Categories

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

Guides

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

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

July 2, 2026

How to be a better game master: 10 tips for running great interactive stories

How to be a better game master: 10 tips for running great interactive stories

June 28, 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

April 18, 2026

How to market your text-based game

How to market your text-based game

April 18, 2026

Interviews

Alter Aeon MUD: 25+ years of adventure

Alter Aeon MUD: 25+ years of adventure

July 10, 2026

LociTerm MUD client and the legacy of The Last Outpost

LociTerm MUD client and the legacy of The Last Outpost

July 10, 2026

MudVault: a new way to discover MUDs

MudVault: a new way to discover MUDs

July 9, 2026

Accessibility in a changing MU* landscape: an interview with bscross

Accessibility in a changing MU* landscape: an interview with bscross

July 7, 2026

Browse all Interviews

Ideas/Insights

Bridging virtual worlds: past and future of the InterMUD chat network

Bridging virtual worlds: past and future of the InterMUD chat network

July 10, 2026

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

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

July 9, 2026

30+ Luxury fabrics for wealthy characters: a guide for writers and world-builders

30+ Luxury fabrics for wealthy characters: a guide for writers and world-builders

July 8, 2026

2026 State of the Niche Report

2026 State of the Niche Report

July 7, 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

June 30, 2026

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

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

June 29, 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”

June 30, 2026

MUDing mistakes and surprising lessons learned

MUDing mistakes and surprising lessons learned

June 30, 2026

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

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

June 30, 2026

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

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

April 22, 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