writing games
Exploring the culture and craft of text-based games
Welcome to Writing Games: a site about building shared worlds through words. Among these pages, you’ll find how-to guides, accessibility tips, and interviews with developers behind today’s text-based games. Whether you’re writing a virtual world of your own or just curious about the craft, you’ll be in good company.
New to multiplayer text games?
Start here and choose your own adventure:
Featured posts
Inside Cryosphere: the satirical sci-fi space MUD
Long-time developer Morwen shares the origins of Cryosphere, the design decisions that shaped the game, and what’s coming next.
Too many MUDs, not enough players?
We’ve all heard it, but is it true? And does that mean it’s a lost cause to make a new MUD in 2025? Andruid shares her two cents.
Latest posts
MUDing mistakes and surprising lessons learned
Read about a text game blunder I made and the lessons I took away from the experience about mistakes, reputation, and trust in MU* games.
How long should room descriptions be when building a MU*?
New MU* creators and builders often want to know how long their room descriptions should be. Find out in this post.
Making a MUD vs. creating a game: is there a difference?
So you’re making a MUD: does that also make you a Game Creator? Is there a difference? Find out in this installment of Ask Andruid.
AI-written content in online RP games: “it’s ruining my experience”
What can you do if your fellow players are using AI to do their writing in your favorite text-based RP game? Read on for some food for thought.
Draped in wealth: 10 luxury furs and leathers worn by the elite
A hand-picked list of luxury furs and leathers used throughout history. For writers and world-builders looking to craft wealthy characters and settings.
Crafting elegance: how luxury fabrics and textiles are made
Learn how luxury fabrics and textiles are made, including types of fibers and their sources. For writers and world-builders who like to dive into the details.
SysAdmin Day: celebrating the people who keep our favorite games running
Learn why SysAdmins are important for MU*s, plus ways to celebrate them on SysAdmin Day. Featuring quotes from Opie, Faraday, and Viriato.
Blu and Roadspike: on designing game websites and systems
Blu and Roadspike, two longtime members of the MUSH community, talk about their past games and lessons learned.
Shattered MU: beyond monsters and magic
Tat, creator of Shattered MU (a post-apoc game), talks about the importance of community and shares her guidelines for game design.
Recently updated
LociTerm MUD client and the legacy of The Last Outpost
Discover how RahjIII built LociTerm – an accessible, browser-based MUD client – to keep The Last Outpost and other games playable on any device.
4 Types of multiplayer writing games you can play online for free
Learn about 4 types of multiplayer writing games you can play online for free. Includes examples and popular game directories.
MU* help systems: 15+ ideas for improvement
A great MUD help system has certain features that make it easy to use and maintain. Here are 15+ ideas for game implementors.
25 essential multi-user (MU*) game terms and what they mean
Tired of sounding like a newb? Check out this list of essential MU* terms. You’ll sound like a pro in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Writing Games?
Writing Games (writing-games.org) is a modern website dedicated to old-school text-based games. The site houses resources for building better games and communities and covers topics such as accessibility, inclusivity, and how to welcome and retain new players.
Is this site about video games or text games?
Technically, text-based games are video games – they’re played on screens, after all. But when people say “video games,” they usually mean graphical games with visuals, animations, etc. Writing Games focuses on text-based games. This includes multi-user dungeons (MUDs), chat-based roleplaying games, and other systems where play happens through written language rather than graphics.
Who is this site for?
Writing Games is for anyone who plays, creates, or manages text-based roleplaying games. This icludes players exploring text adventures for the first time, developers designing their own MUDs or MUD clients, writers interested in collaborative storytelling, or admins who want to make their games more inclusive.
What kinds of content does Writing Games publish?
Writing Games publishes how-to guides, interviews, an advice column, a glossary, and essays focused on text-based roleplaying games and the communities around them.
For example, with the guides on this site, you can learn how to market your game for free, improve player retention, make your game more accessible, and write more compelling characters and roleplaying hooks.
How can I support Writing Games?
The easiest way to support the site is to simply tell your friends about it. Share your favorite posts with your communities or link to them in your own articles, websites, or games. For other ways to support the site, check out the Support page. 💜
Page Last Updated: January 10, 2026