Don't Wake Me Up

Don’t Wake Me Up is a 400,000-word, entirely text-based interactive novel about love in video games. You wake trapped in a malfunctioning virtual reality with no memories, apart from those of every video game you have played. Your choices shape the story as you try to make your way through the virtual worlds and back to reality.

Characters and story

You travel with a delusional gamer, an emo vampire who wishes he were not an emo vampire, a poet from outer space and a princess in shining armor, among others. The story uses puns, pop culture and sarcasm to satirize games about being trapped in a virtual world, while also telling a tragicomedy about dating sims. It may lead you to learn more about yourself when the real world is not watching.

You can date either the Ultimate Video Game Fanservice Vampire or the Ultimate Video Game ‘Best Girl’ Waifu. The story divides into entirely different paths halfway through, depending on your love interest, and a dialogue choice can determine whether you find true love.

Six virtual worlds

You travel through six worlds inspired by different video game genres. These include a spaceship escape level inspired by old-school adventure games, a classical music-themed monster truck rally and a cyberpunk casino. You can also wield a weaponised top hat.

Your character

You can play as nonbinary, male or female, and as straight or queer. The novel is a period piece shaped by the internet cringe of the early 2010s.