writing games
the blog dedicated to text-based gaming
Welcome to Writing Games! Here you’ll find how-to guides, accessibility tips, and interviews with the developers, storytellers, and players behind today’s text-based games. Whether you’re building a world or just curious about the craft, you’ll be in good company.
Featured post
Lumen et Umbra: re-imagining a world between light and shadow
September 30, 2025
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.
ReadLatest posts
Looking for the latest content? Here are the newest articles, covering everything from game interviews and accessibility tools to writing tips for text-based worlds. Whether you’re designing, playing, or just poking around, there’s plenty to check out.
Too many MUDs, not enough players?
August 20, 2025
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.
MudVault: a new way to discover MUDs
August 18, 2025
Asmodeus, creator of MudVault and admin of Dark Wizardry, is building tools to make MUDs easier to find, fairer to rank, and more fun to play – all while keeping the focus on user experience.
GoMud: a lightweight engine for building text-based worlds
July 21, 2025
Volte6, creator of GoMud, talks about the new engine, what it’s like to make a project open-source, and lessons learned along the way.
Federation 2 Community Edition: from hauling cargo to shaping the galaxy
June 29, 2025
Federation 2: Community Edition is a player-run revival of a space trading MUD. Jonathan (“Cosmo”) shares how it came back from the brink – and why it’s still special 30+ years later.
Recently updated
These posts have been expanded with new tips, insights, and resources. If you missed them before – or just want to take another look – now’s a great time to jump back in.
MudVault: a new way to discover MUDs
September 30, 2025
Asmodeus, creator of MudVault and admin of Dark Wizardry, is building tools to make MUDs easier to find, fairer to rank, and more fun to play – all while keeping the focus on user experience.
A picture worth a thousand rooms: the Worldmap project by Hades_Kane and Grieffels
September 30, 2025
Discover how Hades_Kane and Grieffels built a worldmap system that lets you quickly make areas from PNG files. Includes screen reader support, in-game editing, and more.
Too many MUDs, not enough players?
August 25, 2025
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.
What is metagaming in RP + 6 examples
August 21, 2025
What is metagaming in RP, and how do you know if it’s bad? I break it down for you in this post with several examples.
95+ Rare colors to intrigue and inspire
August 21, 2025
Spice up your writing with this list of over 95 rare colors. Some etymology and tips for usage included.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Writing Games?
Writing Games (writing-games.com) is a modern blog dedicated to old-school roleplaying, storytelling, and text-based gaming.
The site also houses a variety of contemporary resources for building better games and communities; it covers topics such as accessibility, inclusivity, and how to welcome and retain new players.
There’s also an Accessibility Statement, which represents the author’s commitment to making content easy to read and navigate.
Who is this site for?
Writing Games is for anyone who plays, creates, or manages roleplaying games, especially but not limited to text-based RPGs such as multi-user dungeons (MUDs) and chatroom RP games.
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. See the Topics page for more.
Who maintains Writing Games?
The website is created and maintained by yours truly, Andruid. I do it as a hobby and a side project. Visit the About page to learn more about the project and why it got started.
How often is it updated?
New posts are published 1-3 times a month, and existing content is updated as time allows. Core pages, such as the MUD Resources page and Text-based RPG Glossary, are updated fairly regularly with new entries.
Does Writing Games accept guest posts?
Yes! If it’s relevant to roleplaying or text-based gaming, it’ll be considered. Pitch your topic/idea to Andruid by emailing andruid [at] writing-games [dot] com or by using the Contact form. Ideas and suggestions for new blog posts, resources, and interviews are also most welcome.
How do I nominate someone for an interview?
If you think someone would be a great candidate for an interview (or if you’d like to be an interviewee yourself), please reach out! You can use the methods above to reach me – or any of the ones listed in the footer icons.
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.
Updated on August 21, 2025