writing games
the blog dedicated to text-based gaming
Welcome to Writing Games! Dive into a curated collection of how-to guides, accessibility tips, and insightful interviews with text-based gaming experts and enthusiasts. Whether you’re a player seeking new adventures or a creator looking to craft compelling narratives, this blog aims to be your go-to resource.
What is a multi-user dungeon (MUD)?
Just what is a MUD, anyway? And what does that mean, multi-user dungeon? Are all of them set in dungeons? Find out in this post!
Latest posts
Looking for the latest content? Below are the newest articles, fresh off the keyboard, designed to enrich your gaming and storytelling journey. From game interviews to accessibility hacks to storytelling techniques, discover new ideas and inspiration for your next text-based adventure:
Opie: Giving back to the MUD community
Opie, long-time pillar of the MUD community, talks about his free hosting service, how running a MUD can help you get a job, and more.
Celebrating Player Appreciation Week in 2023
Held annually starting the 3rd Monday of September, Player Appreciation Week honors the players of text-based games and their communities.
How soundpacks elevate the MUD experience
What are MUD soundpacks and how do they enhance the experience for players? Find out in this beginner’s guide.
Mystavaria: a world of dreams and magic
Creators Alora and Aion share their experiences developing Mystavaria, a new fantasy MUD that features dream magic.
Recently updated
Great stories evolve, and so does the content here. Check out these updated posts, now enhanced with new insights, tips, and resources. Whether you missed them the first time or are returning for a fresh look, these articles offer valuable perspectives you won’t want to miss:
Opie: Giving back to the MUD community
Opie, long-time pillar of the MUD community, talks about his free hosting service, how running a MUD can help you get a job, and more.
Beginner’s guide to roleplaying with text
Learn the basics of roleplaying online in this beginner’s guide to RP, including essential terms and concepts, how to stay in character, and more.
Celebrating Player Appreciation Week in 2023
Held annually starting the 3rd Monday of September, Player Appreciation Week honors the players of text-based games and their communities.
The Free Zone: inclusive RP culture by design
Ash and Famine introduce their new MUD, The Free Zone, and discuss some of the changes they made to create a more inclusive, welcoming RPI.
Measuring player activity in text games
Learn tips for asking the right questions and steering clear of common pitfalls when measuring player activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Writing Games?
Writing Games (writing-games.com) is a modern blog dedicated to old-school roleplaying 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.
Who is Writing Games 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.
Who maintains Writing Games?
The website is created and maintained by Andruid, who does 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 Writing Games updated?
New posts are published 2-3 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?
If it’s relevant to roleplaying or text-based gaming, it’ll be considered. Pitch your topic/idea to andruid@writing-games.com. Ideas and suggestions for new blog posts, resources, and interviews are also welcome.
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. Another way to support the site is to subscribe or donate on Ko-fi. Supporters on Ko-fi receive access to bonus content.