Garden of Bones

You, a mortal, awaken in an unfamiliar land of heat and sand... | development blog for the interactive fiction WIP Garden of Bones | run by Effie

[gardenofbones-if]

You, a mortal, awaken in an unfamiliar land of heat and sand, staring into the unfeeling mask of a spindly stranger who claims to rule the deathless kin of the air.

Beholden to an unremembered promise to assassinate their disgraced twin sibling, bound for an eldritch garden hidden somewhere in the arid plains, and compelled by an enchantment you do not understand, certain choices are beyond your control...

...yet even so, the power of life and death is forever fated to slip through immortal fingers. It lies within your hands, and yours alone. Many questions plague you, but only one can you answer.

What will you do with it?

GARDEN OF BONES is a 17+ interactive work-in-progress with an emphasis on relationships, and includes some content that may be triggering; complete warnings will be included within the game and updated if necessary.

MAIN CHARACTERS

The Younger (M/F)

Weary of being disregarded and mocked for their aspirations, the Younger needs their disapproving sibling and crowned ruler out of the way, for good... and only a mortal can kill an immortal. Will you be their weapon?

The Elder (M/F)

A banished ghost haunts a garden removed from the flow of time; they had not considered that their beloved twin would stab them in the back... and now they are doomed to rise and fall by your hand. How far will you take this lie?

The Mortal (N/A)

A forgetful assassin, sent to dirty your hands on behalf of an immortal ruler from another realm. Cling to the past with bitterness or longing, or abandon it all if you wish. Forge a path built on vengeance or mercy. What will you sacrifice?

Note: as the siblings are identical twins, both ROs must be set together, so you will have the opportunity to play the game with immortal sisters or immortal brothers as your romantic options and potential allies.

SIDE CHARACTERS

The Servant

Sworn to the younger's cause, just like you, yet she seems to be little more than a thorn in their side... there is a history between them that remains unspoken. Will she ever trust you?

The Guard

Nameless, voiceless, faceless, and unwaveringly loyal: the younger twin is rarely seen without their personal champion shadowing their footsteps, and others fear that silent presence. Do you believe the rumours?

FEATURES

CURRENT FEATURES

⮞ fey-adjacent immortal folk ⮞ 2 M/F selectable romance options ⮞ customize your appearance ⮞ shape your personality ⮞ 45+ minute playtime

PLANNED FEATURES

⮞ a curse (may not be discovered) ⮞ bones (quite a lot of them) ⮞ riddles and revenge ⮞ finished romantic route ⮞ finished platonic route ⮞ 4+ highly variable endings ⮞ impactful decisions

Everything here is subject to change.

LINKS

DEMO | ITCH.IO | RO INTROS | PINTEREST | ART TAG

Current word count: 100,000.

I find friendships to be equally as captivating and fulfilling as romantic affection (and also fully support your right to antagonism and arson if desired) so expect me to do my best to ensure that each route is as lovingly detailed as possible!

Thanks for your interest and I hope to craft a most distressing and positively delightful journey for you.

Ask me anything!

~ Effie

[gardenofbones-if]

EVELYN EVELYN??? IN THIS ECONOMY??? oh this is about to be some peak shit. nothing gets me more than doomed siblings and ahsksjsks

Doomed siblings with - don't forget - your main character caught in the crossfire... OH THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU AND THEM, ANON.

[gardenofbones-if]

From my playlist: "Evelyn Evelyn" has U and Z vibes - and you don't even have to squint that hard - which is, tbh, a little upsetting.

Fill my glass, let’s drink a toast! This is our birthday, so why are we weeping? At your side, I feel like a ghost. I wake up first, and I stare at you sleeping...

I know things that you don't know.

[gardenofbones-if]

Just here to remind you that you have a person who loves and honors this IF so much they can't read it willy-nilly and spent weeks waiting for everything to be ok to finally reread your IF because they sincerely revere this piece of art so much they could cry. Anyway, thanks that's me✌️ sending you all the loveeeee🫶

Awwwhhhh what?! ✌️😭

So sorry to hear things were not okay for a while, Anon, but I'm glad your life has settled enough to finally sit down and enjoy something you've been looking forward to! It's genuinely moving to know that someone thinks of my work so positively.

If I understand correctly, you either hadn't played Chapter 2 yet at the time of this message (a few days ago now) or had played it only recently.

Fingers crossed that it was worth the wait! 🫶

~ Effie

[gardenofbones-if]

sometimes I just sit on a page because a line, sentence or paragraph or a whole page is so good I have to reread it over again and or the music you chose is so pretty I need to hear it for a minute more.

A whole page?! ♡

Thank you very much for the kind words, Anon!

While there is no right or wrong pace at which to read an IF, I did try to curate everything within Garden of Bones - the UI design, the sfx, the narrative style, the choices and even the length of the passages - toward an immersive, enjoyable, and slightly cinematic experience.

So this makes me really happy to hear.

I appreciate your ask!

[gardenofbones-if]

Coding Error (Oops)

While coding, I have just discovered a rather awful flavour text error wherein there is a strong possibility that those attempting to seduce the Younger Twin insincerely... did not get the correct flavour text in certain passages.

Possibly ever. At all. At any point during Chapter 2, if the worst is true. You might have gotten someone else's flavour text.

But not yours!

AND YOURS IS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO ME, GIVEN THAT THE FLIRT OPTIONS CHANGE DEPENDING ON HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE YOUNGER TWIN.

This needs to be fixed, obviously, but Chapter 2 (and the rest of the game) is very much in an "under construction" state and will be for a few months at least.

So a quick patch might be posted without warning on itch.io in the next week or two, if time allows! I really hope your experience has not suffered for it - it's always possible there are fewer mistakes than I feared.

There was an error in my cheatsheet.

IN MY CHEATSHEET.

HOW DOES ONE ACCOUNT FOR THAT?

~ Effie

[gardenofbones-if]

U did NOT bury Spoon in my playthrough (🪲) but tbh Enmity almost (but not quite) respected it cause at lease he’s behaving consistently. I appreciated that he seemed genuine in his apology, and to be honest think I enjoyed the scene more than him actually burying my buddy. He seemed to grow more as a (metaphorical) person from this interaction, and I he promised to let me punch him eventually, sooo…..

Now that Spoon (🪲) is gone tho, those flowers in the tower are fair game once again

OMG that gif! ⸜(˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)⸝

I support this attitude, and everything it represents.

tbh Enmity almost (but not quite) respected it cause at lease he’s behaving consistently.

Oohhh, no. I can't even disagree with your Enmity's logic, zz0mbea! There is something to be said for a bit of consistent behaviour, after all the... not that?

I appreciated that he seemed genuine in his apology, and to be honest think I enjoyed the scene more than him actually burying my buddy.

Ack, so nice to hear! Thank you for saying this.

U is tricky at the best of times, but getting to see the pretences fall away occasionally - even if it is because they are sleep-deprived and under the influence - is always of interest. As far as personal growth, the most I can offer is: Umr will remember that!

He'll remember the beetle, too, after all this fuss and nonsense. For the rest of his life, most likely, and very much against his will.

That it had a name. That it was "yours."

That he betrayed not the conditions but the spirit of your contract.

he promised to let me punch him eventually, sooo…..

"Let you."

Haha.

"Eventually."

Ahahaha.

The best-laid plans of Mortals and Fey Often go astray...

~ Effie

[interact-if]

You can find all of the submissions for the Fantasy Interactive Fiction category down below!

(Not listed in any particular order—top games in each category coming soon)

Ongoing

A Thin Line Between Desires by @theostwistedtales

The Gray Ascendancy by @thegrayascendancy-if

The Sword of Rhivenia by @theswordofrhivenia 

The Marked by @peonyb

The Lost Bride @thelostbride-if

The Midnight Bay @midnight-bay-if

A Tale of Crowns by @ataleofcrowns

Stygian Sun: Total Eclipse  @stygiansun-totaleclipse

Wayfarer @idrellegames

Shepherds of Haven  by @shepherds-of-haven

Cantata by @fir-fireweed

When Twilight Strikes  by @evertidings

The Lonely Shore by @thelonelyshore-if

God-Cursed by  @wings-of-ink

The Bastard of Camelot by @llamagirl28

Crown of Exile by @ramonag-if

Misplaced by @calliopefiction

Wolfsbane by @wolfsbane-if

Pactbinder by @pactbinder-if (mentioned in action/adventure)  

The Nameless by @parkerlyn

Tales of Wocdes: The Silver Protector  by @tales-of-wocdes

Small Fires by @smallfires-if

The Exile (also mentioned in action/adventure) by @exilethegame

Speaker  by  @speakergame

Pro Patria Mori by @pro-patria-mori-if

Kindling  by @kindlingif

Island of Whispers  by @islandwhispers-if

Anything for the Crown  by @anything4thecrown-if

Guardian of Time by @guardian-of-time-if

Crown of Ashes and Flames by @coeluvr  

The Sovereign’s Ring  by @thesovereignsring-if

Garden of Bones  by @gardenofbones-if

Fields of Asphodel by @chrysanthemumgames

The Pretenders Guild  by @thepretendersguild

The King’s Hound by @kal-down  

Golden Ashes* (Demo unavailable—currently being rewritten) by @goldenashes-if

Skin & Scales by @skinandscales-if 

Honor Amongst Thieves (also mentioned in action/adventure) by @leoneliterary

The Rot of Witchwood by @rotting-ink

Venturis by @venturis-if

Ashenmaw - Dragons of Marrowoods @ashenmaw-if

The Well of The Divine by @well-of-divine-if

Chains of Destiny by @chains-of-destiny

RPG in Another World  (also mentioned in action/adventure) by @drowsyruigames

Burning Academia by @burning-academia-if

The Abyssal by @theabyssal

The Ballad of the Young Gods by  @childrenofcain-if

Softly, Opulent by @softlyopulent-if

The Eternal Library  by @leiatalon

Hyperion by @hyperion-if

God Syndicate by @god-syndicate-if

Forever Gold by @lsdoiphin

The Abyssal Song by @ri-writes-if

Bladeweaver by @bladeweaver-if

The Brightest Stars by @brighteststars-if

Summoners Return by @king-of-fae

The Bonewitch by @thebonewitch-if

The Iron King’s Heir

Completed

A Mage Reborn: Book One by @mage-parivir (sequel in the works)

Love the Guard, Be The King by @ligiawrites

The Night Market Book One by @night-market-if (sequel in the works)

Lovewood by @lovewoodvn

Arcadie: Second Born by @sofia-d-asb (sequel in the works)

The Second Sight: Dead Reckoning by @spoiledblogif (sequel in the works)

Choice of Rebels: Uprising (sequel in the works) by Joel Havenstone

The Wayhaven Chronicles (book 1-3 completed, book 4 is in the works) by @seraphinitegames

Their Majesties' Pleasure by @leiatalon

Ink and Intrigue by @leiatalon

Hearts in Hades: Divine Passion by Lidia Molina Whyte

NonPlatonic Forms by @alexis-royce

The Case of the Serialized Killer by @alexis-royce

The compiling was done by a small team, so do bear with us if you spot any errors! You can DM us or leave a comment to let us know!

[gardenofbones-if]

Just discovered this IF today and what do you meAN YOU HAVE ME SOBBING OVER A BEETLE

It's "feel-bad-about-beetle" hours again in Effie's inbox.

BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU WERE EMOTIONALLY INVESTED IN YOUR TINY ELDERLY FRIEND. I hope, at least, the Younger Twin hasn't made things infinitely worse by being a selfish and unfeeling viper during this time of great sorrow...

[gardenofbones-if]

This became my favorite IF after finishing chapter 1. I love it so much. I'm now off to play chapter 2 and I'm so excited!!!

Awwhhh!!! Your FAVOURITE?! After one chapter? Thank you for such a sweet message, Anon. I'm glad you're enjoying the demo so far!

May Chapter 2 be a memorable experience for you.

[gardenofbones-if]

Progress Update + Unwell Again + Fanart + Excerpt

HELLO!

Has it been long enough for another one of these?

Maybe, not really sure... anyway...

Currently enduring a bit of a health crisis in addition to interim hell, and also working on a (temporary) side-project - so if I'm less forthcoming with these updates, it doesn't mean that progress ISN'T happening.

Last time I fell ill I didn't make a post about it and simply disappeared for most of December, which isn't ideal. So my plan is to keep replying to asks here and there, and steadily working on Chapter 3 as life improves, but if this blog is quiet you'll know why!

PROGRESS + POLLS

First, TYSM for the very helpful responses to this poll I posted regarding your choices about the beetle - because of your votes, I now know exactly what must be done with this plot thread! And yes, that one was entirely up to how the dice landed with the poll.

Speaking of choices, I suspect Chapter 3 will be even longer than Chapter 2. If you factor in your first RO-specific scene, which means the chapter endings are split into two separate routes with three different locations (1 for U, 2 for Z)... ahaha... this is going to be a ✨yikes✨ amount of coding.

And headaches. Probably some of those too.

So I am tackling this WIP scene by scene, and hoping for the best as far as timelines are concerned.

It's been mentioned before, but there will also be a personality lock-in after Chapter 3! Doing this any earlier would have been difficult, as your interactions with U might be are almost certainly skewed in an uncharacteristic direction.

Also considering changing the temporary names for the personality archetypes to something more permanent, which better matches the world-building and lore.

FANART

My notion this year has been to include fanart in devlogs, so for a (belated) shout, please enjoy this SPOILERISH illustration of Umyra and @iv-plays-if's Lenity beneath the echo tree in Chapter 2, because - these words in panels?! ♡

More of my thoughts in the comments for those curious, but let it be known that I appreciate the lore-accurate fey proportions!

There is also an art tag - #gardenofbones if art - and you can find a brief explanation with a link to any artworks posted in that tag here!

EXCERPT

Z'S PORTRAIT

As some of you may know from another poll, early in Chapter 3 there is a little detail of deciding which character you've taken the liberty of rendering in your notebook - if your MC sketches. And I have mostly finished this moment.

So although you will have options other than the twins, here is an example of some customisation if you choose Z! Keeping U's a secret, for... reasons.

Flavour text for an MC who pressured U to give up their sibling's name, asked for a story about them, and has now paused to reflect on a particularly memorable portrait of the Elder Twin.

Your lines are improving, more confident than before. "Z," you say quietly, trying out the name for yourself. It's a peculiar name—not peculiar as a name, of itself. But because you know it is the name which has summoned you here to this realm. Charmer of snakes, their fellow fey, and probably mortals, too. Will they charm me, when I meet them in the garden? You can only wonder. Despite falling prey to their flashing blades in the realm between rest and wakefulness, you still don't know much of this ghostly figure who slips in and out of your dreams like the morning mist. The sketch you behold is... • ...a loose copy of the portrait U gave you, when you first arrived—but recreated in your own style, and the magnificent smile is gone. Their twin looks different, here. • ...exactly as you saw them that one night, eyes aglow, face sheltered against the storm by a tasselled cloth—an attempt to capture the feelings their dream-likeness inspired.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Chapter 3 outline has been divided loosely into segments - a bit like a tangerine, except there are only three parts - so I will ask my generous and very tolerant alpha reader (possibly betas as well) to play through each as it is finished over the summer, before all the branches and variables are integrated. 🍊

That way, I can know for sure the chapter is moving in the right direction and hitting all the beats necessary for an enjoyable experience!

Late summer release for Chapter 3 would make me a very happy IF author, but that feels optimistic - although, who knows what can happen?

Until then, thank you so much for playing GoB Chapter 2, for your patience in waiting for updates, your thoughtful asks about the world, and your suggestions to improve the demo for future players. I still haven't caught up with my inbox, but I do read everything!

You are seen and appreciated.

~ Effie

[gardenofbones-if]

voting anon here!

yes I looked at the list and went ‘omfg all my favorites are in here and I can only choose two?!’ but I saw Garden of Bones and knew I had to 🫶🫶 no other IF has ever made me cry as hard EVER— for a beetle, too! You deserved that vote 100x over

RIGHT? I actually tried to count and got distracted, but something like 75-80 entries in the fantasy category? Insane!

no other IF has ever made me cry as hard EVER— for a beetle, too!

Ahhh this is a special honour! 🪲 I must now appreciate Beetle Friend for more than a thematically resonant story arc - it was only supposed to be present for a single scene, until I remembered how lonely most of your MCs are... and you know the rest.

TYSM for noticing Garden of Bones on a list of so many impossible choices, Voting Anon! 🫶

~ Effie

[gardenofbones-if]

Re: “If Scout: an apocalypse story is not no.1 in your hearts then you’re wrong”

Too bad because I’ve already voted GoB as my top fantasy choice 😌

Anon! Out of all 128358183568 fantasy titles? 😭😭😭😭

I am touched! There are so many nostalgic names in the fantasy category, some of which I am sure have 15+ chapters by now. GoB is not even in the top 10 most-played games on that list, but you, Voting Anon, have won my undying gratitude for this.

And I shall never forget it.

To anyone reading who hasn't participated and might be considering it, don't be afraid to go and shout whichever IF stories you keep close to your heart! It's probably no secret where my vote went - at least in the miscellaneous category. 💔

Thank you for this very kind message, Anon!

[gardenofbones-if]

Hello!

I haven't even gotten to the proper story, just the character creation, and then I saw a bolded option for specifically human ears.

And I immediately went, "Wait, where was that an option? I can have other types?"

So I went back and redid the character creation, and then got to the confirmation screen and saw the narrator's tone change to slight hopeful annoyance that the character was correct this time.

And for me it was just:

👀

🤔

😈

Cut to me absolutely cackling at ruining the narrator's day and infuriating them, oh my god that was so funny!!! 😂 What a wonderful start and a grand achievement to hold already. Super excited to get into the story now, I just had to say that it got a lot of laughter and smiles from me!

TLDR: Thank you for letting me annoy the narrator to no end, it really made me happy! Can't wait to get into the story now! 💖

THE HIDDEN ACHIEVEMENT.

YOU UNLOCKED IT!

If anyone else has discovered the Narrator's Ire achievement then they haven't made mention of it, and the demo has been available to play for over a year! You are the first to message me about this!

"Narrator's Ire" is a nod to the first-ever MC name in the game, by the way; there are more options now.

I saw a bolded option for specifically human ears.

This has confused a few players I think - but no, as you discovered in the end, you're simply special for being mortal and having round ears in this realm.

What a wonderful start and a grand achievement to hold already. Super excited to get into the story now, I just had to say that it got a lot of laughter and smiles from me!

I'M SMILING TOO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ASK! 💖

I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!

~ Effie

[interact-if]

Interact-IF Genre Lists (May 2026): Voting

🎉 The submissions for the Interact-IF genre lists (May 2026) are in — and now it’s time to vote! 🎉

Over the past week, we've received submissions for an incredible range of games across 5 genres.

We move into the next stage of the Interact-IF Genre List Event: COMMUNITY VOTING!

Vote for your favorite submitted games in each genre category HERE! Whether you’re cheering on longtime classics, hidden gems, or newer projects that deserve more eyes, this is your chance to help spotlight the games that made an impression on you.

Voting will run from now till May 21. Once again, here's the link to the form for voting.

*Note: For the sake of voting fairness, IFs that have been submitted to more than one category have been included in only ONE category. However, in the rec lists, the IF will be included in any/all categories that it appears in. If you think a game should be in a different main category from what it's listed as, you can DM us or leave a comment at the end of this form to let us know. 

If you missed out submitting a game to the rec lists, you can use this google form to submit the game, but do note that these would not be eligible for the voting round. This will be open until May 21 as well.

GENRES:

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

Action/Adventure

Modern/Slice-of-life

Historical Drama

[gardenofbones-if]

what are some MC trait combinations that you think is really funny to pair with U and Z? Or a trait combination that you encourage readers to try because you’re particularly proud of the flavor text that you wrote for it? Or a trait combo that you feel like a lot of people haven’t picked yet?

Hello, Anon!

Oh, this is such an interesting ask.

Every combination with each RO is canon for your run, but the twins do have their preferences in an early relationship... and I think playing against that might be the funniest.

Stonehearted U with a flirtatious or overly friendly MC who is also a bit of an airhead? Hilarious. Sunny and eccentric Z with a very unbothered skeptic MC would be an amazing dynamic as well.

I'm attempting to include more of the quirks / traits flavour text in Chapter 3 because I love them, and so far, skeptic has been the most enjoyable followed closely by airhead. So while it does change often, I'd say right now my personal favourite trait combination for MCs is skeptic, but CHEERFUL! An enthusiastic provocateur, if you will.

There isn't much combined flavour text for the two, but juxtaposing your cheerful choices against the skeptic trait is still a fun concept! That, or crybaby MCs who take every opportunity to be sarcastic and angry.

For something recommended that (possibly) not many players have chosen, owing to some of the other quirks being more popular... difficult to say at this point in the story, but an MC who really enjoys food and cooking is so charming to me that I have a special scene planned for those MCs several chapters in advance!

I hope this answered your question! (ˆᗜˆ˵ )⸝♡

~ Effie

[gardenofbones-if]

FANART TAG: #GardenofBones IF Art

The official (?) tag for artwork inspired by GoB is #gardenofbones if art, and has now been linked in my intro post!

My FAQ on this was from a time when I never imagined there would be fanart for GoB (or many readers at all), but it's becoming clear that existing artworks might need an additional "special" tag - to keep them from getting lost in the useful but all-encompassing #garden of bones if or #gob if or the much bigger #interactive fiction tags on tumblr.

I have shouted art before directly in my devlogs, but this means all current works and (if there are any) future works can be discovered via this tag even during the days, weeks, or months where I am unable to log in due to illness or miss notifications! It has happened before, and will almost certainly happen again.

A link to this brief explanation and the #gardenofbones if art search results will always be pinned with the intro post at the top of my blog; this way, others who've played the game can easily find your work there if you share anything related to the story with that tag.

Though, you don't have to use it. It's here if you want another, more specific tag to add to your art piece and / or follow if you are interested in similar content!

TYSM for caring about the world and characters so much that this update felt necessary. Truly words fail me, but I have loved being able to "yes and" those of you who reach out in the comments or my inbox! ♡

Doing my best to make Chapter 3 the most insane update, so far.

Just for you.

~ Effie