Summary
The text-based style of video games has been out for decades. It was the easiest way to create a story within a game when developers weren’tblessed with the incredible graphics seen today.However, this wasn’t just a way to tell a story; it was a way to immerse the players. It’s like a book but with more graphics and a fantastic amount of detail to pull anyone into this great genre. With advanced graphics and new styles of gaming, many believed the future of text-based video games was falling behind. Luckily, there are a plethora of fantastic modern experiences to fill that nostalgic or book-loving hole in fans' hearts.
With the rise of indie gaming, more and more games have come up that add unique spins to the idea of a text game. Now, most players will have to admit that the medium of gaming can make the simple act of reading text on a screen extremely engaging. After all, there’s a reason why the visual novel genre was such a popular niche, and it’s interesting to see what imaginative indie developers can do with this genre when they pull out all the stops!
Updated on July 13, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:With gaming advancing by leaps and bounds, most people would assume that simpletext-based gameshave no market anymore. However, they couldn’t be further from the truth! Text-heavy games occupy a major niche in the market, proving once again that the power of a good story should never be underestimated. Not only are major developers dabbling in this genre, but many indie devs have also added their own unique spin to these text-based games, letting players experience firsthand just how amazing these games can be in the right hands!
17Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk Inside A Bag Of Milk
Besides having one of the longest and most convoluted names in gaming history,Milk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milkisan excellent horror visual novelthat deals with a protagonist who deals with trauma and psychosis. The story told in this game is obtuse, nightmarish, and confusing… but it’s the presentation and the themes of the game that help tie everything together in one neat package.
The game became so popular that the developer released a sequel calledMilk Outside a Bag of Milk Outside a Bag of Milk, which expands on the first title’s themes and ups the presentation a notch, too. It’s one of the better visual novel titles that fans of unique experiences should definitely check out… but be warned: the game deals with some dark and disturbing themes that certainly aren’t for the faint of heart.
There aren’tmany visual novels that became so successfulthat they spawned one of the greatest anime shows of all time, soSteins;Gate’s achievement should certainly be applauded. The mind-bending sci-fi story present in this anime is truly one-of-a-kind, with the anime being an incredible rollercoaster ride from start to end.
The success of this game was so immense that it was remade with animated visuals, which ended up elevating the visual novel’s quality to new heights.Steins;Gate Eliteis the best way to experience this story if players don’t want to see the anime, which is pretty impressive!
15Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit Of Justice
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justiceis one of the many entries in the long-runningPhoenix Wrightseries. Just like most other titles in this franchise,Spirit of Justicerelies on good writing to create a compelling story full of intrigue and mystery.
Thedialogue in the game is clever and witty, and it helps thatSpirit of Justiceis full of memorable characters and genuinely surprising plot twists. Players control three different defense attorneys across multiple cases, gathering evidence, cross-examining witnesses, and uncovering the identity of the true culprit in scintillating court battles.
14Sorcery!
Sorcery!is a series of text-based adventure games that rely on good writing to create a rich and immersive fantasy world. The game features a branching narrative that is driven by the player’s choices and actions, and the writing is both evocative and atmospheric, transporting the player to a magical realm filled with danger and adventure.
It helps that the art style is striking and makes the adventure more striking and memorable. Players who want to play a text-heavy title in a fantasy setting will have a great time withSorcery!
13Sunless Sea
Sunless Seais a survival and exploration game set in a dark, Lovecraftian world. The game relies on good writing to create a sense of dread and unease, with the player exploring the mysterious underground ocean and encountering strange and dangerous creatures.
The writing is rich and immersive, creating a world that feels alive and terrifying. Of course,Sunless Seahas several other gameplay pillars, but it’s the stories told through text alone that end up being the best part of the experience.
The Banner Sagais a tactical RPG that features a strong focus on narrative and storytelling. The game’s writing is excellent, with richly drawn characters, a compelling storyline, and difficult moral choices that have a real impact on the game’s outcome.
The writing creates an emotional connection between the player and the characters, making the game’s battles and decisions all the more impactful. The turn-based strategic gameplay is quite brilliant in its own right, and players who loveThe Oregon Trailwill enjoy the downtime in between the combat quite a bit.
11Torment: Tides Of Numenera
Torment: Tides of Numenerais a role-playing game that serves as a long-awaited sequel toPlanescape: Torment, a game lauded for its writing. Suffice it to say,Tides of Numenerahad some huge shoes to fill, and one can’t really say too many negative things about the game’s writing.
The game’s rich and complex world is perfectly complimented by imaginative and thought-provoking writing. Just like its predecessor,Tides of Numeneraloves to explore deep philosophical questionsabout identity, morality, and the nature of reality itself.
10The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
The announcement ofThe Great Ace Attorney Chronicleswas met with widespread jubilation from fans of the series who wanted these spin-off games to receive the localization they deserved. After all,theAce Attorneyserieshas graced Western audiences with amazing murder mysteries and memorable characters that fans will remember long after they’re finished with these experiences.
So, it’s easy to see why everyone absolutely loved the localization of the twoGreat Ace Attorneygames when they were released. The titles had strong writing and engaging narratives, with the second game being considered by many to be a downright masterpiece for building upon the strengths of the first game while making up for many of its shortcomings. Any fan of theAce Attorneyseries owes it to themselves to check out this brilliant visual novel title that is absolutely brimming with charm and steeped in mystery.
Speaking of visual novels that are extremely popular despite the limited reach of most games in this genre, there’s no better time to talk aboutDoki Doki Literature Club. This game seemed like nothing more than a run-of-the-mill visual novel where the protagonist attended a high school and could choose from one of many romantic interactions in a literature club they’re pretty much forced to join. However, it’s not until quite some time thatDoki Doki Literature Clubfinally shows its true colors.
After a particularly traumatic event in the game,the title turns into a truly horrifying experiencethat is genuinely hard to get through for many fans who might get queasy at the thought of sudden jumpscares and grotesque imagery. The chaos of the narratives spirals to such a massive extent that players need to delete certain files to complete the game, which should be enough to prove just how crazy yet riveting the narrative ofDoki Doki Literature Clubreally is.
8Unmemory
Released in 2020, thistext-based puzzle gameis one players can experience on their mobile or their PCs. It’s an adventure puzzle game that’s set in a rather noir-looking world in which the main character suffers from severe memory loss.
Using the puzzles and items presented, the player must decipher their hardest mystery yet. Who killed their girlfriend? One of the best elements of this game is the fact that players can experience it in a multitude of ways, like a book or a game, making it a perfect experience to try if players are unsure about the genre. Ultimately, this is a gripping mystery experience that will have anyone feeling just like Sherlock Holmes.
