<commit_before>---
layout: post
title: "Text-Based Games in the 3D Era"
tags: [Text-Based Games, Games, Game Review]
summary: Why text-based games are still popular in the age of 3D graphics
---
{% include JB/setup %}

I love text-based games. They can be so much more unique and interesting than the average computer game. Modern, big budget games take huge teams to create: the 3D art department, the music team, acounting, HR, you name it. All that stuff gets between the creator and the idea.

**INSERT GRAPHIC**

And, if I am being totally honest, I covet the idea that one day I could write a decent text-based game. No corporate backing; just me and a laptop. It is <small>(theoretically)</small> possible that I could create some little game that a few people would love. You know, maybe. One day. A boy can dream.

Below are some of my favorite text-based games. All of these games have legions of fans. They all did something new, or creative, or fun, and people love them.

**And all these games are free to play, right now!**

* [Anchorhead](http://pr-if.org/play/anchorhead/)
* [A Dark Room](http://adarkroom.doublespeakgames.com/)
* [Candy Box 2](http://candybox2.net/)
* [Discworld MUD](http://discworld.atuin.net/lpc/)
* [Hitchhiker's Guide - 30th Anniversary Edition](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1g84m0sXpnNCv84GpN2PLZG/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-game-30th-anniversary-edition)
* [Rogue - The Original](https://archive.org/details/msdos_Rogue_1983)
* [Seedship](http://philome.la/johnayliff/seedship/play)
* [Zork 1](https://archive.org/details/a2_Zork_I_The_Great_Underground_Empire_1980_Infocom) or [Zork 2](https://archive.org/details/a2_Zork_II_The_Wizard_of_Frobozz_1981_Infocom_a) or [Zork 3](https://archive.org/details/a2_Zork_III_The_Dungeon_Master_1982_Infocom)<commit_msg>using new images in post<commit_after>---
layout: post
title: "Text-Based Games in the 3D Era"
tags: [Text-Based Games, Games, Game Review]
summary: Why text-based games are still popular in the age of 3D graphics
---
{% include JB/setup %}

I love text-based games. They can be so much more unique and interesting than the average computer game. Modern, big budget games take huge teams to create: the 3D art department, the music team, acounting, HR, you name it. All that stuff gets between the creator and the idea.

<img src="/assets/images/text_games/text_games_rock_640.png"
srcset="/assets/images/text_games/text_games_rock_800.png 800w,
/assets/images/text_games/text_games_rock_640.png 640w" 
sizes="(max-width: 38em) 100vw, 50vw"
alt="video game cost vs team size">

And, if I am being totally honest, I covet the idea that one day I could write a decent text-based game. No corporate backing; just me and a laptop. It is <small>(theoretically)</small> possible that I could create some little game that a few people would love. You know, maybe. One day. A boy can dream.

Below are some of my favorite text-based games. All of these games have legions of fans. They all did something new, or creative, or fun, and people love them.

**And all these games are free to play, right now!**

* [Anchorhead](http://pr-if.org/play/anchorhead/)
* [A Dark Room](http://adarkroom.doublespeakgames.com/)
* [Candy Box 2](http://candybox2.net/)
* [Discworld MUD](http://discworld.atuin.net/lpc/)
* [Hitchhiker's Guide - 30th Anniversary Edition](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1g84m0sXpnNCv84GpN2PLZG/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-game-30th-anniversary-edition)
* [Rogue - The Original](https://archive.org/details/msdos_Rogue_1983)
* [Seedship](http://philome.la/johnayliff/seedship/play)
* [Zork 1](https://archive.org/details/a2_Zork_I_The_Great_Underground_Empire_1980_Infocom) or [Zork 2](https://archive.org/details/a2_Zork_II_The_Wizard_of_Frobozz_1981_Infocom_a) or [Zork 3](https://archive.org/details/a2_Zork_III_The_Dungeon_Master_1982_Infocom)
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