Started in 1995, the IF Comp is a competition to talk about some of the best games in interactive fiction. As their site says, “the definition of IF has evolved in the years since then,” and includes a variety of games from traditional parser IF to newer Twine entries. There are several ways to contribute to the IF Comp, from being an author and submitting your game to being a judge. Judges can be anyone — the IF comp allows for any user to judge entries on a scale of 1-10, as long as you submit five reviews.
Interested? Be sure to check out all of the entries on the IF Comp page and vote.
Below I’ve listed all of the entries for the IF Comp, as well as information about the game and the author. For the sake of clarity and consistency, I will be using “format” the same way that the IF Comp does, meaning from the players POV the kind of software they need to make the game work rather than what the game was made in (for example, Twine games would be “Web.”)
AlethiCorp – Simon christiansen
Format: Web
Summary: Do you have what it takes to be an Associate Information Management Consultant with one of the world’s largest information management companies? Can you leverage synergies with the best to operationalize our global market traction? If you were a bear, would you be an American Black Bear or a Siberian Brown bear? If the answer is Yes, apply today!
Author: Simon Christiansen is a IF Comp veteran, placing fifth in the 2011 IF Comp with PataNoir.
And yet it moves – orion
Format: Inform (Gluix)
Summary: It is 1630′s Florence, and you are an assistant to Galileo. Galileo is under house arrest from the Church, who do not wish for him to have his views in the public eye. He has tasked you with smuggling his book out of the country to get it published.
Author: No information could be found.
Arqon: A criminal’s Journey – h. j. Hoke
Format: Inform (Gluix)
Summary: Times were much simpler before you became an assassin for the Bureau of Magic, but they were a bit more complicated as well. You were on the run, and you couldn’t live in your sanctuary forever. And thus your adventure begins.
Author: This appears to be H.J. Hoke’s first IF Comp entry.
Begscape – porpentine
Format: Web
Summary: Highly randomized fantasy begging sim
Author: Porpentine is a games curator, artist and creator primarily known for her Twine. Her Twine their angelical understanding placed ninth in last years IF Comp, with howling dogs placed 11th in the 2012 IF Comp.
Building the right stuff – laura mitchell
Format: Windows Executable
Summary: Nobody likes to mention that space is boring, that’s why the OC are willing to pay so much to send you into the great black to press a few buttons. At least they’ve given you a nice new AI to help you with your mission, although why they want this quadrant to be investigated so fully doesn’t quite make sense…
An interactive short story where you have to look beyond the mission.
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry into the IF Comp.
Caroline - Kristian Kronstrand
Format: Web
Summary: Let Caroline take you by the hand.
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry into the IF Comp.
Creatures such as we - Lynnea Glasser
Format: Web
Summary: A dating sim about how humanity connects through art, even out in the vastness of space.
Author: This is not Lynnea Glasser’s first entry into the IF Comp, having placed 1st in the 2013 IF Comp with Coloratura. You can find out more about her game on her website.
Eidolon – A.D. Jansen
Format: Web
Summary: When you wake up, something is passing through the night sky.
Author: This appears to be the authors first IF Comp entry.
Enigma – simon deimel
Format: Inform (Z-Code)
Summary: Eyes can see, and a mind can think. Insanity is just one step away. You are in a room. That’s where you are, and you know exactly what is going on. But the truth is hard to take.
The game file includes hints and a walkthrough.
Author: This appears to be Deimel’s first entry into the IF Comp, but he has four other games playable on the IFDB.
Excelsior – Arthur Dibianca
Format: Inform (Z-Code)
Summary: Explore a strange tower and solve puzzles, using a streamlined parser.
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry into the IF Comp.
Fifteen minutes: An interactive tight spot – ade
Format: Inform (Z-code)
Summary: You’re in a tight spot.
You have fifteen minutes before the Principal expels you from the cosy world of academia and into the cold harsh reality of the real world. You really should do something about it.
A time-travelling tale of paradox management.
Author: This appears to be the authors first IF Comp entry.
Following me – tia orisney
Format: Web
Summary: Two women take a wrong turn in the woods and make a gruesome discovery. They seek help from a mysterious stranger and are dragged into a vicious trap that they will be lucky to survive.
Intended for mature audiences, contains violence and language.
Author: This is the authors third entry in the IF Comp, after coming 19th and 22nd in the 2013 IF Comp.
HHH.exe – robot parking
Format: Web
Summary: The disk drive uttered a sickening crack as you tried to access it. Somehow, you were able to run the single program installed on it, ＨＨＨ．ｅｘｅ. It’s a game, apparently. By turns unfun and familiar; foolish and haunted.
Author: This appears to be Robot Parking’s first entry into the IF Comp, and his previous work of interactive fiction was a work in the 29th Ludum Dare this year. You can find more from Robot Parking on their Twitter.
hill 160: A world war 1 adventure in terror – mike gerwat
Format: Inform (Gluix)
Author: This appears to be the entrants first IF Comp entry.
hunger daemon – sean M. Shore
Format: Inform (Gluix)
Summary: It’s not the end of the world, and you’re to blame. Better get on that. But man, it sure would be nice to get a bite to eat first.
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry into the IF Comp, however they have past entries in the Spring Thing as well as XYZZY Awards.
Icepunk – pageboy
Format: Web
Summary: “You are the sole remaining inhabitant of an artificial world above a bizarre, inhospitable earth. A feral child raised by robots, you have just discovered the central computer of your Habitat, and unravelled the tale of a terrible catastrophe. But there is hope. Your task, as the heir to the human race, is to gather the data left in cold storage in the computers of the Caelan Cylinder, and from the icy landscape therein. You will face the wild processes of dead elemental minds, and see many maddening things in your journey through a landscape crawling with material informatics… all on a quest to create a future.”
Icepunk is an experimental work combining a procedurally generated world, prefabricated content, non-linear exploration, public domain literature and social media excerpts – to probe the possibilities of Interactive Fiction.
Author: This appears to be the authors first IF Comp entry.
inward narrow crooked lanes – b minus seven
Format: Web
Summary: Before we begin, we have a sharp– I mean short intake form for you to fill out.
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry into the IF Comp. They have a rarely used Twitter that points to previous work in Twine.
JACQUELINE, JUNGLE QUEEN! – STEPH CHERRYWELL
Format: Quest
Summary: You are Jacqueline McBean, modern woman for the Thirties and intrepid international correspondent for the Fresno Bee. The good news is that you’re on your way to a plum assignment among the glitzy spires and glamorous nightclubs of beautiful Golanaland. The bad news is that the plane only makes it ninety-nine percent of the way to Gola City and that last one percent is a real doozy. Alone in the heart of the Golanese jungle and armed only with the powers granted by the ancient jungle shrines, can you learn the ways of the animals, wield torrential rains and searing heat, and become at last the mighty Jungle Queen?
Of course you can! You’re a modern woman for the Thirties!
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry into the IF Comp. However they have another piece of interactive fiction on the IFDB known as Whitefield Academy of Witchcraft.
jesse stavro’s doorway: A long, strange trip – marshal tenner Winter
Format: Inform (Glulx)
Summary: Jordan is looking for his friend, Jesse, who is in hiding from the government. Picking up the trail, he discovers that Jesse is following the Grateful Dead on tour, but as Jordan immerses himself into the “deadhead” culture, he learns that Jesse is not currently in the same decade as those searching for him. The world is full of doors and logic is an illusion in this drug-fueled, time-travel adventure tale.
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry in the IF Comp, but they have participated in the IntroComp and Ectocomp 2013.
krypteia: A fantasy game – kateri
Format: Web
Summary: Since ancient times, the wise men explained to you, young warriors have learned to subjugate the Other in order to become men. To face what they should despise, in order to become what they must be. That’s great, and all, you think, but… where does that leave YOU?
A fantasy exploration game, in more ways than one. Go out alone at night, face monsters and wear stuff you find in the trash!
Browser-based hypertext. Not compatible with Safari, sorry!
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry in the IF Comp.
laterna magica – jens byriel
Format: Web
Summary: As you seat yourself and turn toward your inner light, you ask that one burning question.
“What is laterna magica?”
Author: This appears to be the authors first IF Comp entry, but they appear to have previously worked on the game Ghost Town: The Lost Treasure.
milk party palace: comedic Interactive fiction – Alon karmi & Glenn Parker
Format: Web
Summary: Alec Baldwin gets what Alec Baldwin wants, and when he wants six gallons for a Milk Party, you better believe he’s getting six gallons. Includes 3 Endings.
Author(s): It appears that Alon Karmi, while having participated in several jams, has never participated in the IF Comp before. This appears to have been Glenn Parker’s first IF Comp.
Missive: A game over seven days – Joey Fu
Format: Web
Summary: It’s your birthday today. Your ex-girlfriend brings you a present, and inside are a series of mysterious letters that tell the story of an old love triangle that ended in murder. Solve puzzles, solve the mystery, or get wasted and do neither: it’s up to you.
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry into the IF Comp. You can find more from them on Twitter.
One night stand - Giannis G. Georgiou
Format: Web
Summary: After a night of vodka and vague acquaintances, Sandy wakes up in an unknown bedroom, unable to remember the name of the man sleeping next to her. Too proud to leave without a proper goodbye, she will get into meticulous detective work, in order to discover his name and redeem herself. With your help, of course.
This short comedy text adventure features mild sexual references and will be mostly appreciated by persons who have had sex at least twice in their life, with or without other parties involved.
Author: While the author has worked in other written forms, this appears to be their first IF Comp.
origins - Vincent Zeng and Chris Martens
Format: Web
Summary: “Origins” is a story of the individual, potentially convergent paths of two people making their way through Pittsburgh. There are two available modes, a “myopic” view wherein the player controls a single character’s choices (but the consequences of both characters’ actions are still shown); and an “omniscient” view, where both characters’ choices are available. The story is rendered in an experimental multi-pane hypertext format.
Author: This appears to be the first IF Comp for either participant. Chris Martens has written on teaching experimental interactive fiction before, on this site.
paradox corps – john evans
raik – harry giles
Format: Web
Summary: A scots fantasia about anxiety. Battle kelpies, watch TV, avoid your emails and find the magical Staff of the Salmon.
(Content Warning: this storygame contains detailed depictions of panic attacks, physical danger and absurd death.)
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry into the IF Comp, though they’ve worked previously in poetry and other art viewable on their site.
sigmund’s quest – gregor holtz
Format: Web
Summary: Sigmund’s Quest is an homage to the classic point-and-click adventure games that inspired me so much as a child. It tells the first part of the story of the Völsunga saga, a Norse myth similar to King Arthur in some ways, albeit with more incest and werewolves.
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry into the IF Comp, but you can find more about their work on their website.
Slasher Swamp – Robot
Format: Windows Executable
Summary: While driving to Miami for Spring Break, your truck breaks down on a desolate highway.
If you want to survive past midnight, you’ll have to use your cunning.
Welcome to Slasher Swamp!
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry into the IF Comp.
Tea Ceremony: An Alien etiquette ceremony – naomi hinchen
Format: Inform (Z-Code)
Summary: Why is it that a bright young interstellar diplomat like you keeps getting the jobs no one else seems to want? Okay, so maybe you spent a little more time partying than studying when you were at the academy… and, sure, your work has been a little lackluster… and, fine, maybe you shouldn’t have said that about the ambassador’s mother… all right, so you know exactly why you keep getting the scut work.
Which is how you got stuck here, schmoozing with a snooty blob-alien with her panties in a twist about etiquette. You’d rather be anywhere else, except that if you don’t make nice with her, your career’s in the toilet for sure.
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry into the IF Comp.
the black lily - Hannes Schueller
Format: Inform (Z-code)
Summary: If you think you are being watched while playing this game, keep telling yourself that it’s all in your mind.
Author: The author has participated in 2 other IF Comp’s, including If Comp 2010 where they placed 21st, and 19th in IF Comp 2009.
The contortionist – nicholas stillman
Format: Web
Summary: Prison Escape Plan:
1. Squeeze through the bars. 2. …
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry in the IF Comp.
the entropy cage – stormrose
Format: Web
Summary: Sub-sentient computer programs ‘subs’ coordinate our future society. You, the first cyber-psychiatrist, are drawn into the sub’s war for their next evolution.
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry in the IF Comp.
the secret vaults of kas the betrayer – a.e. jackson
Format: Web
Summary: Earthquakes have been reported in a region south of the city. A landslide has cleared large swaths of land away from a massive granite wall buried deep under the hillside. This granite wall is merely the edge of a much greater Highwall Peaks mountain range.
Four guards were sent to investigate an ornately carved stone doorway revealed on the face of the granite wall. They were able to pry the stone entry open just enough to slip through. During their preliminary search a map was found in a room off the hallway they explored. The room resembled a gatehouse or officer’s quarters the guards stated.
Comparative research by the Great University and a brief review of local lore revealed this as the possible location of ‘The Secret Vaults of Kas the Betrayer’. The story is forgotten legend now, merely an insignificant footnote of the Third Age. However, if the stories are true then the Vault must be explored extensively – at once.
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry in the IF Comp.
the urge – paperblurt
Format: Web
Summary: Torture, torture little star | You must wonder where you are | Hoping that you’ll soon will die | As I melt your face with lye
When your pee mix with your sweat | And the floor with blood is wet | Then you’ll feel a real true fright | Torture, torture all long night
When the silver blade once rise | You will live without your eyes | Then you fade away from sight | I’m now your God and I will smite
Author: This is the authors second entry into the IF Comp (as well as one of two entries this competition) as they participated in the 2013 IF Comp.
tower – simon deimel
Format: Inform (Z-code)
Summary: Out of the blue, and into the blue. And there you are, in a chamber, trying to find out what is going on. Everything is so unreal… what has happened to you? TOWER is a short interactive fiction with surreal elements.
Author: This appears to be Deimel’s first entry into the IF Comp, but he has four other games playable on the IFDB.
transparent - Hanon Ondricek
Format: Inform (Glulx)
Summary: There is a house.
There is a room in the house.
There is a door in the room. The door is locked.
Some people are in the room.
Some people are transparent.
Author: Hanon Ondericek participated in the 2013 IF Comp with their game Final Girl.
ugly oafs – Perry Creel
Format: Inform (Glulx)
Summary: Push back the Wrath Pulse–or find the Fry Gun to destroy it for good!
A wordplay game with several ways to lose deliberately. Source code included.
Author: This appears to be the authors first IF Comp entry.
unform – S. Elize morgan
Format: Web
Summary: Waking up with no memories sucks. Waking up in a prison with no memories is even worse. Welcome to your life, Prisoner 11012. You will survive the scenarios, and do them properly, or you will face Judgement. Your choice, Prisoner. Your life, or your death. It won’t hurt a bit.
Author: This appears to be the authors first entry into the IF Comp, however they have created a variety of cartoon based games as well as work on some ARG’s and television writing.
venus meets venus – kaleidofish
Format: Web
Summary: Venus meets Venus. This is not a love story.
Author: While this appears to be the authors first entry into the IF Comp, the writer has previously participated in the Intro Comp 2014 with the Twine game Mount Imperius.
with those we love alive – porpentine, Brenda Neotenomie
Format: Web
Summary: no dreams
Author(s): Porpentine is a curator, artist and creator primarily known for her Twine. Her Twine their angelical understanding placed ninth in last years IF Comp, with howling dogs placed 11th in the 2012 IF Comp. Brena Neotenomie has worked previously on scoring the game Love is Zero with Porpentine.
zest: A management simulator – richard goodness, lectronice, paperblurt
Format: Web
Summary: Hello young Limonista!
It’s the hottest week of the year, and ordinarily this would be a problem!
But you work at the most popular lemonadery in Sufferette City, and the citizens depend on you to keep cool!
Author(s): Richard Goodness created the Twine exhibit “Fear of Twine,” and participated in the 2013 IF Comp. This is lectronice’s first entry into the IF Comp. This is the PaperBlurt’s second entry into the IF Comp (as well as one of two entries this competition) as they participated in the 2013 IF Comp.
Be sure to check out all of the games and vote on the IF Comp website.
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