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
Starmourn: a sci-fi legacy in the making
Argus and Marra, volunteer Co-Producers, share what makes Starmourn unique – and why they keep building on the game’s legacy.
Inside Erion MUD: 21 years of medieval fantasy
Aelyn talks about her work on Erion, a long-running medieval fantasy text game with a reputation for being accessible.
Latest posts
Mental health and gaming: 10 practical tips
When it comes to mental health and gaming, there are simple things you can do to live and play healthier. Learn 10 from Bre, a mental health coach, in this post.
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.
Accessibility in TTRPGs: how Wyrmworks Publishing makes tabletop gaming more inclusive
Learn how Dale of Wyrmworks Publishing is improving accessibility in TTRPGs and making tabletop games more inclusive and fun for all.
Gaming and chronic illness: TBQ talks
Writer and roleplayer TBQ talks about her experiences with gaming and chronic illness, including the importance of difficulty modes and patience.
Beginner’s guide to multi-user dungeons (MUDs)
Ready to try a MUD? Learn how to find free text-based games to play, how to connect from your browser, and which clients make playing easier.
3 Accessibility features in Alter Epoch MU*
Niamh, implementor of Alter Epoch, shares her advice for improving accessibility in MUDs using practical tips and examples.
Gaming with partial sight: an interview with Aaron
Aaron shares his perspectives on gaming with partial sight and what he looks for in a MUD.
How to be a better game master: 10 tips for running great interactive stories
Want to be a better game master? Here are 10 tips for running great interactive stories. Ideal for online events and open sessions.
7 Great reasons to play a text-based RPG
In this post, I offer 7 great reasons to play a text-based RPG, whether it’s a multi-user dungeon or a chatroom-based game.
Recently updated
AresMUSH: the next-gen server platform
Faraday talks about why she created AresMUSH, as well as some of the core tenets that went into its development.
MUD level design: how I built an immersive 75-room area in 28 days (without AI)
Learn how I built a 75-room zombie theme park area in 28 days without AI.
Lumen et Umbra: re-imagining a world between light and shadow
Learn how Simone, AKA Niymiae, rebuilt the Italian game Lumen et Umbra from its Diku roots into a one-of-a-kind hack-n-slash MUD with ARPG influences.
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.
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: August 9, 2026