Recommending Story-first games

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noping123

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Jun 24, 2021
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Do you have a list of what you've played and liked on here?
Nah, im trying to stay away from just 'games similar to what ive played" - otherwise i'd just take something from my backlog. I'm curious on what ppl consider the "best" storygame.
 

jufot

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May 15, 2021
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I thought to myself "You know, I bet jufot would play the first release of my new game and go 'Yea, ok, maybe. I'll have to see more' and then play the 2nd and go 'Oh fuck that, I'm out!' :D"
Well, I'm definitely going to give it a shot. Can't promise more than that ;)
 
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jufot

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May 15, 2021
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Strong recommendation for Shards of the Past. I was already intrigued by the first chapter, but chapter 2 was surprising in a way I didn't see coming, and now I'm properly invested.

It's a medieval looking fantasy adventure that's written beautifully. The dev has lofty goals and has his head on straight. He's NOT making a harem game and seems pretty confident in his plans (see my comment here).

If you are interested, you should know that the game blocks rollback after choices. This is intended to encourage a natural gameplay where you make choices that feel right, without worrying about points and variables. The choices have dramatic effects, so this is an admirable decision by the developer.

That said, if you play with the script open, you'll see how extensive the branching is and how much the game keeps track of your every move, even things that seem so narratively minor. I always have the script open with Ren'Py games, but for the first time, I wish I hadn't. It would have made the mystery a lot more delicious. I think I'll skip the script with the next chapter.

Anyway, the OP has been updated :)
 

Garou24

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Nov 17, 2021
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Strong recommendation for Shards of the Past. I was already intrigued by the first chapter, but chapter 2 was surprising in a way I didn't see coming, and now I'm properly invested.

It's a medieval looking fantasy adventure that's written beautifully. The dev has lofty goals and has his head on straight. He's NOT making a harem game and seems pretty confident in his plans (see my comment here).

If you are interested, you should know that the game blocks rollback after choices. This is intended to encourage a natural gameplay where you make choices that feel right, without worrying about points and variables. The choices have dramatic effects, so this is an admirable decision by the developer.

That said, if you play with the script open, you'll see how extensive the branching is and how much the game keeps track of your every move, even things that seem so narratively minor. I always have the script open with Ren'Py games, but for the first time, I wish I hadn't. It would have made the mystery a lot more delicious. I think I'll skip the script with the next chapter.

Anyway, the OP has been updated :)
Don't spoil it for yourself :p
 
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SilentRunning

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Feb 19, 2021
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Strong recommendation for Shards of the Past. I was already intrigued by the first chapter, but chapter 2 was surprising in a way I didn't see coming, and now I'm properly invested.

It's a medieval looking fantasy adventure that's written beautifully. The dev has lofty goals and has his head on straight. He's NOT making a harem game and seems pretty confident in his plans (see my comment here).

If you are interested, you should know that the game blocks rollback after choices. This is intended to encourage a natural gameplay where you make choices that feel right, without worrying about points and variables. The choices have dramatic effects, so this is an admirable decision by the developer.

That said, if you play with the script open, you'll see how extensive the branching is and how much the game keeps track of your every move, even things that seem so narratively minor. I always have the script open with Ren'Py games, but for the first time, I wish I hadn't. It would have made the mystery a lot more delicious. I think I'll skip the script with the next chapter.

Anyway, the OP has been updated :)
It is so short. No real reason to watch the script. There aren't that many branches. So playing it again is quick.

I enjoyed Shards of the Past. Could be a good one depending on how much it degrades into porn.

I never comment on this thread, but I do read it.

I like the concept of adult "narrative first" games, but honestly most of them eventually degrade into mindless porn or something close to that. The only games I really like end up being sandbox and games with actual game mechanics, or just odd games like Camp Klondike or Love, Lust and Rock'n'Roll which are doing something unique and interesting.

Personally, I think Wicked Rouge (Refine) has more of a story (and role playing experience) than most of the games that get lauded in this thread.

Anyway, I just wanted to say I thought Shards of the Past was interesting. It certainly looks beautiful. The lighting is great.

It will be interesting to see where this goes.
 
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camube

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Jun 4, 2022
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You know, I was thinking about this thread today as I was writing. I thought to myself "You know, I bet jufot would play the first release of my new game and go 'Yea, ok, maybe. I'll have to see more' and then play the 2nd and go 'Oh fuck that, I'm out!' :D"

Anyway, I'm looking to take a short break tomorrow and play *one* game through (God knows my backlog is big enough), but I decided I wanted something very story heavy. So if you (You being anyone who reads this really) had to recommend just *ONE* game, what would it be?
deluca family is my no 1 story that is renpy i think
 

Jaike

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Aug 24, 2020
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Reading through the thread i saw that some games were on the list and then removed at some point. It is your list of course, but may i suggest that instead of completely removing games you don't like/recommend anymore, you put them in a separate list in the first post.
i think that my criteria for "good story first game" is a bit less strict then yours so a lot of games that you removed i still like and I am sure that many people are the same, so it would be beneficial to have "Games that i recommended once, but not anymore" list
The Seven Realms is one that got taken off but wasn't in your list.

Personally, I think Wicked Rouge (Refine) has more of a story (and role playing experience) than most of the games that get lauded in this thread.
I've played a little of both versions. It has a story, dunno if I'd say it has more than most of the games here, but the rewrite made the setup of a harem more blatant too and made the jealous 'fiancee' less avoidable.

Maybe a bit too dark too for this list, I think the prostitution wasn't not fully con, forced by circumstances kind of thing.
 
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Dragon59

Conversation Conqueror
Apr 24, 2020
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It is so short. No real reason to watch the script. There aren't that many branches. So playing it again is quick.

I enjoyed Shards of the Past. Could be a good one depending on how much it degrades into porn.

I never comment on this thread, but I do read it.

I like the concept of adult "narrative first" games, but honestly most of them eventually degrade into mindless porn or something close to that. The only games I really like end up being sandbox and games with actual game mechanics, or just odd games like Camp Klondike or Love, Lust and Rock'n'Roll which are doing something unique and interesting.

Personally, I think Wicked Rouge (Refine) has more of a story (and role playing experience) than most of the games that get lauded in this thread.

Anyway, I just wanted to say I thought Shards of the Past was interesting. It certainly looks beautiful. The lighting is great.

It will be interesting to see where this goes.
Is that Wicked Rouge (French for red, like the makeup) or Wicked Rogue (like the D&D class or the X-Men character)?
 

Dragon59

Conversation Conqueror
Apr 24, 2020
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You would believe but it's Wicked Rouge :)
https://f95zone.to/threads/wicked-rouge-refine-v0-11-0-public-fidless.102703/

I, too, always read it as "Rogue" and was pretty sure it had been that way from the start. Mandela effect?
Could be. I realized that pretty much all my life, because I had a high reading speed, I would sometimes read by pattern, and such substitutions could happen from time to time.

It makes more sense for a rogue to be wicked than the color red or a container of makeup powder.

In any case, rouge and rogue are two words people often confuse.

EDIT: I see it takes place in and around "The Red Petal." Is that why it is Rouge instead of Rogue? Things still look a bit "Rogue-like."

Reminds me--we have a user on this forum who goes by Warscared. Warscared, scared by war, instead of Warscarred, scarred by war. Was that a typo?
 
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jufot

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May 15, 2021
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I recommend HTML game Bride of a Dead God. It is basically a choose-your-own-adventure* with light rpg elements. I think it is pretty well written and has an interesting plot and cast.
Excellent recommendation, thank you. It's been a while since I played a CYOA, but I'm enjoying it. The author is definitely skilled. There are many clever turns of phrases, particularly with exposition and worldbuilding.

I'm also quite pleased with the sex writing, which I didn't expect. That scene with Bianca was an impressive display of creative eroticism. I loved how playful, light-hearted and fun it was.

Since it's already been three chapters, I doubt it'll suddenly take a dive quality wise, so off to the list it goes :)
 
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