games as a Digital Inclusion Tool
Text-based games also play an important role in digital inclusion.
Because they are lightweight, work offline and do not require advanced hardware, they can be used by communities with limited access to cutting-edge technology.
In developing countries, for example, text games can be used in community libraries, internet cafes or even on simple cell phones, promoting access to interactive narrative as a form of expression, leisure and learning.
Many NGOs and social projects are taking advantage of tools like Twine and Inform to teach young people how to program, write and develop logical reasoning.
Additionally, text-based games have proven to be accessible to people with visual impairments when adapted with screen readers.
This makes them not just a form of nostalgic entertainment, but a platform for positive social impact, with educational and transformative potential.
The Interactive Fiction Creators Community
One of the biggest drivers behind the renaissance of text games is the community of game creators. interactive fiction.
These modern authors blend writing skills with logic and narrative design, creating unique, deep, and highly personalized experiences.
Platforms like Itch.io, Twinery.org, and forums like the Interactive Fiction Community Forum are spaces where writers and programmers share stories, ask for feedback, and organize events.
Joining this community is easy: all you need is a willingness to create. There are free tools, accessible tutorials, and mutual support.
Each new author that emerges strengthens this universe that mixes literature, game design and empathy.
The Future of Text-Based Games
Despite their retro style, text games are at the forefront of narrative innovation.
The future of this format promises mergers with emerging technologies, such as augmented reality, artificial intelligence and conversational chatbots.
There are already experiences in which the player interacts with a fictional character via WhatsApp, Telegram or messaging interface, as if they were exchanging messages with someone real.
This type of approach brings the narrative into the player's routine, increasing engagement and the immersive factor.
Additionally, AI models like GPT-4 and its future versions will allow for the creation of interactive stories that dynamically adapt to the player.
No pre-programmed endings: stories will take shape in real time, according to each choice made.
We will also see gamification expand.
Businesses, schools and brands are beginning to use text games as a means of communication, training and marketing — using interactive storytelling to teach, excite and engage.
What was once seen as obsolete now inspires the new. Words, one of the oldest forms of art, continue to reinvent the act of playing.
Enter your next action. The game continues.
Conclusion: In Times of Images, Words Still Enchant
Text-based games are back. And with them, a lighter, deeper and more human way of connecting with the gaming universe.
They don't need graphics. Or complex controls. They just need words. And a reader willing to imagine.
If you want to get back to the roots of the gaming experience, text games are waiting for you.
Enter your first action. A new adventure is about to begin.