The Play's the Thing

The Play's the Thing is a 215,000-word, text-based interactive fantasy novel with no graphics or sound effects. You play an aspiring playwright trying to make a fortune on the stage while uncovering a curse that threatens the city.

Write for the stage

Choose what your plays say and how to make them succeed. You must work with a penny-pinching manager, a skeptical director and temperamental actors to bring your vision to life. Your choices can bring popular fame, critical acclaim or royal favor, but may also lead to scandalous exile.

You can play as male, female or nonbinary, and be gay, straight, bisexual, aromantic or asexual. Your wardrobe lets you take on different roles, and you can pursue love or lasting friendship with your actor buddy, the theater's acerbic director, a swashbuckling city guard or the city's heir.

Uncover the curse

As you wait for your first opening night, deadly shadowy creatures stalk the streets and mysterious accidents threaten your productions. People whisper that a curse is behind it, out of earshot of the city's stern ruler, the Raven. To find its roots, you investigate secrets the city's nobles want buried, including mysteries from the Raven's past and your own.

Your plays can inspire the Raven and their two quarreling heirs to help save the city, if you portray honor, passion or hope well enough to move them. You can try to assassinate the tyrannical ruler or win them over with your productions, battle the creatures stalking your theater, and stage a final play that changes the world.

Stage the story

Your theatrical challenges include managing squabbling actors, a performing bear and a malfunctioning avalanche. You can fight dark creatures with enchantment, swordplay or spectacular monologues.