Blog

In this enchanted sexual escapade, will you revel with mysterious rogues, wily Fae, the Prince, or the Princess? Where will your heart and loyalty lead you as the kingdom trembles on the edge of war?

Their Majesties’ Pleasure is a 225,000-word interactive erotic fantasy novel by Leia Talon. I sat down with Leia to talk about the challenges of writing interactive romance novels. Their Majesties’ Pleasure is out now, on Steam, in the Heart’s Choice Omnibus for Android and iOS, and on our website. 

This is your first piece of interactive fiction, but not your first time writing about the Fae/supernatural, I think? Tell me about your other works.

Yes! There are supernatural elements in all of my stories. My Roots and Stars fantasy romance duet is something like a mashup of Outlander, The Time Traveler’s Wife, and Marvel’s Thor, with reinvented mythology, magic, and dragons. My version of Loki in Dragons in the Weaving, the second book in that series, is probably the closest character in likeness to the Fae in Their Majesties’ Pleasure, but this game is the first time I’ve brought the Fae into my stories, which has been so much fun!

One of the things I love about the Fae is the complexity of their culture and the variety of expression they embrace as a people. They’re immortal warriors, but also masterful creators, and they love deeply with the wisdom and experience only those who live for centuries can acquire. I think that immortal perspective is one of my favorite things to play with in writing, whether the characters are gods, Fae, dragons, or mortals who can tap into memories of other lifetimes.

What attracted you to the idea of taking that world to a new medium?

I was taking a break from revising some of my other manuscripts and started looking into interactive fiction. The more I learned, the more it piqued my curiosity, and when I found Heart’s Choice, I knew I wanted to write a fantasy romance for their players. One of the things I’ve enjoyed about writing interactive fiction is is the ability to write scenarios that will appeal to many different people. If you’re into fight scenes, I’ve got you. If you want to read in the library of the Keep, have at it. Relaxing in the hot springs? Check. Delving into the history and politics of the Fae and the kingdom? You can do that, too!

This medium also allowed me to write different romance options in the same story, which has probably been my favorite part. Why stop at one rogue royal when you can have five?

Did you have a favorite character you enjoyed writing most in the course of developing the game?

Oh, my. I’m rather enamored with all the characters in this story, but I suppose the Fae prince, Galen, is one who really developed into something more than I expected. He was originally supposed to be a side character, but early on I realized there was no way I could keep him to the side, and he became one of my favorite romance options.

One of the elements I most enjoy about Galen is his camaraderie with his silver-haired cousin, Jesme, who quite a few beta testers said I should’ve made into a romance option, too! Jesme is a deadly hunter, slow to trust and shrouded in mystery. If I ever write a sequel to this, and in the novels I’ll be developing from this story, Jesme will play a more central role and become one of the romance options. He’s such a alluring character.

This is one of our more “spicy” 3 pepper games, which many of our players are going to really love. What’s been your experience writing romance/erotic scenes specifically?

I’ve really enjoyed getting creative with the variety of heat in the intimate scenes. I wrote options for people who want ALL the spice, and options for people who want to avoid sex scenes entirely, and are looking for other types of intimacy like conversation and simple companionship. It was liberating to be able to include such varied preferences in the same project. If you’re asexual or prefer sweet kisses and nothing more, you can absolutely play that way. And if you’re looking for spice, you’ll find plenty to choose from!

There are A LOT of sex scenes in this game. So many I lost count.

I honestly didn’t expect to write some of the scenes as hot as they got, but my characters tend to be in control of my writing process, and wow did they ever get it on! Even the princess, who is the only character who insists on monogamy, lets her hair down and joins in on a Fae orgy in chapter five (if that option is chosen). That might be the spiciest scene in the game. If you’re into that sort of thing, definitely check it out. There are threesome options, a bit of rough play, and one-on-one scenes that are both super-spicy and full of heart. These characters love deeply, and the physical intimacy is threaded through with emotion.

What did you find most challenging about the writing process overall?

This is by far the most complicated writing project I’ve brought to completion. The drafting process was slower than usual for me, because I had to keep taking breaks between scenes. For example, toward the end of the game there are vastly different outcomes depending on the stats. If Sovereignty of the Wilds is low, there’s all out war between the Fae and the kingdom, and you can choose to fight alongside the Fae. That scene is one of the most in-depth action sequences, and a great show of skill by the immortal warriors you might befriend as you play. But going from that to writing a completely different scenario where the characters haven’t experienced that kind of drama required my brain to switch gears in a way that doesn’t happen when writing linear novels. Often, I had to walk away and let myself rest. Going for a hike with my dog was a great way to clear my mind so I could come back with fresh energy and keep making progress.

As challenging as this project was, I have immense gratitude for the support I had throughout the process. Abby Trevor was my editor, and was always quick to help if I needed it and absolutely wonderful to work with. Her suggestions helped shape this game, as did support from the rest of the Heart’s Choice team. The beta testers were amazing as well, pointing out details that needed to be fleshed out and perspectives that hadn’t occurred to me. The whole process has been fantastic, and I’m thrilled to have written a game for Heart’s Choice.

What are you working on next?

I’ve begun adapting this game into a series of novels, which gives me a chance to explore some threads in more detail and include more obscure options that may not get played as often. This series includes another story set in the same world, which is darker and more serious, but I think bringing some of the characters from Their Majesties’ Pleasure into it will integrate some of the fun-loving spirit I so enjoy in this game.

I also have another manuscript that won a mentorship program that I’ll be revising with the help of two other authors. This story has the atmosphere of a dystopian Pirates of the Caribbean, the grit and spice of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas, and magic like a mashup of Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters and Leigh Bardugo’s King of Scars. It’s set in an adjacent world to the one in Their Majesties’ Pleasure, and I’m brainstorming ways to bring some of the characters from the game into this story because I think it would be a riot of snarky banter and all-out action scenes.

There’s no shortage of ideas in this creative mind of mine, but I really must give my characters most of the credit. They continue to surprise me, and I hope they bring a sense of joy and fulfillment to everyone who plays Their Majesties’ Pleasure!

We’re proud to announce that our Redbubble Choice of Games merchandise store now has our logo in rainbow for Pride Month!

Choice of Games has always been committed to inclusivity in our games, both in representation of player gender and sexuality, and in our commitment to recruiting and publishing queer authors. We are so pleased to be celebrating Pride in a new way in 2023!

You can find these shirts and many other Choice of Games branded items on Redbubble, where we hope to be adding more options for shirts and merchandise in the coming months.

Hosted Games has a new game for you to play!

If you’re surrounded by animals, are you truly alone?

Play as a survivor of the apocalypse in this interactive fiction story. In this game, you make your post-apocalyptic home in a unique venue: a local zoo.

Zoo-pocalypse is a 50,000 word interactive fiction novella written by Tyler S. Harris. The story is broken up into 3-4 chapters depending on how it is played. It is completely text-based, with no sound effects or graphics. Vastly different endings can occur based on the decisions you make.

• Play as any gender! There are no references to your gender, so play as yourself or anyone else. You do get to pick your name.
• Explore the many exhibits at the zoo, and even the gift shop.
• The end of the story depends on the choices you make, even early decisions can lead to completely different endings.
• Different endings lead to the discovery of animals (achievements). Can you find all of them?

Will you reign over this animal kingdom, or will you find yourself at the bottom of the food chain?

Content Warning: Dark themes throughout, even for a post-apocalypse story. Heavy violence: humans and animals may die, sometimes violently.

Tyler developed this game using ChoiceScript, a simple programming language for writing multiple-choice interactive novels like these. Writing games with ChoiceScript is easy and fun, even for authors with no programming experience. Write your own game and Hosted Games will publish it for you, giving you a share of the revenue your game produces.

Choice of Games, in partnership with World of Darkness and Paradox Interactive, today announced that they would produce ten more interactive novels set in the World of Darkness shared story universe through 2027.

Choice of Games’ interactive novels have received critical and popular acclaim, with Vampire: The Masquerade — Sins of the Sires standing as a finalist for the Game Writing Award in the annual Nebula awards this weekend. Choice of Games and World of Darkness congratulate Natalia Theodoridou on this achievement.

Choice of Games’ next two upcoming titles in the World of Darkness, Werewolf: The Apocalypse — The Book of Hungry Names and Hunter: The Reckoning — Beast of Glenkildove are now available to wishlist on Steam.

---

Save the living earth with Rage and spirit! Awaken ancient mysteries, rebuild your fallen pack, and unleash your fearsome might to heal a shattered land.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse — The Book of Hungry Names is an interactive novel set in the World of Darkness by Kyle Marquis, author of the 2020 smash hit Vampire: The Masquerade — Night Road. It’s entirely text-based, without graphics or sound effects, and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

Shapeshifter. Mystic. Hero. Monster. You are a werewolf, and you are all these things. Werewolves are the living earth’s last guardians, created by Gaia, given the gift of shifting between human and wolf forms, and called to stop humanity from destroying the world.

Yet you have failed. Pollution chokes the cities and mad spirits rampage through the wild places. You swore to protect Gaia, but the werewolves turned on each other, slaughtered their allies, fell into despair or mad Rage.

You are one of the few who remember the oaths you swore to the living earth – which has made you an exile. But rather than surrender to despair, you have sworn to uncover the secrets of a defiled land and fight the Apocalypse. Stormcat, once the Spirit of a thriving community of werewolves, has called upon you to rebuild that shattered pack. In the savage woods and decaying cities of New England, you will forge your own legend.

Build Your Pack. Human and werewolf survivors haunt the woods and hide in the cities: find them to learn what happened and to rebuild the werewolf nation. But not all werewolves can be trusted: shun those wolves consumed by Rage, and pity those who have lost the Wolf and become empty shells.

Survive the Wilds. A desperate exile, shunned by those who have abandoned their oaths to Gaia, you’ll have to survive by your wits. A winter night can kill as surely as any monster: find shelter, seek allies among spirits and humans, and learn how far you’ll go to survive.

Unleash Your Rage. You are one of Gaia’s monsters, a living weapon, herald of vengeance and death. Now the Apocalypse is here: wield your Rage with savage cunning and keen discretion, or it will swallow you whole.

• Play as male, female, or nonbinary; befriend or romance werewolves and humans of all genders.
• Shapeshift among five forms to slaughter your enemies, or outwit them to take what you need.
• Choose your auspice (moon-sign) and your werewolf tribe to learn what sort of monster you are.
• Claim your territory and heal the spirits there to unlock Gifts that let you summon animals, control the elements, or enter the spirit world.
• Face mutated monsters and corrupt spirits in the dark woods and decaying factory towns of rural New England.

About Kyle Marquis

This is Kyle Marquis’s eighth game with Choice of Games; his previous titles include the dieselpunk flying-ace game Empyrean, the time-traveling alternate-history Byzantine mystery Silverworld, and the apotheosis-seeking magical adventure Tower Behind the Moon.

---

Full moon. Cold night. Dark shadow. Warm gun. The Beast of Glenkildove has stalked Ireland for centuries. Now, you must hunt it.

Hunter: The Reckoning — The Beast of Glenkildove is an interactive novel by William Brown, set in the World of Darkness shared story universe. It’s entirely text-based, without graphics or sound effects, and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination

Eight years ago, when you were eighteen, the Beast of Glenkildove killed one of your closest friends. You’ve never returned to Ireland since that day.

It’s difficult to remember what happened. As you’ll soon learn, the human mind blots out the traumatic memories of facing a werewolf.

Now, you must stalk that werewolf across the shadowed glens and fogbound mountains of Ireland, hunting a shapeshifting killing machine with your friends, your wits, and a shotgun.

But you and your friends are not alone. You have entered a world of Hunters, humans who dare to challenge the dominion of the monsters who rule over them. Can you trust the fanatics of the Society of Leopold, the scholars and savants of the Arcanum, the ruthless Duffy crime family, or the enigmatic biotech company Fada?

Can you even trust your oldest friends?

Redemption for some. Retribution for others. A reckoning for all.

• Play as male, female, or nonbinary; befriend or romance humans and supernaturals of any gender
• Kill, study, capture, document or negotiate with the creatures you hunt
• Craft your own traps, gear, and weapons to take the Hunt to the enemy
• Find camaraderie and romance with the only people in the world that you can trust to fight alongside you
• Adopt and train your own wolfhound to assist you in the Hunt
• Build and maintain your own safehouse at the Wolf’s Head Inn in the Wicklow Mountains

Become the thing that even nightmares fear.

About William Brown

William Brown was born in Ireland. He is the author of two previous Choice of Games titles: The Mysteries of Baroque, a Gothic horror story, and Cliffhanger: Challenger of Tomorrow, a pulp adventure yarn. He studied theology and Biblical studies at Trinity College Dublin, did a Master’s at Oxford University, and a PhD at Edinburgh University. He now teaches at a college in London.

---

About Choice of Games

Choice of Games LLC is dedicated to producing high-quality, text-based, multiple-choice games. Since 2009 they have produced over one hundred titles in-house, including Choice of the Dragon and Choice of Robots. Six of their recent titles have been nominated for the Nebula Award for Game Writing. They have also developed a simple scripting language for writing text-based games, ChoiceScript, which they make available to others for use in their projects, and they host games produced by other designers using ChoiceScript on their website. All of their games are available on the web at choiceofgames.com and on Steam. They also produce mobile versions of their games that can be played on iPhones, Android phones, and other smartphones.

About Paradox Interactive

The Paradox Interactive group includes development, publishing, and licensing of games and brands, consisting of a portfolio of more than 100 titles created both internally and by independent studios. Paradox owns an array of award-winning and top-selling brands including Cities: Skylines, Stellaris, Crusader Kings, Age of Wonders, and many more games available on PC and console platforms. Paradox is the owner of the World of Darkness IPs and is publishing Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 on PC and consoles soon.

From the company’s start in 2004, Paradox has published its games worldwide, with top markets including the USA, UK, China, Germany, France, and Russia. Today, over four million gamers play a Paradox game each month with a global community reaching over ten million registered Paradox users.

Paradox Interactive AB (publ)’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm First North Premier under ticker PDX. FNCA Sweden AB is the company’s Certified Adviser. For more information, please visit www.paradoxinteractive.com.

Hosted Games has a new game for you to play!

Sometimes all you can do is delay the inevitable. A new organization has risen from the ashes of the Supernatural Response Team, and you are its leader. Take command and decide how it evolves.

Unnatural Season Two is a 700,000 word interactive horror novel by Sam Kabell, where your choices control the story. It’s entirely text-based—without graphics or sound effects—and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

Encounter Unnaturals both old and new. You’ve dealt with vampires, werewolves, and zombies before, but how will you handle new and previously unknown threats? How will you handle the awakening of once dormant Unnaturals, an ancient danger beyond anything anyone living has faced?

Reforge bonds with the surviving members of the SRT and make some new friends and allies, too. Interview and recruit up to four potential teammates: Avery Daye, a detective who specializes in missing persons related to Unnatural cases; Jennifer Maki, a former veterinarian trained to deal with animal-based Unnaturals; Cassandra Brown, a former member of the Boston Branch of the SRT—or have your actions in Season One set you up to recruit a mysterious returning companion? Import your UnNatural Season One save to find out!

As you move deeper into the Unnatural world, your journey continues to be shaped by it. Past is present as further investigation into your heritage brings new revelations to light. Evolve your power and learn more about the origins of the Azure, potentially discovering how their powers shape your own.

People look to you to protect the innocent from these intersections where the everyday and the supernatural collide.

• Play as male, female or nonbinary; be straight, gay, bi or choose to focus on friendship instead.
• Continue your romance with your paramour from Season One or pursue one of five new love interests.
• Guide Silver Cross Incorporated to protect the innocent from foes human and Unnatural alike.
• Manage your funding between four departments: research, security, technology, and training. The responsibility and consequences are yours.
• Choose which cases you take on and who you bring with you—will you bring the best person for the job or will you bring someone you want to get to know better?
• Utilize an updated threat level system to identify which cases your team takes on, maximizing their chances for both success and survival.
• Focus on your powers, or rely on your technology. Not all cases need to end in violence; maybe you can talk your way out?

Your time for following orders is done. In Unnatural Season Two, it is time for you to lead.

Sam developed this game using ChoiceScript, a simple programming language for writing multiple-choice interactive novels like these. Writing games with ChoiceScript is easy and fun, even for authors with no programming experience. Write your own game and Hosted Games will publish it for you, giving you a share of the revenue your game produces.

Hosted Games has a new game for you to play!

When a traitor dies, touched souls will give birth to a new world, while the old one drowns in despair, disease, wrath, lust, and madness.

Hidden Sanctum is an enchanting 360,000-word interactive modern fantasy game
by Dariel Ivalyen. It’s entirely text-based—without graphics or sound effects—and fueled
by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination. The story is set in a magical place
known as the Hidden Sanctum, where unique people—just like you—are taken to learn
the truth about the world and discover their true potential.

When your old neighbor calls you late in the evening and asks you to watch over her
daughter, you have no idea your whole life is about to be turned upside down. The girl
arrives at your door, but so does a legion of mechanical soldiers. You don’t know why,
but they seem to be after you.

Under fire, you leave your home and start running. But where can you go? Will this be
your last journey, or will it be the beginning of your new life?

• Play as male, female, or nonbinary; gay, straight, bisexual, or asexual.
• Romance or befriend one of six unique characters. Will you get close to one of your fellow students, or will your heart draw you to an ancient Oracle?
• Influence how your friends change throughout the game. Will you be kind to them and help them with their problems, or will you push them over the edge?
• Choose one of five unique soul paths and reach your true potential!
• Shape your personality and views. Each choice will define who you are!
• Keep a diary and decide how you feel about certain events!
• Speak with ancient gods and mythical creatures, or throw some punches. Will you try to punch a mummy?
• Explore the Hidden Sanctum and uncover its secrets.
• Save your new home from a threat that might destroy it from within.

Are you ready to become a touched soul and protect the Hidden Sanctum from danger? Are you ready to stand against the dark forces from a different universe and fulfill an ancient prophecy? Are you willing to do whatever it takes?

Dariel developed this game using ChoiceScript, a simple programming language for writing multiple-choice interactive novels like these. Writing games with ChoiceScript is easy and fun, even for authors with no programming experience. Write your own game and Hosted Games will publish it for you, giving you a share of the revenue your game produces.

Hosted Games has a new game for you to play!

You’re a werewolf. One night, a seemingly random encounter pulls you into the city’s paranormal underbelly, populated by witches, hunters, ghosts, and ruled over by vampires.

You’re not alone. Your pack is with you. They’re your allies, friends… and perhaps more than that. The choices you make not only determine your fate, but theirs as well.

Blood Moon is a 445,000 word interactive novel by Barbara Truelove. It’s entirely text-based, without graphics or sound effects, and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

• Play as a man, woman, or non-binary person; gay, straight, bi, asexual, or undefined.
• Date werewolves! Choose from among eight unique romanceable characters, all with a variety of scenes and special moments.
• Fight vampires… or make deals with them to protect your pack.
• Learn the secrets of the vampire court or avoid them at all costs.
• Battle ghosts, scheme with witches, or fool hunters as you explore the city.
• Challenge to become the Alpha of your pack or play your cards right to ensure someone else’s rise to power.
• Unlock multiple endings and dozens of achievements.
• Meaningful choices that change the world.

With teeth, claws, and the moon hanging overhead, it’s time to cut out a place for your pack in this city… or leave it to the monsters.

Let the games begin.

Barbara developed this game using ChoiceScript, a simple programming language for writing multiple-choice interactive novels like these. Writing games with ChoiceScript is easy and fun, even for authors with no programming experience. Write your own game and Hosted Games will publish it for you, giving you a share of the revenue your game produces.

Our Hidden Gems Are On Sale!

Shhhhh! It’s our super secret special sale!

Thanks to a very scientific poll conducted on our forums, we’re proud to announce that our “most underrated” games, aka the hidden gems, are on sale for 48 hours! Pick them up for discounts up to 40% off until April 20th on the platform of your choice–Android, Android Omnibus app, iOS and iOS Omnibus app, Steam, the website, and on the Amazon Android Marketplace!

AND we’ve got a brand new Steam Hidden Gems Steam bundle!

Kidnapped! A Royal Birthday
Weyrwood
The Superlatives: Shattered Worlds
An Odyssey: Echoes of War
Sixth Grade Detective

And an Honorable Mention goes to: Nikola Tesla: War of the Currents

Hosted Games has a new game for you to play!

Mad scientist vampires, supernatural carnivals! Can there be anything else?

Well….

As you settle into your new life working with Unit Bravo—and growing ever closer to one member in particular—life goes on. But so does the supernatural world.

A string of kidnappings takes over Wayhaven and, once more, you’re called in as it quickly becomes apparent there’s more going on than what’s on the surface.

Even worse when the kidnapper’s focus turns on you…and you’re the only one with the power to deal with them! It’s time for bids to be placed. But when the gavel drops…better make sure it’s not you who’s the next lot.

Wayhaven Chronicles: Book Three is a 1,200,000-word interactive novel by Mishka Jenkins—without graphics or sound effects—where your choices control the story. Those decisions will shape who is friend or foe, who will share in your secrets, and just how your romance with a certain vampire will grow in this latest story from The Wayhaven Chronicles!

Mishka developed this game using ChoiceScript, a simple programming language for writing multiple-choice interactive novels like these. Writing games with ChoiceScript is easy and fun, even for authors with no programming experience. Write your own game and Hosted Games will publish it for you, giving you a share of the revenue your game produces.

We’re proud to announce that Royal Affairs, the latest in our popular “Choice of Games” line of multiple-choice interactive-fiction games, is now available for Steam, Android, and on iOS in the “Choice of Games” app. It’s 38% off until April 6th!

Return to the exclusive boarding schools of Crème de la Crème—this time as a royal! Work hard, study hard, and play hard as a royal in training at the exclusive Archambault Academy. Will you rule the roost, or be a royal disaster?

Royal Affairs is a 437,000-word interactive novel by Harris Powell-Smith, set in the world of Crème de la Crème. It’s entirely text-based, without graphics or sound effects, and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

As the middle child of the Queen of Westerlin, you’ve led a sheltered life in the palace, but now you must spread your wings and prepare for your royal responsibilities with a year at the exclusive Archambault Academy.

Everyone knows your name, everyone has an opinion on what you do, and everyone views you as the face of the new generation of royalty. Your every move is reported in the press, a word from you could make or break a teacher’s career–or the fate of the school itself. You’re being courted by every club and social group on campus; and there are countless students who would love to be in your orbit.

In luxurious armchairs behind ivy-covered walls, you and your fellow students debate political theory—but outside, real trouble simmers across the realm. There are activists fighting to open voting rights beyond the aristocracy, and you can use your influence to sway the government’s decision in either direction. Relations are growing increasingly uneasy with your country’s neighbors, and there are conspiracies around every corner. Why is your mother whispering behind closed doors with the Prime Minister? Have the leaders of the protests really disappeared? Which allies can you trust? There are some secrets that only your royal authority can uncover.

Will you honor centuries of royal tradition and follow the path that your mother the Queen has laid out for you? Or will you be a force of change, leading your country in a new direction as you break free of a lifetime of expectations?

Oh, and speaking of expectations—there’s also the foreign royal that your mother wants you to marry. Who is in your class. And who happens to hate you.

• Play as male, female, or non-binary; gay, straight, or bisexual; monogamous or polyamorous; asexual and/or aromantic.
• Find love and/or friendship with your free-spirited childhood companion, a firebrand radical, a dreamy dancer, a financier haunted by tragedy, your devoted bodyguard, or a rival foreign royal.
• Cuddle and train your pet: a horse, dog, or bird of prey.
• Put on a lavish play, become a sports star, or run Student Council; and represent Archambault Academy against its rival Gallatin.
• Become your classmates’ confidante and help them solve their problems—or make those problems worse.
• Embrace your royal responsibility and carry on your mother’s tradition—and perhaps even take your sister’s place as heir to the throne.
• Forge a path to the future by supporting revolutionaries’ calls for change, or stamp out the movement with scheming and deceit.

When this tumultuous year ends, will you be Archambault Academy’s crowning glory?

We hope you enjoy playing Royal Affairs. We encourage you to tell your friends about it, and recommend the game on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and other sites. Don’t forget: our initial download rate determines our ranking on the App Store. The more times you download in the first week, the better our games will rank.