Key & Compass Blog

On Friday, February 27, 2026, I published new walkthroughs for the games and stories listed below! Some of these were paid for by my wonderful patrons at Patreon. Please consider supporting me to make even more new walkthroughs for works of interactive fiction at Patreon and Ko-fi.

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Time: All Things Come to an End (1996) by Andy Phillips

In this game filled with learn-by-dying and read-author’s-mind puzzles, you play as a scientist from 1997 who finally gets his translocation machine to work. You arrive inside a garbage bin in 2065 where you witness a murder in the alley outside. This begins a time-travel epic waged between you and a woman with psychotic blue eyes for control over humanity’s destiny and the stability of time itself.

At the 1996 XYZZY Awards, it was a finalist in three categories (Best Game, Best Story, and Best Puzzles).

IFDB | My walkthrough and maps

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The Party Line (2020) by Robin Johnson

In this treasure hunt game, you play as someone invited to a strange and inexplicable party at Sinister Mansion. “Find the treasures – Solve the mystery – Lift the curse,” the invite said. Well, it’s not like you were doing anything else tonight.

This work was written in Gruescript and was made for the AdventureX Jam 2020.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Zodiac (2025) by Charles Moore, Jr.

In this James Bond-inspired game, you play as Arthur Blonde, MI5’s least-talented agent. Nevertheless, you’re given a mission: go to Zdratz, Dynobia, find the hidden Zodiac base where the villainous Dr. Dipole and his new super-weapon are lurking, and destroy it. Everyone else was busy, so it’s your turn. Good luck, agent Blonde.

This game was an entry in PunyComp 2025 where it took 2nd Place overall, 1st Place for Writing, 2nd Place for Puzzles, and 5th Place for Playability on 8-bit computers.

IFDB | My walkthrough and maps

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The Seeds of Evil (2026) by Garry Francis and Gianluca Girelli

In this horror game, you play as Murray Shannon. An urgent telegram from your cousin summoned you to Creek Town, Louisiana, but your car had an electrical failure when it entered the edge of town. The smell of death is everywhere. Find Alan, fix your car, and find out what happened here.

It’s an adaption and English translation of Murray Shannon: I Semi del Male, by Bonaventura Di Bello.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Every day I get emails (2025) by Emery Joyce

In this horror-comedy satire, you play as an unnamed editor who spends a lot of time at the office just redirecting emails outside your responsibility to the appropriate coworkers. But what do you do when those redirected emails start bouncing? What’s happening to your coworkers?

This story was written in Twine and was an entry in Ectocomp 2025’s La Petite Mort (English) division, placement to be determined.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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I Have No Verbs, and I Must (2025) by Dissolved

In this short surreal horror game, you, whoever you are, it’s really difficult to tell, are facing a horrible slavering beast in the ruins of your living room. It’s racing towards you, but you have no verbs, and you must— you must what?

This game was an entry in Ectocomp 2025’s Le Grand Guignol (English) division, placement to be determined.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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The Loneliest House (2023) by Tabitha O’Connell

In this bittersweet story, it’s a bright autumn day. You felt compelled to climb the hill and take a closer look at the lonely old house on the hill. It’s been abandoned for as long as you’ve lived here, just part of the scenery for everyone else, but for you, it’s a mystery and a promise waiting to be fulfilled.

This story was an entry in Ectocomp 2023’s La Petite Mort (English) division where it took 9th place. It was also an entry in The Bare-Bones Jam.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Reference and Representation: An Approach to First-Order Semantics (2016) by Ryan Veeder

In this short game about abstract thought, knowledge acquisition, and survival, you play as a caveman before language was invented. Your mate sits on the furs, clutching her head, and squeezing her eyes shut. You don’t understand a lot of what your mate does, but when you act like that, your head hurts. Does her head hurt? You don’t want her to hurt. Go find that special tree bark she likes to chew on.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

On Thursday, January 29, 2026, I published new walkthroughs for the games and stories listed below! Some of these were paid for by my wonderful patrons at Patreon. Please consider supporting me to make even more new walkthroughs for works of interactive fiction at Patreon and Ko-fi.

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Unknown Dimension (2025) by Garry Francis

In this sci-fi rescue adventure, you play as Amos Newton, an archaeology student. Your friend, Professor Baumbeker, rings you up. He babbles excitedly that the strange Incan sphere he found in Peru is showing him an unknown dimension. But in his lab, you only find the sphere. Not him. As you touch the sphere, you see a vision of the professor before you’re teleported to the dimension yourself. And it’s pitch dark.

This game is an adaptation of the 1987 Italian adventure Dimensione Sconosciuta by Bonaventura Di Bello, written using The Quill, then later rewritten as Amos Newton: Incubo. See credits for more details.

IFDB | My walkthrough and maps

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All That Shimmers… (2025) by Andrew Apted

In this spooky adventure, it’s October 31st, and you’re a woman living in the small town of Dimpleford. Life was nice and simple until a witch started brewing something EVIL in the park. The ghost of your late grandmother urges you defeat this evil by midnight or else all freedom will be lost!

This game was an entry in PunyComp 2025 where it won 1st place overall, won 1st place for Puzzles, tied for the win for Playability on 8-bit computers, and 2nd place for Writing.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Kill Wizard (2025) by Dark Star

In this fantasy adventure, you play as a large muscular barbarian, returned to the Scavenger’s Den to meet your friend Darron from easten Shem. Unhappily, he bursts through the tavern door with a poisoned arrow in his chest and a bloodstained scroll signed by Belkor, a powerful necromancer who lives in a tower far to the northwest. Avenge Darron. Kill wizard.

This game was an entry in PunyComp 2025 where it took 3rd place overall; it also tied for 1st place in the Playability on 8-bit computers category, and took 4th place for both Writing and Puzzles.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Quirky Test (2025) by Andrew Schultz

This is a game about making spoonerisms of the people, places, and things you find while you search for the Rare-Thing-There Ring. Let Beery Thor welcome you to a land of Quickie Trips and Tricky Quips.

This game was written in Adventuron and was an entry in the Text Adventure Literacy Jam (TALP) of 2025 where it took 4th place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Uptown 1 (2025) by Whit Walton

The prologue is in binary. You’ve taken the 1 train Uptown to West Harlem. When you enter the six-story walk-up, you feel a shock on the back of your neck. The coordinates were correct.

This game was an entry in the Bare Bones Jam 2025.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Ancient Treasure, Secret Spider (2025) by C.E.J. Pacian

In this fantasy adventure, you play as the cleverest and most beautiful fairy of the land, but you’re tethered to the Stranger by a silk thread. He, Trala, and Lind – an unlikely trio – journeyed to this cavernous chamber, but the last two are now holding off an endless horde of goblins at the gateway while the Stranger looks bewildered at the chamber’s contents. It’s time for you to take charge and find a way to the ancient treasure!

This game was written in Dialog and was an entry in Iron ChIF’s Pilot Episode where it was the co-winner in the Non-Human Language Device Battle.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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greenskeep (2025) by xflorora

In this very short game, you play as someone underwater, certain you were doing something else before. Swim until you find the door to a beautiful kitchen, filled with greenery and a teapot.

This work was an entry in Bare-Bones Jam 2025.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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The Organ Grinder’s Monkey (2025) by Garry Francis

In this short, pleasant, slice-of-life game, you play as the father of your three-year-old son, Tommy, who wants to go to the carnival. You don’t like frivolous spending, but you don’t want to be a bad father either. After consulting with the missus, you decide a trip to the carnival is worth the expense after all. The story begins with you and Tommy at the balloon vendor.

This game was an entry in PunyComp 2025, where it took 6th place overall, and 6th place in all other categories.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

On Saturday, December 27, 2025, I published new walkthroughs for the games and stories listed below! Some of these were paid for by my wonderful patrons at Patreon. Please consider supporting me to make even more new walkthroughs for works of interactive fiction at Patreon and Ko-fi.

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The Wise-Woman’s Dog (2025) by Daniel M. Stelzer

In this historical fantasy set in Anatolia, 1280 BCE, you play as the wise-woman’s dog in Nahhanta Village. Your human is very sick, cursed and bedridden for days. But you are a very good dog. You know about cursework. You can smell curses and blessings, take them, and put them onto other things. Running water destroys curses, but this curse is so strong, it would kill you before you could reach running water with it. Still, a way must be found, and you’re the only one who can do it.

This game was written in Dialog and was an entry in IF Comp 2025 where it took 2nd place; it also won 1st place for the Miss Congeniality award.

IFDB | My walkthrough and maps

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The Evil Sorcerer (2000-2001) by Gren Remoz

In this fantasy game, you play as a man named George waking up in someone else’s bedroom and wearing unfamiliar clothes. Memories return slowly of drinking at a party, meeting a stunningly beautiful woman named Julia, leaving with her in her car, somehow arriving at an island beach in a far-away empire, making love, learning magic is real, and learning that she wants you to kill an evil sorcerer on her lands.

This game was an entry in IF Comp 2001 where it took 20th place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and maps

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The Wrath of Anubis (2025) by Garry Francis

In this Egyptian puzzle game, you play as Ken Richards, an archaeologist. In the remote village of El Rajid, you learn the legend of Sinuhe, a forced laborer who rebelled and tried to kill his pharaoh. But he was caught. Sinuhe was thrown to the crocodiles. The god Anubis, incensed, raised Sinuhe’s ghost to haunt the land thereafter. Can you find Sinuhe’s medallion, the only thing that can end the wrath of Anubis?

This game is an adaptation of the Italian adventure Ken Richards: L’Ira di Anubi by Bonaventura Di Bello; see credits for more details.

IFDB | My walkthrough and maps

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Caribbean Treasure (2025) by Garry Francis

In this island adventure, you play as Alan Simmons, a young man who loves sailing and pirate stories. In an old manuscript, you learned about a sunken pirate ship near a then-uncharted Caribbean island which you found on modern maps. Intent on finding pirate treasure, you sailed a rental yacht to the island and started exploring. Unfortunately for you, your first discovery is some footprints on the beach heading to your yacht and back!

This game is an adaptation of the 1987 Italian adventure Alan Simmons: Bucaneer by Bonaventura Di Bello. See credits for more details.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Beat Me Up Scotty (2023) by Jkj Yuio

In this short comedic linear wordplay game based loosely on Star Trek: The Original Series, you play as the ship’s captain. As you party across the galaxy, you often have to say “B___ me up Scotty”, using whatever B-word is appropriate to get of your current jam.

This game was written in Strand and was an entry in Spring Thing 2023’s Main Festival.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Cheese, Go Home! (2008) by C “Sparky” Read

In this simple game you play Frankie, who has plans to go to the State Fair tonight with her friend Kathy. But Cheese has dropped by unexpectedly while you were preparing dinner…and he won’t go home! Worse, old Mr. Herriman won’t let you go to the Fair if Cheese is still in the house at dinnertime. Get rid of Cheese before then or it’s no fair for you…literally.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Fired (2025) by Olaf Nowacki

In this game of revenge, you play as a fired office worker. It’s after hours. A box of your belongings is on your desk, ready to go, but the printouts you made detailing your horrible boss’s many misdeeds are missing! Find those printouts before you leave this miserable building for the last time.

This game was an entry in IF Comp 2025 where it took 42nd place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Go-Strange-Ghost Range (2025) by Andrew Schultz

In this small surreal wordplay game involving homophonic phrases, you were returning some overdue books to the library on Halloween, but somehow you went the wrong way. Now you’re in the afterlife and need to chase off a ghost, or as an oaf explains, you need to perform a go-stop-ghost op!

This game was written in Adventuron and was an entry in Ectocomp 2025’s Le Petite Mort (English) division where it took 9th place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Limen (2021) by Elizabeth DeCoste

This surreal dream-like game is about visiting mostly-empty liminal spaces, such as a subway station, a darkened shopping mall, fields, part of a hotel, and a multi-level parkade. It’s not about puzzles or story. It’s more about the experience of being in those places. Still, you must solve a few mild puzzles before you can reach the ending.

This interactive-fiction game was developed for Nuit Blanche Regina 2021.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Rain Check-in (2025) by Zeno Pillan

It’s 11:35 p.m. and it’s dark. You just parked your rental car at the end of a dead-end dirt road. One of the two houses you passed must be your self check-in rental. You just need to find the key and let yourself in before the approaching thunderstorm gets too bad. Your only tool is a phone with 5% power.

This game was an entry in IF Comp 2025 where it took 67th place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

On Saturday, November 29, 2025, I published new walkthroughs for the games and stories listed below! Some of these were paid for by my wonderful patrons at Patreon. Please consider supporting me to make even more new walkthroughs for works of interactive fiction at Patreon and Ko-fi.

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Veritas (1995) by James T. Reese

In this old-school-style scavenger hunt, you play as a Harvard student about to graduate. But to graduate, you must find everything listed on a memo and hand them over to the Senior tutor in the middle courtyard. You begin in your college dorm in Winthrop House that you share with your roommate, the psycho mathematician.

IFDB | My walkthrough and maps

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Who Whacked Jimmy Piñata? (2025) by Damon L. Wakes

In this mystery game, you once again play as Bubble Gumshoe, a police detective in Sugar City. In a padlocked garage, you and Officer Bagel find a hanging corpse. Explore the area, gather evidence, conduct interviews, and ACCUSE the culprit once you’ve determined… Who Whacked Jimmy Piñata?

This game was an entry in IF Comp 2025 where it tied for 12th place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Guma Adventure III (2024) by Alex Guma

In this Zorkian game, you play as an adventurer in the mysterious land of Erewhon. This is a treasure hunt. Collect everything valuable and put them in the nearby treehouse. Get the maximum score of 1400 to win.

It’s based on legacy HP2000 BASIC “Adventure ]I[” code and data, original authors(s) unknown.

IFDB | My walkthrough and maps

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Rise of the Necropolis (2018) by Noelle Correa and Amiel Cox

In this adventure game, you play as Sir Louen de Galand. King Girard of Carentan informs you that the long dead necromancer-king Osiris has awoken and is now raising armies of the undead. Osiris intends nothing less than to turn the entire world into sand and dust, just like his own forgotten nation of Abydos. Gather a party of warriors and mages and end his threat. Good luck, Sir Louen.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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AardVarK Versus the Hype (2021) by Truthcraze

In this plot-driven sci-fi comedy, you are playing as Jenni, Lewis, Amanda, and Paul: the four teen members of the garage band AardVark! A new soda called HYPE is turning everyone into zombies! Or mind-controlled puppets. Or are they possessed by aliens? Does it matter? Stop them! You have no choice.

This game was an entry in IF Comp 2021 where it took 32nd place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Monkeys and Car Keys (2025) by Jim Fisher

After being lost in the jungle for hours, you finally find your Jeep again, now trashed by small brown monkeys. Then a large, yellow primate climbs out of the backseat and strides away with your car keys! You give chase, of course, then find yourself at a rock wall. You see no monkeys. You can hear monkeys. But can you speak to monkeys?

This game was an entry in IF Comp 2025 where it took 23rd place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Return to the Castle (2020) by John Wilson

In this low-stakes humourous game, you once again play as Algy, a pleasant chap who’s been basking in the fading glory from an adventure he had thirty years ago. Perhaps it’s time to return to Castle Toidi and do battle with the mighty Dragon. Or at least check and see how it’s been doing after all this time.

This game is the sequel to Retarded Creatures and Caverns (1989) by the same author. Versions are also available for the Commodore 64, Amiga, Apple II, and Atari ST.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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The Semantagician’s Assistant (2025) by Lance Nathan

In this one-room wordplay game, you play as someone applying to be the semantagician’s assistant. After you pull Weldon the Magic Rabbit out of a hat, he explains that all you need to do is escape from the doorless dressing room you find yourself in. You see a vanity, a dollhouse, and six magical devices.

This game was an entry in IF Comp 2025 where it tied for 12th place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

On Tueday, October 28, 2025, I published new walkthroughs for the games and stories listed below! Some of these were paid for by my wonderful patrons at Patreon. Please consider supporting me to make even more new walkthroughs for works of interactive fiction at Patreon and Ko-fi.

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The Wizard Sniffer (2017) by Buster Hudson

In this fantasy game, you play as a female pig who was sold to a dim-witted knight as a wizard sniffer. You cannot actually sniff out evil wizards, but here you are, outside the Impenetrable Keep you escaped from only two nights ago. You think it’s in your best interest to play the part as best you can. For now.

This game was an entry in IF Comp 2017 where it won 1st place overall and also the Miss Congeniality award. At the 2017 XYZZY Awards, it won the Best Game, the Best Story, the Best NPCs, the Best Individual Puzzle, and the Best Individual NPC awards; it was also the finalist in a sixth category (Best Puzzles). In the 2019 edition of the Interactive Fiction Top 50 of All Time, this game ranked at 13th place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and maps

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Frankenfingers (2025) by Charles Moore, Jr.

Inside this game, beware the name of Victor Frankenstein.
His secret arts use body parts, and one of them is mine!
I move and see and hear and yet I’m just a severed hand
Reanimated in this crypt without my wedding band.
Where can I go, what should I do with this strange borrowed life?
Can I escape? Can I go home and find my grieving wife?

This game was written in Dialog and was an entry in IF Comp 2025 where it took 31st place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and maps

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Phobos – A Galaxy Jones Story (2025) by Phil Riley

In this sci-fi espionage game, you again play as the hero Galaxy Jones. Sirius Syndicate cyborgs have turned Phobos into a giant missile and intend to smash Mars with it. Your mission is to sneak into their secret base on Phobos and stop them. And don’t kill anyone unnecessarily. Save who you can.

This game is an entry in IF Comp 2025 where it took 10th place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Willy’s Manor (2025) by Josh Hetzel

In this mildly-silly puzzle game, you play as a producer who wants to get Willy, the eccentric billionaire owner of an international novelty company, on his TV show. Willy will do it if you pass a “test” in his manor first.

This game was an entry in IF Comp 2025 where it took 62nd place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Dreadwine (2006) by Eric Eve

In this retelling of a dream, you find yourself in a crowded yet strangely-quiet café with O’Brien and Sandra. O’Brien tells you that people are taken to the castle and turned into wine. Sandra knows she’s next and has lost all hope. But there must be a way to escape this town and save Sandra! Isn’t there?

This game was an entry in the MC Dream mini-comp, also called the IF Dreams 2006.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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The Gate (2004) by Owen Parish

In this tiny one-room game, you are the eternal guardian of the Gate, armed with a sword and appointed by the Ultimate. Behind the Gate is all of reality, the Ultimate itself, and the other intelligences. Out of the chaos, Harbinger approaches you and asks to be let inside. Which decision will you make?

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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In The End (1996) by Joe Mason

In this puzzleless story about suicide, you play as a moody man attending the funeral of your friend Jon. He wasn’t the type to ever give up and die, no matter how down he was. At least, you hadn’t thought so. Yet he chose his own time to go. With dignity. As he had a right to. Damn. You never were one for philosophy. Jon’s death must have affected you more than you thought.

This story was an entry in IF Comp 1996 where it took 15th place.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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The job (2021) by Fredrik Ramsberg

In this small game, you borrowed money from Ricky, so now you have to do this job for him. You were searching the broom closet of The Red Anchor when someone pushed you over. Seems like Ricky left a note: “Return with the necklace, or don’t return!”

This game was an entry in PunyJam #1, but unplaced; the game was not voted on nor ranked.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

On Monday, July 28, 2025, I published new walkthroughs for the games and stories listed below! Some of these were paid for by my wonderful patrons at Patreon. Please consider supporting me to make even more new walkthroughs for works of interactive fiction at Patreon and Ko-fi.

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Tempus Fugit: The Past is Yet Unwritten (2025) by Gianluca Girelli

In this sci-fi time-travel game, you play as John “Max” Walker, captain of the Koseidon, humanity’s first time ship. After you and your crew fought invaders from the stars in 2225, they created and entered a wormhole into the past. You pursued, but something forced you out of the wormhole midway. Main Base no longer answers. Stop the invaders before it’s too late.

This game was an entry in the Text Adventure Literacy Jam (TALP) of 2025, placement to be determined.

IFDB | My walkthrough and maps

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A Taste of Terror (2025) by Garry Francis

In this game, you play as ten-year-old Sean MacDonald enjoying your holiday by running around Aunt Clarissa’s farm. Your aunt has aged horribly though. Uncle Bill’s death must’ve hit her hard, but perhaps something else is wrong. And, tonight, your back hurts. You hope you can find a painkiller in the kitchen.

This game was an entry in ParserComp 2025, placement to be determined.

IFDB | My walkthrough and maps

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Renegade Brainwave (2010, 2023) by J. J. Guest

In this B-movie spooky comedy, you play as the crossdressing Detective Frank Douglas. You and Officer Donald McRonald are investigating a mysterious object from space that crash-landed in the swampy Bide-A-Wee Cemetery for Circus Folk. Beware the puppy imbued with the incredible power of cosmic radiation! Earth’s fate lies in your hands!

The original ADRIFT version of the game was entered in Ectocomp 2010 where it took 2nd place. It was later ported to Inform 7.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Monk by the Sea (2020) by Elizabeth DeCoste

In this mildly-surreal game inspired by the paintings of Caspar David Friedrich, you play as someone who meets a monk by the sea, visits an abbey in the oak wood, and explores a lighthouse by the seashore.

IFDB | My walkthrough and maps

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BLACK’N’WHITE RAG – or, A Study in Something-or-Other (1996) by Jonathan Nowell

In this short one-room escape challenge, you play as a UK university student locked in the programmer’s study. By escaping without alerting Security, you’ll raise money for charity. The RAG Week Committee made sure that the objects already in the room have enough clues to help you get out.

This game was one of three runner-ups in the 1996 Acorn User Interactive Fiction competition, and it was also awarded “best CD-related puzzle”.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Life of A Librarian (2013) by Timewalker

In this tiny very-short one-room slice-of-life game that was probably written as a coding exercise, you play as a librarian. There’s a fiction book in the bookdrop, a book scanner, and several shelves. Process the book correctly and you’re done.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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Not in Venice (2012) by Bahri Gordebak

In this very-short story, you aren’t in Venice. You are not looking at a narrow Venetian street from a French balcony. What you do isn’t important at this moment, but what you don’t is.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map

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That Damn Remote (2009) by Jamie Phelan

In this slice-of-life game, you play as an exhausted box factory worker who just wants to relax watching his favourite TV show. But your remote control has disappeared. Find it and get this stressful day over with.

IFDB | My walkthrough and map