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Take to the skies! With the swift wings and keen senses of a falcon, can you save your city from the RatKing’s army of minions? As the hero Skystrike, you use your falcon powers to keep your city safe while maintaining your secret identity and evading government forces desperate to harness your powers for war. Skystrike: Wings of Justice is a 350,000 word interactive novel by E. Chris Ambrose. I sat down with the author to discuss the game and the challenges of writing hero stories. Skystrike: Wings of Justice releases this Thursday, November 10th. 

I think this your first time writing interactive fiction, but you’re a pretty prolific novelist! Tell me about your other published work.

As E. C. Ambrose, I’m the author of a number of historical fantasy novels, like the Dark Apostle series about medieval surgery, beginning with ELISHA BARBER, and my 2022 release, DRAKEMASTER, an epic quest across medieval China to stop a clockwork doomsday device. I also write the Bone Guard archaeological thrillers (“if Indiana Jones had served in Special Forces”), starting with THE MONGOL’S COFFIN.

I’m notorious for not being very kind to my heroes. At one point during the final testing process my CoG editor noted that the game had too many deaths (an issue since averted, I promise!) and that was the most on-brand criticism I’ve ever received. Which is also why SKYSTRIKE has an acheivement for an interesting death…

And since much of that is in the genre of fantasy, what led you to write a powered-hero type game? 

My brand is knowledge-inspired adventure fiction—so the adventure’s always been a big part of writing for me. I’m a fan of superheroes in general, and also a student of what makes someone in real life step up in a heroic way. This game gave me the chance to play with hero tropes while flying off in pursuit of justice!

I actually did a bunch of research while developing the concept, including reading up on gamer psychology, going to the comic store for some recent titles, and, of course, watching a lot of super hero movies.

What was the most surprising thing about writing a ChoiceScript game?

The emphasis on romance, even in a game that’s not fundamentally romantic. I enjoy building character relationships, but I hadn’t expected romance to be an added draw for this kind of game. I had to make sure you can get the jump on crime, and woo your love interest as well—Skystrike is one busy character!

Did you have a favorite NPC you enjoyed writing most?

Developing the antagonist was super fun, especially because I conceived of him as the inverse of one of my novel series protagonists. I also have a soft-spot for Officer Chau, your high school buddy who’s now serving on the local police force. Chau is a joker who’s not afraid to get emotional, so I enjoyed coming up with quips and moments for Chau and Skystrike, trying to capture that old-friends feel.

What are you working on next?

I’m drafting the fifth in my Bone Guard series, but my next published work will be a science fiction novel aimed at young adults or the young at heart—A WRECK OF DRAGONS could be described as “Pacific Rim” meets “How to Train Your Dragon.” Dragons, giant robots, teen protagonists—it’s a blast! And it comes out in February, 2023.

Hosted Games has a new game for you to play!

You’re a clever but nearly friendless owl on the verge of losing everything you’ve struggled so hard to earn. With ruthless vulture creditors on your tail, you must track down a missing client whose case can save your career. But when your investigation takes a horrific turn, can you avoid becoming a deranged bird’s next victim? It’s 40% off until November 10th!

Talon City: Death from Above is a 135,000-word interactive fantasy novel by Eric Moser. It’s entirely text-based, without graphics or sound effects, and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

The Wards of Talon City, nine in all, sprawl as far as a bird can see. Thousands of trees house thousands of citizens, from the lowliest hummingbirds to the most magnificent eagles. Towering cottonwoods, oaks and spruces teem with life. And death.

Trapped in the middle of the city’s hierarchy, you face challenges at every turn. The eagles don’t respect you. The prey birds don’t trust you. You’re deep in debt, and now your most valuable client is nowhere to be found. Can even the cleverest owl prevail in such a desperate situation?

• Play as male, female, or non-binary.
• Approach challenges by relying on your Wings, Beak, Ears, Talons, or Heart.
• Face death on three different occasions!
• Is your relationship with your best friend platonic or is romance on the horizon?
• Will you befriend your assistant or treat her only as a lacky?
• Are you sincere or disingenuous? Disheveled or tidy? Build your character through the decisions you make.
• Will you be a merciful owl, or will you be driven by vengeance?
• Do you prefer a more relaxing playing experience? Play on “Easy” Mode.
• Do you prefer a stressful challenge? “Preposterous” Mode might be for you.
• 20 Achievements to pursue!

Can you survive the perils of Talon City?

Eric 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!

Play as Cinderella or her prince in a new twist on an old tale. You can usurp the throne, tear down the monarchy with a bloody revolution, and do just about anything you want to change this fairytale world you only think you know. It’s 33% off until November 10th!

Explore a fantasy world filled with intrigue, danger, humor and magic while you navigate your royal role by continuing where the original story ended. Will you choose to take on the role of Cinderella, the classic character whose journey from peasant to princess is as fast as it is unexpected? Or perhaps you will experience life as her prince, a man born into power and privilege trying to find his way both in love and life outside of his father’s shadow? This is the first of many choices that could lead you to find love, win control of a country, or even alter reality itself!

The Day After Ever After is a 207,000 word interactive medieval fantasy novel by Matt Simpson, author of The Parenting Simulator, 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.

• Choose between Cinderella and the prince as your main character: each has a set of three romantic interests unique to their playthrough.
• Customize the name for your character and their spouse through a list of preset options, or create your own!
• Lead armies, navigate the complex relationships of a royal court, and seize every opportunity you can to make your mark in this fantastical world!
• Finally give that snooty stepmother her comeuppance by framing her for treason!
• Uncover numerous endings that range from comedic to shocking: will you end up in a noose for mocking the king once too often, resist temptation and find a new life as a demonhunter, or defy natural law and rule for centuries? These and dozens more possibilities await you.
• Unlock fifty achievements to commemorate everything from warping reality to eating an endangered species!
• Live in the aftermath of a world where wishes come true!

Matt 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 A Crown of Sorcery and Steel, 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 33% off until November 2nd!

Will you overthrow the queen and her clockwork iron army, or join her as a spy? The relics you recover from the elven dungeon will change the course of history!

A Crown of Sorcery and Steel is a 450,000-word interactive fantasy novel by Josh Labelle. It’s entirely text-based, without graphics or sound effects, and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

For centuries, the kingdom of Kanda has been at war with Queen Nidana and her infernal clockwork machines. Each day, further reaches of the kingdom fall under her boot, overwhelmed by her enchanted army of iron constructs.

You’re an adventurer, caught in the middle of a war that began before you were born. Perhaps you’re an elf from the Sanctuaries to the west, which the queen’s machines long ago burned to the ground. Maybe you come from Ridgebank, one of the last human strongholds. Wherever you’re from, now you make your living helping people, plundering dungeons, or following the coin wherever it leads you.

It’s not long before you’re invited to join the resistance, recovering ancient elven artifacts from the sunken elven library. These artifacts could turn the tide of war, defeating the dark empress, or crushing the resistance. But will you lead the resistance to glory, or ally with the queen and snuff it out?

• Play as male, female, nonbinary; gay, straight, bi, asexual, or poly. Or choose among the genders of the elven, dwarven, and orc cultures.
• Explore the realm as a human, elf, dwarf, or orc, with four distinct backgrounds that change your adventure.
• Wield a sword, master magic, or disarm traps as you travel Kanda, a fantasy kingdom struggling against a brutal occupation.
• Battle side by side with a party of fighters, spellslingers, and rogues.
• Broker peace between the human cities and the dwarven mining colonies, or side with the dwarves and take control of the mountains.
• Delve lost ruins to uncover ancient elven artifacts, and restore the elves to their former glory… or sell the artifacts off to the highest bidders.
• Navigate palace intrigue in the orc empire, and decide who should take the throne.
• Turn against the resistance and become the queen’s best-loved spy to experience another side of the story.
• Romance a human resistance leader, an elven Scribe, a dwarven bard, an exiled orc prince, a halfling thief… or the dark queen herself.

Will you unite the realm and end the queen’s reign of terror, or rule by her side?

We hope you enjoy playing A Crown of Sorcery and Steel. 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.

Will you overthrow the queen and her clockwork iron army, or join her as a spy? The relics you recover from the elven dungeon will change the course of history! A Crown of Sorcery and Steel is a 450,000-word interactive fantasy novel by Josh Labelle. I sat down with Josh to talk about his experiences writing the game. A Crown of Sorcery and Steel releases this Thursday, October 27th. You can play the first three chapters today, for free.

This is a really interesting fantasy setting. Tell me about this world and how you dreamed it up.

The goal with A Crown of Sorcery and Steel was to give players the feeling of being part of an epic tabletop campaign. In keeping with that, I wanted to include common and recognizable fantasy characters and tropes, but try to go a little deeper or complicate things wherever I could.

I started out by drawing a map and creating a timeline to figure out where each culture of Kanda would live and what conflicts would naturally spring from that. I picked themes and motifs for each culture — from the seafaring humans to the mosaics of the orcs — to help figure out who they were, deep down. I was also very conscious of the pitfalls of fantasy worlds like this — from racial essentialism to making monoliths out of the various cultures of the land — so I tried to make it so that each culture in Kanda has its own internal divisions too.

So, for example, not every dwarf in Kanda agrees with the Artificers’ Guild. There are orcs who are fiercely loyal to the royal family and some who feel neglected by them and would love to see them fall. There are elves who hold on to the old ways and elves who would rather move on from them. And as for humans… well, they’re hopefully at least as complicated as real humans.

It was great fun to draw out all of those struggles and imagine how they might have played out over a couple of thousand years. It also made it easier for me to create and sympathize with the queen. Though she goes about it the wrong way, she’s ultimately someone who wants to put a stop to all that fighting, and there is a nobility to that… if you can get past the fact that she’s trying to do it with a colossal army of metal monstrosities.

This is your first title with Choice of Games, but not your first foray into interactive fiction or game design, right?

I’ve been creating interactive fiction for about five years now. In 2020, my Twine game Tavern Crawler tied for first place in IFComp, the annual interactive fiction competition. Tavern Crawler shares many themes and is loosely set in the same world as A Crown of Sorcery and Steel, but it has much lower stakes and a slightly more comedic tone.

I also work professionally as a narrative designer, though the games I work on at my day jobs (Disney Dreamlight Valley, Kim Kardashian Hollywood, Originals: Interactive Stories) have regrettably had far fewer dragons than my interactive fiction work.

What did you find most interesting about the process of writing a ChoiceScript game and the mechanics of one of our games?

The most interesting challenge was the sheer volume of choices required for a game like this. Keeping them from becoming repetitive was always a balance.

In terms of just sheer fun, after spending so much time working in the games industry where scope and art budget are always considerations, it was great to work on a game where the only limit was the ability to describe something in words. It was amazing to be able to write “An army of a thousand humans, orcs, and elven spellcasters clashes with an army of a thousand metal men” and not have to worry about someone having to create rigs, vfx, and animations for all that.

Did you have a favorite NPC in Crown of Sorcery and Steel?

All of the characters had their charms and their challenges. Vid’s sassiness and ego were fun to write, but keeping him dimensional and relatable could be a challenge. Anattho is a fundamentally good man who’s being pushed past his limits and making bad decisions, but keeping him from becoming either boring on one side or unlikeable on the other was a constant balance.

But the character that I came to appreciate writing the most was Khattya, the elven scribe. Khattya’s struggles with her religious beliefs and her values, what to keep and what to abandon, ended up feeling very relevant. Even as the writer, I would sometimes struggle with what choices to pick for Khattya when I was testing the game.

One thing that I’ve really loved is hearing completely opposite opinions about each character from different beta readers. I hope that means that they’re complex and engaging enough to draw out different opinions, and that different playthroughs might lead to different perspectives on each of them.

What else would you like our readers to know about this game?

This is a game where the choices you make early on will really shape your experience. A human player may have a very different perspective on the War of the Wilds than an elf player will. Siding with the queen will be quite a different experience from being dedicated to her destruction from the beginning.

At the same time, players should know that in Kanda, where you come from does not decide your destiny. Your stats are not bound by whether you’re an elf, dwarf, human, or orc. I’m excited to see heroes set out from a dwarven enclave and become a hero among the orcs, for example.

I also wanted to thank everyone who helped with beta testing and providing copyedits for this book. Everyone who reached out with feedback made this book at least a little bit better, and I appreciated it so much.

What are you working on next?

Right now, I’m focused on my busy day job working on a game in early access, but I do have a side project in the early stages where you play as a tabloid reporter in a world of superheroes. I’m hoping to dedicate more time to that soon.

Hosted Games has a new game for you to play!

After finding yourself trapped in another dimension, you and your friends must fight for survival and defeat the monsters that lurk in the shadows. Make sure to grab a weapon as your quiet Halloween night turns into an adventure out of this world! It’s 33% off until October 12th!

The Midnight Saga: The Monster is a thrilling 355,000 word interactive fantasy horror novel by C.C. Hill, where your choices control the story. The game is text-based, with artwork to show key moments of the story, fantastical creatures, and a variety of monsters that you will meet along your journey.

Halloween, trick-or-treat, spooky décor, and all the candy you can eat. That’s the plan for the night before you head home to babysit your niece and nephew, but things don’t always turn out as planned. Whisked away from your own timeline, you need to fight monsters before you can return home. While you’re at it, collect weapons or craft additional ones, eat your favorite candy, and learn the real story behind a spooky children’s tale. Uncover the meaning of your birthmark, and above all else, discover your destiny.

• Play as Cis, Trans, or Non-binary; gay, straight, bi, ace, aromantic, or poly.
• Fully customized your character. (You can even name specific body parts for optional steamy scenes)
• Enjoy family time and bonding with your niece and nephew: you get to pick how they address you throughout the entire game.
• Make friends, fall in love, or just watch them fall flat on their faces as they run for their lives.
• Fight terrifying monsters, go on patrols, explore a new dimension, collect items, and encounter fantastical creatures.
• Wreck monsters! Or leave them for dead.
• Unlock a secret scene by not dying in a single playthrough.
• Pick out one of the three endings that change in major ways depending on the actions you take and the relationships you build.

The shadows have red eyes and sharp fangs! And you? Will your weapon last?

C.C. 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!

Sorcery is forbidden and punishable by death. These punishments are summarily handed out by the Witch Hunters, a powerful organization of inquisitors. It’s 33% off until October 12th!

When a group of corrupt witch hunters comes to your village, accusing your brother of sorcery and wrongly accusing you of abetting him, your life takes a violent and abrupt change for the worse. After you’ve suffered more than you can bear, and endured terrible tragedy, perhaps your only option left is to become the very thing that your enemies fear and despise so much.

The Nascent Necromancer is an epic, 238,000 word interactive fantasy novel by Samuel Young, where your choices control the story. It’s entirely text-based, and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

• Play as male, female, or non-binary. Romance males, females, both, or no one at all.
• Embark on a perilous journey, facing witch hunters, trolls, and goblins as you seek to gain the terrible power that will bring you revenge on your persecutors.
• Romance the cold, aloof Tozi; the sarcastic, charismatic Tanno; the shy, sweet Kenda; the kind, easygoing Meylor; or even the idealistic witch hunter, Lonnie.
• Read approximately 100,000 words per play-through!
• Choose between three kinds of spells; mental, physical, or conjuration. Cast torture spells; summon flying, undead hands; control the minds of your enemies, and much more.

Samuel 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.

For years, people have been asking how to buy a Choice of Games t-shirt. And now, you can!

Just visit our new store on RedBubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/choiceofgames/explore

We offer two colors, black and white, with and without our “Choice of Games” wordmark. (Be careful not to buy a black-on-black or white-on-white product, unless that’s what you really wanna do.)

RedBubble makes it easy for us to upload variations of our logo and sell all sorts of things. We have shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, phone cases, pillows, tote bags, mugs, pins, and magnets.

In our logo-only design, they even allow us to sell a … clock?! If you wind up buying one of these, post a photo on our forum!

Fall is here! And so here are some more free games. With love from Choice of Games, enjoy!

This week, we’re adding Death Collector, The ORPHEUS Ruse, Demon Mark: A Russian Saga, and Treasure Seekers of Lady Luck to our list for free games: these games are now free to win in the Choice of Games omnibus app for iOS and Android, and free on our website.

Remember to click the top button in the Choice of Games app to access the game for free, or choose the bottom button to pay to turn off ads and support our authors.

• Choice of the Dragon
• Choice of the Vampire
• Creatures Such As We
• Choice of Broadsides
• Choice of Broadsides: HMS Foraker
• Choice of the Deathless
• Choice of the Petal Throne
• Choice of Kung Fu
• Choice of the Star Captain
• For Rent: Haunted House
• The Fleet
• Sky Pirates of Actorius
• Zip! Speedster of Valiant City
• Heroes Rise: the Prodigy
• Hollywood Visionary
• Showdown at Willow Creek
• NOLA is Burning 
• Reckless Space Pirates
• Yeti’s Parole Officer
• Ratings War
• The Daring Mermaid Expedition
• To the City of the Clouds
• Thieves Gambit: Curse of the Black Cat
• T-Rex Time Machine
• Noblesse Oblige

Choice of Games is proud to announce new content for Vampire: The Masquerade — Parliament of Knives is now available for Steam, Android, and on iOS in the “Choice of Games” app.  Vampire: The Masquerade — Parliament of Knives — What Stares Back adds the option to play as clan Malkavian or Lasombra, and 160,000 words of new story content. Unravel the mysteries of Vampire: The Masquerade — Parliament of Knives from a fresh perspective, opening pathways and relationships once forbidden. Master the stygian Abyss with new options and abilities. Discover the secrets of Primogen Ophelia and the powerful Magister diplomat Michalis Basaras. Explore a new relationship with Lucca, your mistress’s estranged childe, or feed the unbridled passion for bloodlust of the Banu Haqim Anarch, Sevinc.

Clan Malkavian: A Hallucinatory Accomplice

It has been said that a Malkavian is never truly alone—their visions and prophesy are a constant companion—but in your case, the concept of solitude has lost all meaning. An accomplice stalks your footsteps, often out of sight but never far away. It clouds your mind with fractured perception and insight, but not always in equal parts.

• As a vampire of clan Malkavian, an eternal companion accompanies you. None but you can see it or hear its words of wisdom and delusion.
• The unseen companion is yours to interpret as you see fit—name, gender, appearance, and demeanor.
• Others too are afflicted by Malkav’s gifts. Your sire Eden Corliss and her childe Lucca are each changed in unique ways, with new twists waiting to be discovered.

Clan Lasombra: A Keeper of Shadows

Clan Lasombra has ruled from the shadows for centuries, leaders among the savage packs of Sabbat vampires at constant odds with the Camarilla and their Masquerade. Until recent nights, that is. The Lasombra have chosen to meet the constant threat of the Second Inquisition by joining with the Camarilla, but old grudges are not easily forgiven.

• Control the otherworldly forces of Oblivion as a vampire of clan Lasombra.
• Hide in plain sight or emerge from the shadows. Many in the Council believe that you and your sire belong to clan Ventrue. A necessary deception. But now that the Lasombra are integrating with the Camarilla, is it time to reveal your true nature at last?