The Sleeping Sickness

The Sleeping Sickness is an interactive horror story set in Trenton, Alaska, as winter closes in. Dr. Grayson, the town’s new resident doctor, investigates the unexplained death of Greta Tanner and tries to find what killed her before it claims anyone else.

Investigate Trenton

Greta was old, but had no apparent cause of death: she took no pills, had no medical problems and had no recent surgeries. Grayson finds bruising, slight burn marks on her legs that could be frostbite, and five fresh, bloody crescent-shaped wounds hidden under her hair. None of the wounds is severe enough to explain her death. As some townspeople act strangely and a strange song carries on the wind, Grayson must determine whether Greta was murdered or something else is happening in Trenton.

Each day, you choose where Grayson investigates. Your choices lock and unlock future locations, change dialogue and alter the story. The game includes sounds, graphics and interactive sections, but focuses on the story and is designed to play like a choose-your-own-adventure book.

Choices and endings

Each playthrough lasts 45–60 minutes and covers about 9,000 words. The full story is approximately 31,000 words, roughly the length of Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. A playthrough forms a complete short story shaped by your choices, but multiple read-throughs are needed to uncover the whole mystery. There are six possible endings.