A few games that also belong in this list but that I don't own on itch:
We are talking around it; we are never looking directly at it; we are only revealing the scientist; we only need to reveal the scientist.
Branching paths conversation. With a parent.
What can I say. The pink print. Love to read a story and love to have any visual accompaniment present as an active and necessary co-storyteller. Love to make decisions to explore different details, concepts, and spaces in a story. Just enjoying a few fun premises expanding out before me and driving alongside them.
The dithery pixel art and the blocky font, the transportive details that flesh out the peculiar setting, the privacy of the premise and descriptions all told in confidence, the intimacy and comradery I-as-player felt toward the narrator as the game went on, the deep satisfaction when given the choice to join that one fellow friend at the end of the night--simple, effective, specific, contained.
Classic text adventure aesthetics taken to a richer, more interactive, and more rewarding level. Fantasy TTRPG decision-making immerses the reader/player beyond anything a choose-your-own-adventure novel could do while retaining the (enjoyable) tedium and intimacy of that branching-path experience. Each screen is split between illustration and text, and the monochrome pixel art of maps and environments pairs well with the equally atmospheric writing. Decisions clearly have consequences; I quickly found myself becoming deeply invested in doing well, choosing right, and finding the story that suits my priorities. I cannot wait for the rest of this game.
Thin lines of text paired with interactive spaces that dominate the screen. The apartment space is small and grows barer as objects inside are exchanged for the memories and meanings they represent. The player prompts each bit of text by interacting with different aspects of the apartment until it is cleaned out and erased. No branching paths; a succinct but effective tour.
Well-written prose paired with animated illustration. Occasional branching-path choices for the player to make.
