interactive fiction recs
here are my current interactive fiction recs. i will be updating the list, as there are more that i have yet to play through.
disclaimer: not all of those listed are/will be free!! their demos are free, but the finalized book may be paid.
The Wayhaven Chronicles: up to book 3 demo books 1 and 2 can both be found on HostedGames app. by @seraphinitegames
we have all seen litg blogs shift into a wayhaven focus, but for good reason! reader is a small town detective that finds out that their own world is very much supernatural- starting with four vampire agents. you can play as male, female, or non-binary. the four love interests are all super interesting and unique, offered in male and female counterparts- i’ve done every route, including the love triangle route which is crushing but just as interesting.
When Twilight strikes: book 1 demo by @evertidings
just found this recently and i’m obsessed- i have reblogged their demo here already but i’m talking about it again. reader is a bounty hunter for supernaturals, in the top bounty hunter duo to be exact. you can play as male, female, non-binary, or you can set your own pronouns which i found really cool! there are five different love interests that are all so so interesting- i’m not sure which route i’m doing first tbh- offered in male, female, and non-binary counterparts. a lot of tropes seems to be covered such as enemies to lovers, best friends/ partners to lovers, and a sarcastic criminal bounty love interest.
Tricksters: book 1 demo by @folkborewrites
guess what? another supernatural universe babey. reader is thrust into a supernatural world in connection to their fathers disappearance. you can play as male, female, or non-binary. there are four love interests, but there are strictly two men and two women love interests with no counterparts. they’re all still really cool characters though and the story line is so interesting. very early in the demo, so i don’t have as much to say, but i still recommend!
Buried Love: up to day 3 available by @buriedlove
by our very own @kittidot. she very much deserves to be mentioned, because i’m very much in love with this story. reader is a human going on a dating game show, but you guessed it, supernatural characters are involved! you can play as male, female, non-binary (with customizable pronouns), or gender-fluid. there are 8 potential endgame love interests with set genders and include four male, three female, and one non-binary option- though we only know 5 of the love interests at this point in the game. the current love interests range from a vampire (who i love), a werewolf, a valkyrie, an elf prince (who i also love), and another human!
Mind blind: book 1 demo by @mindblindbard
shifting away from supernatural things, but definitely not in a natural human world! set in a future Chicago, where everyone is somewhat mentally enhanced- telepathy, telekinesis and so on, OR simply having mental ability to block those special telepaths and such from reaching their brain. but guess who none of the above applies to? yup, the reader is unique in that way. as the book is described: the story where you are not the chosen one! you can play as male, female, or non-binary. plus you can choose to play as asexual, which is super cool because i know IF’s can be a struggle for asexuals at times. there are five love interests- three which have male and female counterparts, one set female love interest, and one set male love interest. the storyline in phenomenal but i don’t want to give too much away, it’s a very very big recommend though!
Body Count: (18+) book 1 demo by @bodycountgame
a dating game show- those of the litg demographic will probably enjoy this one- but once again, not a normal game show. because guess what? someone gets murdered! it’s very early stages of the demo, so we haven’t really gotten to the whole murder part, but it’s in the description so good luck. you can play as male, female, or non-binary (including xe/xem and ze/zir pronoun options!) The love interests have set genders and include four male, four female, and three non-binary options. this includes fellow contestants as well as two of the show’s directors! of all mentioned, this is the most interactive and very unique in that way. as it is early in the demo, the murders are determined by a voting session held on the tumblr of our dear author, Nell. they offer a list of names and let us vote for our favorites- bottom three characters are then placed in their hands and Nell decides who it will be who dies. i’m so invested in this already.
Golden: book 1 demo by @milaswriting
back to the supernatural babey. our dear MC has a fancy little birthmark that pushes them into the supernatural world, starting with a team of supernaturals meant to kill protect observe the MC. you can play as male, female, or nb- with hijab options in the appearance selection! our team of supernatural are what make up the love interests- with male and female counterparts- and include supernaturals such as a vampire, a werewolf (who i love), a wizard/witch, and a half god/goddess. early stage demo, but i already love.
Blood Moon: book 1 demo by @barbwritesstuff
i think this is a first for my list but YOU get to be a supernatural!!! your pack moves into a city and one night you encounter a stray (a werewolf without a pack of their own) wandering your streets- and this opens up just how deep the supernatural world is in your city. you can play as male, female, or non-binary. the love interests are set genders and include three males (including a trans character! one that is really well written, even in spicy scenes), three females, and one non-binary option. each character is super unique and i am already loving their story line and actually getting to be a supernatural.
The Odessa Dating Games: book 1 demo by @theodessadatinggames
reality dating with a royal twist! your lovely roommate makes a bet to get you to sign up for a dating site- but big surprise! this actually leads to you becoming a contestant in a show to compete for a royal hand in marriage with the heir to odessa. you can play as male, female, or non-binary. love interests include two set females, one set male, one with m/f counterparts, one with m/f/nb counterparts, and- as the author describes it- “a few others that I’ll let you guys discover for yourselves!” i honestly stayed up way longer than i should have because i couldn’t stop reading this demo. i couldn’t recommend it more.
You Live and Fern: (18+) book 1 demo by @beetlebethwrites
i’m a sucker for a slice of life IF. you and your friends run a nature video channel and are trying to make it in the world. it’s described as “friendship and found family vibes” which is totally accurate and exactly what i’m looking for in my media. you can play as male, female, or non-binary with the option for your mc to be trans! the RO’s include one male, one female, three non-binary people (two whom we have not met yet, but one of them uses xe/xem pronouns and another uses he/they pronouns!), and a m/f/nb gender selectable RO * if i’ve made a mistake in the way i described the gender and pronouns thing, pls don’t hesitate to correct me! *
Remember, You Will Die: book 1 demo by @vapolis
y’all aren’t even ready for this one. the most action packed thing i have recommended so far, but i’m obsessed. you play as a mercenary- a gun for hire with quite the track record- but missions start… going wrong. there’s so many cool components that i can’t even begin to talk about for spoiler reasons, but i cannot recommend enough. you can play as male, female, or non-binary with the option for your MC to be trans. there are four RO’s that include one male, one female, one non-binary person (who i fell in love with by accident- i went into this story set on someone else but i simply love them) , and one f/m selectable choice. ** do check the warnings in the beginning if you are triggered by reading sensitive content. **
honorable mentions (aka, no demo yet but i’m obsessed.)
Ear Candy: (18+) by @earcandy-if
the way that this story has a hold on me is insane. we don’t even have a demo out and i’m in love with everyone and the OC i have for this… anyways! you are a drummer in the band Second Rate, fresh off a grammy win. seeing as the demo isn’t out yet, i have little info about the full customizations for your MC but it does say gender customizable! there are four RO’s with set genders, two males and two females. includes a fwb routes with your bands front man, and yes i will be fully consumed in the angst of that, thank u.
Straight Red: by @straightred-if
by the same author as ear candy. her characters are living rent free rn…. anyway. you are a newly signed soccer player to thornwall fc. once again a slice of life if, but one of the first sports IF i’ve found so i’m very excited. once again, no demo, so we don’t have full details on MC customization but it is gender customizable. it has been stated that this team is not gender specific so the team will be a big mix of people! there are three RO’s, all with set genders and include one male (a beefy himbo!), one female (a doctor!!!), and one non-binary person (fwb babey!) i have my favorite RO but im honestly in love with them all if you couldn’t tell.