The Magician's Burden

The Magician's Burden is a 210,000-word interactive, text-based novel set in a medieval village. You live as a magician, and your choices shape the story. Character illustrations accompany the text, while the story leaves its world to your imagination. Each play-through contains approximately 40,000 words.

Village life

You balance time with your family against building friendships or pursuing romance with other villagers. You can work as a guard, scribe, farmer or thief, and deal with relentless bullies. Other activities include entering chess tournaments, exploring a necromancer's cave, visiting the library and practicing sword fighting in the sparring ring.

Magic and choices

You can play as male, female or nonbinary, and romance whoever you like. Your spells include turning invisible, throwing fireballs and healing wounds. A demon living inside your head talks to you and sometimes offers demonic powers; you can use demonic magic at a price or resist the temptation.