Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions.
What is interactive fiction?
Interactive fiction (IF) is storytelling where you participate rather than just read. It ranges from parser games where you type commands like GO NORTH to choice-based games where you click through branching narratives. Check our Guides for a full introduction.
How do you score games?
Scores are out of 10 and reflect overall quality — writing, design, innovation, and how well the game uses its medium. A 9+ is exceptional, 7-8 is recommended, 5-6 is worth trying if you like the genre, below 5 has significant issues.
What's the difference between parser and choice?
Parser games accept typed commands: EXAMINE BOOK, TAKE KEY, UNLOCK DOOR. They offer more freedom but have a learning curve. Choice games present clickable options — more accessible, different design possibilities. Both can be equally good.
Where can I play these games?
Most games we review are free and playable online or downloadable. Each review includes a link to the game. For a broader collection, visit IFDB or check our Resources page.
Can I submit a game for review?
Yes! Get in touch with a link to your game. We can't promise to review everything, but we're always looking for interesting work, especially from new authors.
What is CAVE?
CAVE (Contextual Adventure Verbose Engine) is an interactive fiction authoring system I created. It's a prose-first markup language with a visual editor. If you want to write your own text adventures, it's designed to be approachable.
Who runs this site?
NextRoom.io is a personal project by Thorsten Harms. It's not affiliated with any company or organization — just one person's love for interactive fiction.
How can I support NextRoom?
Share reviews you find helpful, recommend games, join the newsletter, or just play more interactive fiction. The community grows when people discover the medium.