My Top Ten Choice of Games (Part 1)
Jun. 4th, 2022 03:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snowynightChoice of Games is a company that specialized in publishing text-based, multiple-choice games. Growing up, I really love Choose Your Own Adventure books and Give Yourself Goosebumps, where your choice can determine the story outcome. I also really enjoy Lone Wolf Gamebooks Therefore I play a lot of games in their Choice of Games labels, Hosted Games (user submitted games) and Heart's Choice label (romance focus games).
My general like: Games that focus on character relationship, a lot of freedom for players to shape the game outcome, sf&f or unconventional setting
My general dislike: games that force a certain outcome on players, games that a wrong choice can result in game over or doesn't tell the players clearly what they are expected to satisfy the requirements, games that requires an excel sheet to figure out resource allocation, fake choices,
It's very difficult to rank my favourite among the 106 Choice of Games I have played, but here's part one of my top ten list, not sorted in any order: Mask of the Plague Doctor, Chronicon Apocalyptica, Cannonfire Concerto, Choice of the Deathless, and Choice of Robots
Mask of the Plague Doctor: You are a travelling doctor forced by the crown to enter a city in quarantine due to the Waking Death, a plague which makes its bearers sleep-deprived until they die. The city is suffering from starvation, corruption and political struggle. The writing is philosophical and meditative. You are free to ally yourself with different political factions, sought the forbidden secret, and seek power or mercy. The epilogues are very satisfying.
Chronicon Apocalyptica: You play a monk/scholar in 1000 AD entrusted with a book of marvelous prophecy called the Chronicon Apocalypticon. At the same time, you discover a disembodied hand running around. You embark on a quest to save (or destroy) England, meeting many weird characters and discovering the magical side of the world (with undead, elves, dragons, etc.) [Summary not mine]
The setting is unusual and atmospheric, in which literacy is literally a superpower to save the world. The cast of characters is weird but fascinating: a beekeeper with his special bees, a young woman warrior with a call in Joan of Arc style, a conflcted nun and a bard.
Cannonfire Concerto: You play a famed musician travelling an alternate Europe, where many people including you are possessed with a parasitic intelligence known as a Genius, which may or may not just be a feature of their subconscious. The writing and setting are both excellent and surreal. The cast of characters that follow you around is also distinctive.
Choice of the Deathless: "At the elite demonic-law firm of Varkath Nebuchadnezzar Stone, you'll depose a fallen god, find romance, and maybe even make partner, if you don't lose your own soul first."
It caught my attention with "necromantic legal thriller", and it delivered. The world is fascinating, with skeletal partners, illegal immigrant demon laborers, and goddess. It's very interesting to figure out the best legal strategy and you can choose how cut throat a lawyer you are.
Choice of Robots: You play a brilliant robot maker, from graduate school near the present day to a future in which your robots have changed everything. Depending on your choices, your robots may take control of the world's governments or learn love.
It's a huge game full of player agency, surprises, and replayability. It's very emotional to build and raise your robot through the years and see how your choice shape them, and the epilogue is philosophical and touching.
My general like: Games that focus on character relationship, a lot of freedom for players to shape the game outcome, sf&f or unconventional setting
My general dislike: games that force a certain outcome on players, games that a wrong choice can result in game over or doesn't tell the players clearly what they are expected to satisfy the requirements, games that requires an excel sheet to figure out resource allocation, fake choices,
It's very difficult to rank my favourite among the 106 Choice of Games I have played, but here's part one of my top ten list, not sorted in any order: Mask of the Plague Doctor, Chronicon Apocalyptica, Cannonfire Concerto, Choice of the Deathless, and Choice of Robots
Mask of the Plague Doctor: You are a travelling doctor forced by the crown to enter a city in quarantine due to the Waking Death, a plague which makes its bearers sleep-deprived until they die. The city is suffering from starvation, corruption and political struggle. The writing is philosophical and meditative. You are free to ally yourself with different political factions, sought the forbidden secret, and seek power or mercy. The epilogues are very satisfying.
Chronicon Apocalyptica: You play a monk/scholar in 1000 AD entrusted with a book of marvelous prophecy called the Chronicon Apocalypticon. At the same time, you discover a disembodied hand running around. You embark on a quest to save (or destroy) England, meeting many weird characters and discovering the magical side of the world (with undead, elves, dragons, etc.) [Summary not mine]
The setting is unusual and atmospheric, in which literacy is literally a superpower to save the world. The cast of characters is weird but fascinating: a beekeeper with his special bees, a young woman warrior with a call in Joan of Arc style, a conflcted nun and a bard.
Cannonfire Concerto: You play a famed musician travelling an alternate Europe, where many people including you are possessed with a parasitic intelligence known as a Genius, which may or may not just be a feature of their subconscious. The writing and setting are both excellent and surreal. The cast of characters that follow you around is also distinctive.
Choice of the Deathless: "At the elite demonic-law firm of Varkath Nebuchadnezzar Stone, you'll depose a fallen god, find romance, and maybe even make partner, if you don't lose your own soul first."
It caught my attention with "necromantic legal thriller", and it delivered. The world is fascinating, with skeletal partners, illegal immigrant demon laborers, and goddess. It's very interesting to figure out the best legal strategy and you can choose how cut throat a lawyer you are.
Choice of Robots: You play a brilliant robot maker, from graduate school near the present day to a future in which your robots have changed everything. Depending on your choices, your robots may take control of the world's governments or learn love.
It's a huge game full of player agency, surprises, and replayability. It's very emotional to build and raise your robot through the years and see how your choice shape them, and the epilogue is philosophical and touching.
