Categories

Browse the most recently updated posts among the site’s 5 categories.

Guides

How to market your text-based game

How to market your text-based game

February 11, 2026

Beginner’s guide to multi-user dungeons (MUDs)

Beginner’s guide to multi-user dungeons (MUDs)

February 1, 2026

How to use a character arc roadmap in RP

How to use a character arc roadmap in RP

January 30, 2026

How to improve player retention in multi-user (MU*) text games: 15 tips

How to improve player retention in multi-user (MU*) text games: 15 tips

January 18, 2026

Interviews

Alter Aeon MUD: 25+ years of adventure

Alter Aeon MUD: 25+ years of adventure

January 23, 2026

Silent Heaven: a supernatural horror MU*

Silent Heaven: a supernatural horror MU*

January 17, 2026

Lumen et Umbra: re-imagining a world between light and shadow

Lumen et Umbra: re-imagining a world between light and shadow

January 11, 2026

LociTerm MUD client and the legacy of The Last Outpost

LociTerm MUD client and the legacy of The Last Outpost

January 10, 2026

Browse all Interviews

Ideas/Insights

Ways to welcome and include new players

Ways to welcome and include new players

January 30, 2026

How to use medieval fantasy language in RP

How to use medieval fantasy language in RP

January 30, 2026

Data Privacy Week: 10 tips for safer gaming [2026]

Data Privacy Week: 10 tips for safer gaming [2026]

January 26, 2026

4 Types of multiplayer writing games you can play online for free

4 Types of multiplayer writing games you can play online for free

January 10, 2026

Essays

How game design drives investment, stakes, and conflict in roleplay-intensive (RPI) MUDs

How game design drives investment, stakes, and conflict in roleplay-intensive (RPI) MUDs

January 8, 2026

Striking a balance: simulation vs. storytelling in text-based roleplaying games

Striking a balance: simulation vs. storytelling in text-based roleplaying games

January 8, 2026

Ask Andruid

AI-written content in online RP games: “it’s ruining my experience”

AI-written content in online RP games: “it’s ruining my experience”

February 13, 2026

How long should room descriptions be when building a MU*?

How long should room descriptions be when building a MU*?

January 9, 2026

Too many MUDs, not enough players?

Too many MUDs, not enough players?

January 8, 2026

Making a MUD vs. creating a game: is there a difference?

Making a MUD vs. creating a game: is there a difference?

January 8, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What are categories on Writing Games?

Categories describe the type of article you’re reading. They indicate the format, purpose, or approach of a post – such as whether it’s an essay, an interview, a practical guide, or an advice response. Each post belongs to one category.

How are categories different from topics?

Categories describe what kind of article something is. Topics describe what the article is about. A single post lives in one category, but it may appear under multiple topics if it touches on several subjects.

Why does the same article appear in multiple places?

Because browsing paths overlap. You might find the same post through its category (for example, a Guide) and also through one or more related topics (such as accessibility or world-building). This is intentional and meant to make discovery easier.

How should I use the categories?

Use categories when you want a specific reading mode. If you’re looking for hands-on help, start with Guides. If you want perspectives or analysis, browse Essays or Ideas & Insights. Categories are best used to set expectations for the type of content you’re about to read.

Do categories change over time?

Rarely. Unlike topics, categories are meant to stay stable so the site remains predictable and easy to navigate. New categories may be added only if a clearly different kind of content becomes a regular part of the site.

Page Last Updated: January 11, 2026

Support this project