Works that I found interesting and memorable on this website. They're usually titles you are unlikely to find readily available on other platforms. Not all are itch.io exclusives, but they do convey some indie spirit that I really enjoy.
While the game is a CW mess and its file size is monstrously large, this game is utterly inspiring to me over how unabashed it explores taboo subjects -- even in a very horny way.
An animated epilogue that works really well as a "resolution". If you enjoyed the original game, you'll find something resonant here.
A short game where you play as a trans therapist who can end up not helping the trans patient you have. It's a chilling game because you dictate the life and actions of someone who needs it. The fact all endings have the same result is important.
A classic Twine title that explores the connections between emergent AI and humans while offering some interesting twists and turns to text adventure titles. Many cute and strong character moments.
A cool essay against what they term as reproductive materialism. Instead of worrying about how to protect reproduction, we should be considering generation.
An excellent 1 hour-ish walking sim that combines Evangelion, low-poly graphics, and the films of Tsai Ming-Liang.
A great, short work about the post-apocalypse. Atmospheric and the ending bites.
The game has two endings and they're worth getting because they get into the weeds of "passing" as this never-ending doubt of trans people's lives.
The idea that "Queerness is anti-imperialist" deserves its own little game and I think this does a fine job, especially since it comes from a Southeast Asian voice. I am glad I found this title since Malaysia isn't too geographically (and politically) far off from Singapore and Indonesia.
It just makes it realer to me.
An art manifesto for artists to become the perverts and sickos of the world against the ironic detachment of normalcy.
A tiny conversation about a big subject: the never-ending enshittification of social media.
An overwhelming collection of essays and thoughts about life, art, society, and more. Parts of the game make me think about my own life. Great stuff.
As the title suggests, you are trying to insert objects to stretch your ass for your big dick boyfriend. There's some really fun kinks explored and the writing is a joy to read.
An honest exploration of how the erotic fantasies of dehumanization and more may actually help connect alienated people to each other.
One of the more interesting games I’ve played that explores self-harm and the motivations around it. Even though this game follows the Neo-Twiny Jam restrictions, I find the game feeling “longer” and more substantial than it should be – even if discounting the clicker gameplay.
The self-destructive tendencies explored in this game feel pretty real and honestly understandable. I really enjoyed this game a lot and it’s one of the reasons why I think sites like Itchio are cool.
Wrote an IFDB review on it.
An amusing parser game for beginners with neat tricks that'll even surprise veterans.
This title gets to the core of what makes body horror so appealing and interesting.
A short story about sharing a joint and the hidden feelings in that interaction.
A legendary, sprawling interactive fiction title that adapts the scale of the MYST series into a text adventure game. Not everything in this work is perfect -- there are bugs, the ending doesn't feel great, and it can be a bit too derivative -- but it is a commendable achievement in Inform 7.
Aaron Reed is also behind the 50 Years of Text Games book too.
A short Twine game that explores post-natal depression with unmatched sincerity and honesty.
A speculative work of fiction exploring trans lives in a capitalist dystopia ravaged by a pandemic. Wonderful stuff.
A meditation on LGBTQ+ fandom politics, especially when the author retaliates against their own fandom.
An important game about the stigma of sex work and trans lives.
A short but effective game made in three hours where you just type the letter "INSANE" in interesting ways.
A sweet short title that will appeal to any Yoko Taro fan or anyone who likes to do murderous showdowns with a tinge of guilt.
An expressive visual novel that tackles queer issues and self-care. In particular, this title delivers feedback to each click by the player and urges the player to keep reading on.
Not enjoyable. Not fun. Not fair.
But it's difficult to stop playing this game that's all about getting past some rigged dice rolls. It's how boring, exhausting, and painful the game is.
An undeniably creative game that I'm sure has ruined countless nights for many people, the tower is a great example of how "unfun" games might be more compelling to complete than "fun" games.
A neat collection of Porpentine's Twine titles with informative author's notes.
Porpentine's works are deeply influential toward me because they explore queer, disabled lives in this poetic but blunt way. And her titles have shown me how expressive Twine can be as an interactive fiction engine.
An honest, down-to-earth personal game about how jobs suck and puts you into a negative feedback loop where you loathe yourself forever.
